I Added Lavender Essential Oil to My Moisturizer for the Best Skin of My Life

1. Full Coverage Foundation

There was a time where wearing full-coverage foundation was all the rage. From drugstore to high-end brands, it seems like they were consistently shoved in consumers’ faces to help us achieve a ‘full beat’ without sitting in a makeup artist’s chair. Also, those of us with dark spots or hyperpigmentation may have relied on them when we were in the thick of our skincare woes.

But these days, wearing too much foundation isn’t as popular as natural and skincare makeup are prioritized. If anything, more people are interested in wearing light-to-medium coverage foundation, skin tints, or tinted moisturizers.

2. Too Much Concealer

It wasn’t until I watched this video by makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes that I realized some of us have been too heavy-handed with our concealers. There’s no reason we should be slapping products under the thinnest parts of our face, but we didn’t know any better!

Now that you know you can still get the desired effect with a minimal amount of concealer, don’t revert back to painting your under eyes!

3. 'Baking' Your Setting Powder

Before you throw away your setting powders, step away from your makeup drawer and have a sit-down chat with me. There isn’t anything wrong with applying them to your face to help ‘set’ your foundation and concealer. However, spending over 10 minutes ‘baking’ your powder (AKA letting it sit untouched) doesn’t work for everyone.

It can lead to creased makeup which can derail your look, plus it’s a pain to correct when you’re halfway through your routine!

4. Overlining Lips

I love a good lip liner, especially if it mirrors my favorite ‘90s makeup look. But, there’s such a thing as overdoing it. The key to lining your lips is following the natural flow of them. Going out of your way to draw above and under your lips’ lines comes off as comical and exaggerated. If anything, use a lip plumping gloss to help your lips look fuller.

5. Overtweezing Your Eyebrows

I don’t even have the words for this outdated makeup look besides wanting to say “no” 20 times in a row. But, I’ll bite and say why this shouldn’t be on your 2025 beauty moodboard.

Some people naturally have thinner eyebrows which is A-okay! However, purposely tweezing your eyebrows to smithereens is cringey. If you truly want to wear this look, here’s what you can do instead of tweezing:

• Create a faux bleached look by applying a skin tone colored setting powder all over your brows.
• Once they’ve ‘disappeared,’ take an eyebrow pencil or eyeliner to draw a thin line over them.

I’m…wondering what the ramifications of telling you how to do this will be, but only use go for this look if it’s a part of a themed party…like Halloween.

6. Exaggerated Highlighter On Cheeks

The shimmery look is in since it’s winter, but please don’t make it look like you dipped your cheeks into a vat of glitter. You can lightly dust highlighter onto your cheeks for a more natural glow that flows with the rest of your look. Otherwise you’ll look like a walking disco ball which could be the opposite of what you were going for.

7. Heavy Contour Or Bronzer

I know the ‘sculpted’ look is popular, but too much contour or bronzer can overpower the rest of your makeup and face. While it’s not impossible to fix if you do it by mistake, using the wrong shade of contour or bronzer may still peep through no matter how much you try to buff it out.

When in doubt, be gentle with your contour or bronzer application!

8. Incredibly Matte Makeup

Matte makeup that didn’t budge was the ‘It Girl’ look for oily and combination skin girls! We thought it was the answer to our skin’s incessant need to hydrate our faces instead of actually using skincare products that focused on combatting that issue (psst…Vitamin C serums help!).

But now’s the time to break up with this look for good for one reason: dewy skin looks healthier.

1. Chestnut Brown

This rich brown color is always going to be a staple no matter which season we're in. Kim Kimble feels like this is the time where colors like this will "complement the season's cozy feel." She personally feels the shade "Bold & Bright 40 Brown Sugar [by Clairol]" is "a soft, natural brown that will "bring incredible warmth to any look."

