Make healthy beauty habits one of your resolutions for new year

Studies say a woman consumes 5 pounds of lipstick in her lifetime.

So, she might want to be more aware of its ingredients.

The new year is the perfect time to make a resolution to know what you are putting on your lips, as well as applying to your skin or your hair.

“The year 2014 should be about going as green as possible,” says Marianne Skiba, a Burgettstown, Washington County, native, who is an Emmy Award-winning celebrity makeup artist. “Women should be more savvy about label reading and look to avoid ingredients that are toxic.”

That can be one of the many beauty resolutions women should make, along with conditioning their hair, trimming nail cuticles and exfoliating skin.

Skiba says late winter is the perfect time to use hydrating masks and moisturizing creams.

“Good skin is always in fashion,” Skiba says. “For makeup, what goes on must come off. If it doesn't come off, then it gets absorbed into the skin.”

When looking at labels, here are some ingredients to avoid, according to Skiba:

Parabens: Used as preservatives, they are are a hormonally active endocrine disruptor. Studies show a link to breast cancer.

Phthalates: Used as a flexible fixative, nail polish, hairspray and other products, they are believed to cause damage to the liver, kidneys, nerves and reproductive organs.

Talc: Used in face powder, eyeshadows, talcum powder and baby powder, it is believed to be linked to ovarian cancer.

Skipping the nightly face ritual is a bad habit well worth breaking.

“The importance of a consistent regime is vital to long-term healthy, youthful skin care,” says Christina Fundy, skin care and makeup specialist at Izzazu Salon, Spa & Serata with locations Downtown and in Wexford. “Going to bed with a full face of makeup can mean days of ugly blackheads or blotchy, irritated skin. A healthy habit of double cleansing is recommended to remove surface debris. The second cleanse will treat the deeper levels of skin.”

If your skin is balanced and hydrated, your makeup not only goes on smoothly and evenly, but it glows and stays on longer, experts say. Something as simple as drinking more water will help skin, hair and nails, says Izear Winfrey, artistic director at Studio Booth in the East End.

“In the winter, women don't think about becoming dehydrated, but it can easily happen this time of year,” Winfrey says. “Women should also use a clarifying shampoo to help remove dirt, oil and other buildup, especially if you use a straightener because it can bond unwanted residue into your hair.”

The new year is a perfect time to try something different in your beauty regimen.

“We like to think of it as a brand-new year, a brand-new you,” says Gino Chiodo, co-owner of Izzazu with Emilio Cornacchione. “This is the perfect time to change your hairstyle, and it's something that can be done quickly and easily. And it can make the biggest difference, because we see hair as an accessory. You can have the prettiest dress, the fanciest purse and the nicest shoes, but if your hair doesn't look good, people will notice.”

Good health — and looking good — is all about prevention, says Eva Kerschbaumer, owner, with her husband, Scott, of ESSpa Kozmetika Organic Skincare in Aspinwall.

“It is about being mindful of what you eat and what you put on your hair, skin and nails,” Eva Kerschbaumer says. “I know it isn't easy because sometimes I have trouble figuring out what is best. But I recommend researching the place you are going for your treatment and the technicians who will be doing the treatment. Ask questions about what products they are using.”

As with anything you do in life, you want positive results, and in order to achieve that, you have to be consistent, Eva Kerschbaumer says. And it all starts with a consultation and a plan. Talking to an expert helps him or her learn about your individual needs. And the two of you can work out a plan that meets your needs.

In addition to your physical needs, it's also important to care for your emotional well being, she says.

“Because stress can affect your skin,” she says. “It's important to meditate and focus on your mental health.”

She suggests taking before and after treatment photos of yourself to see the difference.

Pay attention to the products used at a spa treatment as well as at home, says Becky Spitler, co-owner of Tula Organic Salon and Spa, an Aveda salon, in Squirrel Hill with Emily Askin.

“We love Aveda products, which are organic and as naturally derived as they can be and still be effective,” Spitler says.

Facials are great, especially in the winter along with massages, Spitler says.

Consulting with your spa beauty specialist is an important part of the process. When meeting with a client the first time, the appointment may take a few hours, says Amanda Manol, owner of Pearl Aesthetic Perfecting Studio on the North Side. That's the time to find out about a client's needs and lifestyle.

The new year is about finding ways to improve skin care and evaluate what you have been doing. Manol offers Intraceuticals Hyperbaric Oxygen skin treatment, which helps replenish skin. A woman's skin changes with time. The seasons can affect skin, hair and nails, as does stress.

“It's important that the person providing a skin-care service or any service knows the client,” Manol says. “It is important for a client to share which products she is using as well as other information about herself in order to get the best results.”