How to Makeover Your Appearance at Home: Easy-to-Follow Tips from the Pros That are Bound to Boost Your Confidence

Before you start researching a new look and ordering makeup, it’s best to take a look at what you already have at home. Not only will Marie Kondo-ing your makeup case and beauty shelf make more room for new products, but it will also allow you to revisit things you probably forgot you had. “You have to look critically at what you already own and evaluate what you like or what works for you—and move out everything else—before you can start over,” says Patinkin.

The mane attraction:

A little difference in the way you cut and color your hair can go a long way, and switching up the way you style your hair is a great way to start your makeover. While drastic changes are best left to your hairstylist, a new hairstyle will make a noticeable difference. Flip through the pages of a magazine and check Instagram and Pinterest for some hairspiration. “There are a lot of fun apps you can use to see how you would look with various hairstyles and colors,” says Patinkin, who tells clients to start there before committing to something new.

If you’re planning a major cut or color change, it’s best to book it to the salon, where you can bring photos and have a candid conversation with your stylist about expectations. Your stylist will be able to guide you and manage your expectations, based on your hair texture, face shape, and daily routine, so you can settle on a new, manageable look together.

If you aren’t comfortable making a trip to the salon, don’t fret; hair makeovers, (and trims), aren’t strictly reserved for the salon chair. You can easily make a major difference at home with a few small steps that can improve your overall hair care. If you want to encourage hair growth, it might be best to lay off the heat styling and give your hair a break from the curling iron or flat iron. “It'll also help to use a deep conditioning hair mask once a week and to sleep on a silk pillowcase or with a silk wrap around your hair to cut down on friction and the moisture absorption that happens with cotton,” advises Patinkin.

If you want sleeker and shinier hair, start adding major moisturization into your routine in the shower, and rinse with cold water to seal the cuticle and prevent frizz.

If you used to frequently highlight your hair and are noticing brassy undertones in your hair color, you can tone your hair at home with a color-correcting shampoo to restore vivid tones. “Look for color correction shampoos with a blue tone,” says Patinkin. The blue color can neutralize orange, brassy tones and get your color back on track, which is extremely beneficial for brunettes who feel like their hair is looking more orange and red. For blondes, a purple shampoo can revive color.

While a haircut is a great way to breathe new life into long hair that feels like it just hangs, the same could be said for adding a little volume to your daily routine with clip-in hair extensions. If you’ve been trying to grow out your hair for a couple of years, adding a little length may be just what you need to give your confidence a major boost. “I love to play with extensions,” says Patinkin, who loves the commitment-free approach to switching up your style. “ They can make your hair look longer, or thicker, and you can experiment with new highlights or more playful colors,” she says.

Love the skin you’re in:

If you feel like this past year has seriously aged you, you're not alone. Not only have we all been dealing with a shift in our daily routine and responsibilities which can up our stress levels, but more time in front of the camera and your computer means more exposure to blue light (which has its own effects on your skin). “If you don't like the way you look in unfiltered photos, you have to evaluate what's bothering you and then you can take some skincare steps,” says Patinkin. The good news? “For most people it's about hydration and not looking dewy and plump enough,” says Patinkin. Restoring moisture and adding a dewy glow to your look can easily be achieved with the right skincare products like moisturizer and a vitamin C serum. Adding exfoliation to your routine can also go a long way and is crucial as we age, when our skin cell turnover process begins to slow down. “If you feel like you're looking dull, adding exfoliation to your routine will help, as will using an oil to bind some nice occlusive fatty lipids to your skin,” says Patinkin.

When it comes to skincare, it's all about adopting a routine to address your individual skin concerns; whether you suffer from oily skin or sensitive skin, finding products specifically formulated for your individual needs will make a major difference. If you're not sure of what you should be using and feel like your skin is starting to freak out, consult your dermatologist who can offer some guidance and recommend a mix of products. You might be surprised to discover a drugstore brand that can improve your overall look.

If you’re not one to embrace an extensive skincare routine, this sample guide below is manageable, (even if you’re a minimalist), and can make a major difference in improving your appearance.

Morning: 

• Wash your face or swipe micellar water across your complexion to cleanse your skin. If you’re unsure what to reach for, we’ve rounded up the best facial cleansers for every skin type to simplify the process.

• Apply a vitamin C serum: Patinkin says to apply this “every morning to combat free-radical damage, like inflammation and discoloration,” which is a crucial component in anti-aging skincare. Not only will it fight off future damage, but an antioxidant serum can brighten your complexion and help you get glowing skin.

• Apply moisturizer: To ensure your skin stays hydrated and looks plump, apply a moisturizer.

• Apply sunscreen: Patinkin says to wear “a daily SPF of 40 or higher every single day of the year, even when it's cloudy or you're not going outside.”

