I’m focusing on two things as we head into the new year.
FIRST, I’m very excited about Pantone’s color of the year, Mocha Mousse. This is a rich, comforting brown that will flatter everyone. It’s both fashion-forward and neutral at the same time, evoking effortless elegance going into 2025.
Ways to incorporate Mocha Mousse into your beauty routine: While you might not find products with the exact name “Mocha Mousse,” there are many shades out there that fit. Look for soft, warm brown hues. I’m always a fan of a monochromatic look, and this is the perfect shade to achieve that!
Cheeks: Talk about the perfect shade for contouring and bronzing! Creamy, mousse-like formulas here will give the skin that seductive finish and healthy glow. (I love products like Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream and Nars Bronzing Cream.)
I suggest layering them to give dimension and warmth to the face. Start by buffing under the cheekbones, onto the temples, across the high points of the forehead, the tip of the chin, and optionally across the bridge of the nose.
Pro tip: Use a dual-fiber brush (I like Chanel Foundation Blender 102 or MAC 187S Duo Fiber Powder Face Brush) and repeat with a second layer over the cheekbones to accentuate further.
Eyes: It’s called Mocha Mousse, so let’s carry on with a creamy formula here as well! Using creams/mousses gives a softer, more organic feel than powder shadows. There are tons of long-wear formulas now too, so you don’t have to worry about the color creasing or wearing off.
How to wear a cream shadow: Using a fluffy but flat brush (I like Real Techniques #308 Medium Shadow Brush), swipe over the eyelid, blending up toward the crease. You can layer this shade heavier around the top and bottom lash lines for added dimension.
Best part? This shade works on all eye colors! (Some colors/formulas I love: Armani Beauty Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow in 22M Cashew, RMS Beauty Eye Polish in Myth, and Gen See Mixed Media Matte Liquid Eyeshadow in Shroom (light skin tones) or Matte Chocolate Brown (tan/deep skin tones).)
Pro tip: Use a bit of your Mocha Mousse-colored cheek product to buff into the crease over your eye product for an extra layer of warm Mocha Mousse magic.
Lips: Mocha Mousse looks gorgeous in a creamy satin formula over the lips. Make sure to line your lips first before layering your lipstick on top. (I love Chantecaille Lip Definer in Nuance, MAC Lip Pencil in Oak, Chanel Rouge Coco Bloom in 150 Ease, and Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Yes Honey.)
Pro tip: This is the perfect shade to slightly overline lips for the illusion of a fuller pout. Softly line just over your natural lip line and above and across your cupid’s bow.
SECOND, with the New Year upon us, so are new resolutions. I’m not a fan of setting resolutions to live by every healthy, good habit in the book. Drink more water. No more sugar. Exercise every day. We can keep piling them on. I personally don’t find a bunch of resolutions helpful.
Resolutions can be like a nosy next-door neighbor: while they might mean well, they can become cumbersome, especially when we set too many, attach unrealistic expectations, and put ourselves down if we slip up.
So instead of one big resolution, how about resolving to set a monthly goal? I find this less daunting, and it keeps me accountable so that the goals actually become attainable. It also gives me the flexibility to tailor my goals to where I find myself at any particular time. While some goals might cross all seasons, others might take precedence depending on the time of year.
Let’s start together this January with Resolution #1: Create healthy habits when it comes to cleaning and keeping your makeup and tools sanitized. Here’s an easy cheat sheet to help you start your new year with makeup that is streamlined and fresh:
- Mascaras: Shelf life after opening: approx. 3 months. Mascara is a breeding ground for bacteria. If it starts drying out or smelling off before the 3 months, toss it! (Important! Do not add oils or any other products to your mascara.)
- Eyeliners & Shadows (Gel/Liquid/Cream): Shelf life after opening: 1 year. Make sure to put caps back on immediately to prevent drying out.
- Cream Blush: Shelf life after opening: 1 year.
- Liquid Foundations/Concealers: Shelf life after opening: 1 ½ – 2 years. (Moisturizing formulas usually last longer than oil-free products, which tend to dry out faster.)
- Cream Foundations/Concealers: Shelf life after opening: 1 – 1 ½ years.
- Lipstick: Shelf life after opening: 2 years. Lipstick usually will start to smell bad once it’s no longer good. Trust your nose!
- Pencil Liners (Lips, Eyes, Brows): Shelf life after opening: 2 years. Make sure to regularly sharpen and spray with disinfectant. Most liners should last until they’re all used up. If a pencil forms white spots on the tip that can’t be sharpened off or if they reappear, it’s time to toss.
- Pressed/Loose Powders (Eyeshadows, Blushes, Setting Powders): Shelf life after opening: 2 years. Make sure the brushes you are using to apply these powders are regularly cleaned/disinfected. If a white/gray film forms over powders, it’s time to replace them.
- Brushes/Tools: Pencil in a day/time weekly to wash your brushes and clean your tools. (Perfect to do while you do a face mask, so it’s a double dose of self-care!) You want a product that is gentle enough for the brush hairs but strong enough to wash away any tough product residue. (You can use a product like Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap.) I love alcohol wipes to clean any metal tools like eyelash curlers and tweezers.
Do not try to reactivate dried-out cream/gel products with other products, oils, or water.
If you develop an eye infection, make sure to replace all eye products.
Resolution #2: Dial in to the color of the year. How many ways can you find to incorporate Mocha Mousse into your life? Let me know, and I’ll share your best tips in my next newsletter!
