2011 is over and done. 2012 has finally arrived! New Year. New You. Right?! We’ll see about that… Change should certainly begin from within, but don’t forget about the outside too, while you’re at it. Here are some skin, makeup, and hair resolutions we’re hoping to see in the months to come, because many of us just didn’t quite hit the mark this past year.

Wear Moisturizer – Every Day. Prior to working behind a makeup counter for the first time, I had no idea how many women were skipping the most essential step in their daily skincare regimen – moisturizer! Regardless of skin type, moisturizer is an absolute must have throughout the year, morning and night. A common misconception is that only women with dry skin need to moisturize – FALSE. In fact, women with would-be normal skin often experience excess oiliness when the skin reacts from the lack of proper hydration. Glands in the skin are signaled to overproduce oil to compensate for lack of moisture, which in turn brings on the shine (and not the good shine, either). Many lines make oil-free, mattifying lotions that are perfect for oily skin, while those with dry skin may favor richer cream consistencies.

Find the Right Foundation Color – Many women are in denial about their complexions. This is a sad truth, but the fact remains. By wearing makeup that’s the color we want to be rather than the color we are, we draw attention to the disparity and do our skin no justice. It’s very important to find a foundation shade that matches the skin and blends naturally into the neckline an décolletage. Any other color, contouring, and highlighting should be done with concealer, bronzer, and blush. Unfortunately for women of color, many cosmetics companies automatically make darker shades more red – which is not the case for most who actually have yellow undertones. However there are still plenty of lines who get it right (Bobbi Brown, Armani, Estee Lauder, etc.). To be sure of your color, try a couple different options at your local counter and check foundation in natural sunlight.

Conceal With Caution – Concealer is one of the most amazing, transformational, and multi-purpose cosmetic weapons that one can have in their makeup bag. But, by the same token, concealer is one of the most widely abused beauty products amongst many women of color. Concealer is like that brand new pink eraser in grade school – zapping away every error with just a couple of strokes. Bye bye, dark circles! Take that, acne scars! Adios, pesky eyebrow stubble. I get it. But the problem occurs when we select shades that are incorrect and fail to blend out the product properly. Concealer used for blemishes of the face should match foundation color, so as not to draw more attention to the spots. And under-eye/brow highlight concealer should only be a shade or two lighter, and blended into foundation. There are few things that ruin a perfect photo worst than the raccoon effect that occurs when concealer and flash photography don’t see eye-to-eye. Ask Taraji Henson.

Ease-Up on The Eyebrows – Eyebrows, ohhhh, eyebrows, how we take advantage of you so?! 2011 must have been the year for brow f*ckery, because I swear I’ve seen it all! From blonde to red to jet black – they came in every size shape, and hue. And most of them were all wrong. The exaggerated arches, sharp edges, and anorexic tails did no justice to the beautiful faces of the women who wore them. And the harsh concealer and metallic silver and gold strips of color that sat below to “highlight” only seemed to worsen matters. in 2012, I hope to see women ease up on the overly-filled brows. I hope to see softer shades of powder and pencil brushed through and shaped more naturally. And though I certainly understand the power of a good cream concealer to define one’s brow shape, I do hope that we do a better job of selecting a shade close to our own skin tone and blending it out accordingly. And for those who don’t groom and fill at all – get on it! Brows really do make or break a good face…

Tone Down the Lashes – I always considered false lashes a treat; an added beauty accessory applied during special occasions and meant to play up the eyes a bit more than mascara does on a daily basis. That was, until, I moved to Atlanta. Now, it’s not to say that this crime isn’t committed elsewhere on the globe, but I do have a feeling that this city takes the cake for lash abuse and misuse! Never have i ever seen so many over the top faux lashes – both strips and individuals – worn everyday, as a beauty staple. Dark, and thick, and flared out of this world – seemingly strong enough to help one take flight at the blink of an eye. Even Miss Piggy and Snuffleupagus would be jealous! And what makes matters worst is that these severe lashes are often accompanied by a completely bare face – nothing at all – no shadow or liner in sight. It really is a silly look that I hope we can do a better job of in the year to come. I hope to see women save fake lashes for special, more glam occasions. And for those whom mascara does simply no justice, I encourage you to try individuals that are properly applied and natural-looking.