Evening:

• Wash your face: Not only does an evening cleanse remove makeup, dirt, and grime from the day, but it also keeps your pores clean and assists in preventing breakouts. For a deep clean, consider double cleansing.

• Apply serum (like a glycolic acid treatment or retinol): Patinkin recommends reaching for “a gentle alpha-hydroxy acid a couple of times a week to gently exfoliate,” she says. If you want to incorporate both glycolic acid and retinol into your routine, remember to never apply them on the same night. It’s also important to build up a tolerance, especially if it’s the first time you’re incorporating these active ingredients into your skincare routine. Start using them a couple of times a week before graduating to a more intense plan, where you can alternate between the two every other night.

• Apply eye cream: Diminish dark circles and fake eight hours of sleep even on restless nights thanks to a good eye cream. If you’re looking for a new product, these Ipster-approved favorites won’t let you down.

• Apply moisturizer/thicker night cream: At night you’ll want to slather on a thicker cream to restore moisture. 

Take a good look at your brows: 

One of the most underrated changes you can make that can transform your complexion is properly shaping your eyebrows. The right set of brows can really lift your eyes and improve your overall appearance, so if you often don’t think twice about your eyebrows, now might be a good time to start. “It can open up the eye, it can make the eye look more lifted, more youthful, and the goal is really to get them to feel as symmetrical as possible, and doing that can align the entire face into symmetry,” says Joey Healy, celebrity brow expert and founder of the Joey Healy Eyebrow Studio in NYC. While completely transforming your shape at home isn’t so easy, you can certainly clean them up to improve your overall look. “Trim them a bit to make them a little bit less wild,” says Healy, who also recommends cleaning up stray hairs so they look more presentable.

If you want to improve your overall eyebrow shape at home, Healy says to exercise caution. “Remember that tweezers and scissors are hair removal tools, and if you over pluck your brows or over trim them they might struggle to come back,” he says. Instead of getting scissor happy, he advises clients to play around with products, like gels, pencils, and powders before making any long-term commitments. “I would say when it comes to scissors and tweezers you really stick to creating things that make the brow look cleaner, but for the experimental stuff I would use cosmetics,” he says. You can also check out his Instagram page for helpful tips and tutorials if you’re ready to embark on a brow transformation.

Revamp your glam:

Most of us rely on a signature, everyday makeup look that’s quick and easy; however, if you aren’t feeling 100 when you look in the mirror, it might be time to reconsider the beauty products you rely on in your daily routine. “It all starts with being honest with yourself about how much time and effort you are willing to put into it, and making sure you are choosing a look that works for your lifestyle,” says Patinkin. While you may love the way you look in full-on glam, since most of us don’t have a professional hair or makeup artist at our disposal every morning, it’s important to tweak your look to a manageable glam routine you can easily do on your own. If you’ve never worn makeup before and feel like it’s time to start, there’s no need to stress; that’s what tutorials are for. “Invest some time in watching tutorials and practicing,” says Patinkin.

If you love to play around with makeup you might feel comfortable trying new trends and even slicking on red lipstick, but revamping your makeup routine doesn’t have to be so drastic (if you don’t want it to be). You can easily improve your makeup with minimal essentials that will give you a confidence boost. Patinkin recommends starting with three products if you're going to shop for new makeup: “Concealer, a good mascara that doesn't smudge or flake, and a multi-purpose cream blush/lip eye product are critical, in my opinion,” she says.

Another beauty tip she often shares with clients is an eyeliner trick that can open up your eyes and make them pop. "I am a huge fan of using a dark navy eyeliner to "tightline" under the base of the upper lashes," Patinkin says. This trick defines the shape of your eyes and makes the base of your lashes look thicker, while the blue tone of the eyeliner makes the whites of your eyes look brighter and whiter.

If you wish you had a more pronounced pout, simply finding the right lip liner could make a major difference. “Lipliner is all of a sudden coming back into fashion and can be used to make the lips look fuller and more pouty,” Patinkin says. While playing around with lip colors, it’s also important to exfoliate your lips and keep them hydrated with lip balm, just like you do with the rest of your complexion. This will ensure lipstick and gloss glides over your mouth without creasing or flaking.

The right makeup can be a major confidence booster, and honing in on a new routine could be as simple as tossing out an expired mascara and finding a new foundation or bb cream to match your skin tone. Start with baby steps and you’ll be surprised with how easy it is to rejuvenate your look.

Brighten your smile:

Your smile is part of your first impression, so to ensure you’re putting forth the best version of yourself, it might be time to focus some self-care on your teeth. If you think your pearly whites are looking dull, an easy, DIY whitening fix can brighten up your appearance. “Baking soda can really help to smooth and brighten the teeth,” says Patinkin. Brushing after meals and flossing daily can also improve your overall smile.

While the idea of a complete makeover can seem daunting, small changes can make a major difference in restoring your confidence and rejuvenating your appearance. Get ready to put your best face forward with a new routine tailored to your needs.

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