Whether you're getting a silk press or new hair color, a consultation is often recommended by stylists. Keith Shore says the reason is that "the consultation is a vital part of the color service." This gives him the chance to "assess the current condition of the hair" instead of diving straight into the process. Kimble also says, "The stylist will ask what you are looking for and if you have any color in your hair already or if it's virgin, etc. They may also do a patch or strand test to check how the hair will react to color being applied.

Once it's determined that your hair is healthy enough for the service, an appointment is usually scheduled for the big day! There are things you need to avoid doing, however. Kimble says the worst things clients can do is "irritate their scalp, scratch it aggressively, or apply really hard manipulation to it" before their color service. Keep this in mind if you're interested in trying one of the popular winter hair colors!

2. Teddy Bear Brown

Kimble also swears by Clairol's Teddy Bear Brown for a a softer shade if you're afraid of going too dark. Once your color service appointment is complete, it's important to maintain your new style.

Maintaining your hair's health after receiving a color service is crucial because of the process it often goes through. Shore says, "My essential maintenance tip is hydration, which is crucial after a color treatment. I love It’s a 10 Leave-In Conditioner; it sprays in easily, prepares the hair for styling, and is perfect for clients short on time. I also recommend K18 for blondes wanting to maintain their brightness."

Kimble and Ibarra both recommend that you use sulfate-free shampoos. "You want to reach for very light, mild hydrating shampoos and conditioners. Those are important to maintain the hair color. Also, a great conditioning mask as well," says Kimble." She doesn't want you to use alcohol-based products though.

Ibarra personally recommends that you use "leave-in conditioners with UV protection to guard against sun damage, which can dull the color." He doesn't want you to skip deep-conditioning "once a week" because it "keeps the hair hydrated and shiny." And if you have a "cool-toned" color in your hair? Ibarra says, "I suggest a purple shampoo to maintain brightness and neutralize brassiness."

P.S. Kimble suggests scheduling an appointment every 2-3 months to help maintain your hair's health and color!

3. Caramel Balayage

If you're thinking about getting a color service but are afraid to take the leap, Shore and Ibarra have the best words of encouragement for you! One thing they all agree on is taking baby steps. Shore says, "The best advice I can offer is to start small — consider adding pops of color with balayage or lowlights. This is a great way to test the waters without making a drastic change to your look."

Caramel balayage is always my go-to shade when I want a little change during this time because it's captures the essence of fall and winter beautifully. It also seems to add an extra glow because of how the the balayage is layered.

"I often suggest a gloss treatment or subtle highlights as a way to ease into change — it adds dimension without being too drastic. You can also try Overtones Color Depositing Treatment Masks or clip-in extensions to experiment with different shades," suggests Ibarra. Mainly, he doesn't want you to overthink it. "The most important thing is to have fun with it! Hair color isn’t permanent, and it’s such a great way to express yourself and explore new sides of your style."

4. Cashmere Blonde

What about blonde you ask? It's not impossible! "Interestingly enough, there are some blonde tones that work well on brown skin as well but it depends on which tone of blonde. I recommend tones that are warmer and not too brassy. Think neutral tones," Kimble expounds.

You can also try the blonde hair color Gigi wore during Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Shore, "This time we went with a cashmere blonde for Gigi Hadid, which combines lowlights and glosses with strategically placed pops of color to enhance and highlight her natural tones," he says.

Based on his experience, he's noticed a trend among the other VS models. He says, "Alongside cashmere blonde, I’m noticing a shift towards more natural, tone-on-tone colors across all shades. Many of the Victoria’s Secret models are opting for less contrasting, more muted yet dimensional colors."

5. Gorgeous Copper

Celebrity hairstylist David Stanwell has managed to capture copper hair in all of its glory. Like Ibarra said earlier, this is one of those winter hair colors that the sun will love bouncing off of.

Both Ibarra and Kimble like to take a collaborative approach when servicing clients which makes appointments more enjoyable IMO. "It’s really a co-creation process. I start by understanding the client’s lifestyle, personality, and desired maintenance level — because hair color should enhance their life, not complicate it," says Ibarra.

