Want to get gorgeous without invasive surgery? “O, The Oprah Magazine” beauty editor Valerie Monroe shares simple ways to give your looks a lift. Best of all, you don't have to spend a lot of money to get great end results. Discover the 10 fresh ideas, treatments and treats to try right now:
1. Bangs don't work for everyone, but they're a great way to get a new look without going shorter. Ask for a few tapered, sideswept bangs, cut an angle and not too thick, so that they'll grow out easily.
2. For more radiant, dewy-looking skin, use a cream instead of powder blush. Cream blush melts into the complexion; powder blush has a tendency to sit on top of the skin and look flat.
3. To brighten up your eye area, mix concealer with fluid highlighter and apply it underneath your eyes. The concealer will cover up any discoloration, and the highlighter will reflect light, distracting from bluish hues or fine lines.
4. Make your teeth look whiter with a blue-toned lipcolor. Try a blue-based pink, red, burgundy or plum shade.
5. For instant pizzazz, change the color of your glasses; treat yourself to green, burgundy or midnight-blue frames.
6. If your hair is always stringy in the morning, apply a little Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder at night. The powder absorbs the oils in your hair, making it fluffier.
7. Switching detergent may eliminate some of the redness, puffiness, dryness, and scaling you see on your skin; wash your bed linens and towels in a “free and clear” detergent such as All Free Clear. (Regular laundry detergent doesn’t remove dust mites, cat dander and other potentially sensitizing residue.)
8. First question: Is your skin glowy? Second question: Do you regularly use a prescription retinoid (like Retin-A) or products containing retinol or glycolic acid? If you answered “no” to both, start using a cleanser, moisturizer or serum containing one of those ingredients. Within two weeks your skin will begin to look fresher and more evenly toned.
9. If you have age spots, blotchy pigment or old acne marks, start using a treatment product that contains hydroquinone, which blocks new pigment (melanin) formation in the skin. You can get a prescription from your dermatologist, but many doctors believe that 2 percent hydroquinone, available over the counter, when combined with at least 7 percent glycolic acid (found in cleansers, moisturizers and peels), can give results as good as prescription formulations.
10. If you’ve begun to see a softening of your jawline, spend five minutes every morning and night chomping as though you were chewing a piece of meat. This will strengthen the jaw muscles and create more definition. (Don’t do this if you have TMJ.)
For more smart little ways to make you feel dazzling, check out the January issue of “” on newsstands now or