By Becca Shrimpton

The best thing about new years is the idea that you can start everything fresh. With new resolutions and goals set for yourself, you can almost imagine that after the countdown you’ll pretty much be a new person. I notice a pattern in my new years resolution, always striving for some sort of noticeable beauty achievement. For the new decade, I don’t think any dramatic changes need to be made; I’m not going to stray too much from the usual routine. I’m not going to try two-toned lips, or give myself black-rimmed eyes, but I do want to make some subtle enhancements. I’m taking notes from Calvin Klein’s Spring 2010 show where the models totally glowed with a minimal makeup look. The complexion was obviously the focal point and that’s the major beauty goal I’ve set for myself this year; to achieve a stellar complexion, but at a reasonable cost. Previously, I’d been playing around with different higher end products including Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation, Bobbi Brown’s Extra Tinted Moisturizer, and YSL’s Teint Parfait; all of which I fully adore but can’t afford to fall so in love with that I’d have to make them staples in my makeup bag. I think that’s a major misconception I’ve had for like, ever; that for something to look good or do a good job, it has to be expensive. I’m finally starting to change my mind about that, though. At Calvin Klein’s show, Pat Mcgrath used only CoverGirl products on the models. Her super complexion trio included Covergirl Clean Liquid Makeup, CoverGirl TruBlend MicroMinerals Finishing Veil in Translucent, and CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Corrector. Just a few things I can throw into the cart next time I’m grocery shopping. Then there’s always the promise of a proper highlighting liquid to boost skin tone. Benefit’s Moon Beam is a golden apricot liquid that creates an iridescent glow and can be fixed right in with your foundation or applied to specific parts of the face like the brow and cheekbones. I made a Moon Beam purchase back in the summer, but didn’t open the bottle until last week. That’s another resolution I’ve made for 2010, to actually use what I buy, and only buy what I’m going to use. I think I set some pretty healthy goals for myself this year, ones that will look good on me and on my credit statements, too.