Kimble says something similar in that she feels "choosing the right shade is all about enhancing natural beauty." She takes into consideration a client's skin tone and eye color to help figure out the perfect color that will "bring out those unique features." Without hesitating, she gave the perfect illustration. "For example, a subtle honey blonde like Nice 'n' Easy 8G Medium Golden Blonde can really brighten up warmer skin tones!"

Ibarra has a similar process in that he likes to look at clients' "skin undertones and natural hair color to identify shades that complement them." He also says, "I always encourage clients to bring inspiration photos, which helps us align on a vision. My goal is to help them leave feeling confident and like the best version of themselves."

6. Black

Like red lipstick or an acne-friendly foundation, winter hair colors aren't going to look the same on everyone. This is especially true if you have brown skin. Kimble says, "Black, chocolate browns, wine tone colors in the burgundy family and auburn all look great on brown skin."

IMO, you can never go wrong with this color because it looks amazing on everyone. Look at how well it complements Keke Palmer's gorgeous brown skin!

7. Silver Tones

Kimble says that you can always try silver if you're not afraid and even offered shed light on the different dye processes that can used to achieve it. "Non-permanent is temporary because you wash it and it fades quicker. However, semi-permanent has a little bit of peroxide in it so delivers a deeper color deposit," she says. But, there's something you should know about semi-permanent. Kimble says "You can only deposit color" with it, but "you cannot lift."

If you want something that has an even lower chance of fading, you'll want to consider a permanent color. Kimble says, "...the color stays — reds and blondes fade, but they won't come off — and you can lift with them."

Ingredients for Paleo Christmas Cookies

For the cookies:

• 1/2 cup grass-fed salted butter, softened
• 6 tablespoons raw honey
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 cups almond flour
• 1/2 cup coconut flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

For the frosting:

• 6 tablespoons coconut butter or coconut manna
• 1/4 cup cacao butter
• 1-2 tablespoons honey
• Plant-based food coloring
• Vegetable-dyed sprinkles, for topping*

How to Make Paleo Christmas Cookies

1. Add the softened butter and honey to a large mixing bowl. Cream the mixture together using a handheld mixer until it is smooth. Add in the eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract and whisk until they are well combined. Pour in the almond flour, coconut flour, and baking soda, and continue mixing until the batter has come together smoothly.
2. Separate the dough into two, and place each one on top of a piece of plastic wrap. Roll each dough into a ball, then flatten to a thick disk, cover completely with the plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator to firm up for at least 2 hours or overnight.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Remove one of the dough discs from the refrigerator, unwrap the plastic and place the dough on top of a piece of parchment paper, then top it with another piece of parchment paper. Use a roller to flatten out the dough to about 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch thick. Work quickly with your favorite Christmas cookie cutters, and use a thin spatula to lift the cut cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. Bake the cookies in the oven for 10 minutes. Let them cool for a few minutes, then place on a wire rack for further cooling. Gather the leftover scraps back into a ball in the plastic wrap or parchment paper and place it back in the refrigerator, while working with the other piece of dough. Do this in batches to keep the dough from getting too warm and so you don’t overcrowd the baking sheet.
5. While the batches of cookies are baking, use a small saucepan to lightly melt the coconut butter and cacao butter together over low heat on the stovetop. Remove the pan from the heat when the ingredients have just melted together. Stir in the desired amount of honey, then set aside to cool and thicken up slightly. If you are using food coloring, add in the desired amount into the frosting mixture (1-2 teaspoons of green or red should do the trick). If you plan on only using white frosting, only use a small amount of honey, as it can make the frosting an off-white or light brown color.
6. After the cookies have completely cooled, decorate them with the frosting and sprinkles as desired. If you don’t have any professional piping tools, an easy fix is to place the frosting in a plastic sandwich bag and remove all the air when sealing the top. Cut a tiny tip off one corner of the plastic bag, then gently squeeze and pipe over the cookies. Use one plastic bag or piping bag for each color of frosting. Top with corresponding sprinkles and enjoy!