What better way to celebrate the beginning of a New Year than with a new look! You can go dramatic and drastically change hair and make-up, or be more subtle with a slight trim and an update to your beauty routine. Here are some tips to be your best you in 2009 (the text is re-printed below each photo for ease of reading or click on the photo for the full-size view):HAIR: Always have some idea of what look you’re after when going into get your haircut. Look through magazines for desired looks. There are plenty of options out there, but be realistic about hair colour, hair texture and skin tone when scanning for looks you might be interested in. Keep in mind how much change you’ll be comfortable with - a new look works best when the person wearing it wears it with confidence!

MAKE-UP: For make-up, flip through magazines for a look you like. Don’t be afraid to bring in a pic of your desired make-up look, and have your make-up artist/beauty consultant help you find those colours. At many make-up counters, you can schedule a free make-over when you purchase a minimum amount of product (usually $45). Bring a hand mirror with you to view how each stage of the application process happens during your make-up appointment. Use it as an opportunity to learn some new techniques and don’t be afraid to ask any questions you have.

HAIR: I’d leave the actual haircutting to the hands of the pros, but why not try styling hair a bit differently? Add some loose curls. Part it on the side, rather than in the middle. If you always wear it up, wear it down one day and vice versa. It’s a small, subtle change that gets noticed - all without having to cut a strand!

MAKE-UP: Experiment and have fun with make-up! If you’re a natural beauty, try intensifying your look by adding some deeper eyeshadow and lipstick colours to the mix. If you always wear a darker eye look, do the inverse - go bold on the lips and use a light hand on the eyes. You can try as many looks as you like to narrow in on what you feel best in, and the beauty of it is that it all washes off! Put those make-up gift sets and gift cards you received for Christmas to good use and treat yourself to a new look!

You always get better results when you can predict outcomes. If you allow a hairstylist or make-up artist creative freedom, then be prepared for a style that they see on you (which may be something that you absolutely love or something that you totally hate!). Have your examples of desired looks in tow to help communicate what you want to your stylist.
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Location: Fiorio Salon (Yonge/St. Clair)

Model: Katie B
MUA/Text/Layout: Rhia Amio
Hair Stylist: Fabio Persico
Styling Assistant: Keith Sam
Styling/Photography/PP: Nadia Cheema

2008 has been a truly outstanding year. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to my family, friends and clients who have been completely supportive of my endeavours and instrumental to my success. The odd time when I’m down and questioning my place in the world, your continuous support inspires me and reminds me that nothing worth fighting for is easy. Thank you for a truly wonderful 2008. (I’ll toast to that!)

Happy New Year and a Prosperous 2009 to you and yours!
Rhia

If you're stuck for New Year's looks, why not revisit (and reinvent) an Old Faithful? The smoky eye is the perfect option for any evening out. There are so many options for the look (here's just one version of the Smoky Eye I did with Sam). You'll see the method of application is consistent, but the colours and textures are totally up to you! Have fun!

I used a taupe-grey as a base with a sponge-tip applicator to build up the colour:
The crease brush, a Kit Essential, was used with Lise Watier's Magic Pearls eyeshadow in Black/Orchid to add depth (and the smoke factor!) into the crease: I layered MAC Paint Pot in Blackground in between layers of the Lise Watier eyeshadow to up the smoky intensity (and increase eyeshadow longevity!):To add a little pop of colour, I highlighted the inner corner with an intense cream shimmer eyeshadow (MAC Starflash Eyeshadow in Grand Entrance) and traced underneath the eye with a purple-blue shimmer eyeshadow (Lancome Colour Design Eyeshadow in Trendy):

Hope everyone is enjoying their holidays! I took a little break for the past two days, and I'm happy to be back on the blogging tip - just in time for looks for fast-approaching New Year's Eve outings!

Lise Watier's Holiday Collection (as I reviewed for Make-up Junkie) is a gorgeous make-up set to carry your party looks into the New Year. The signature look behind the collection is the Pink Diamonds campaign below, which makes a stunning look for when the ball drops this year! Read more and be sure to check out the many options of Lise Watier's Holiday Collection 2008!

Make-up Junkie has been featuring Lise Watier products all week for the line's stunning Holiday Collection that makes a great gift (to give or to keep!). This last installment will feature Pink Diamonds, the signature look and name of Lise Watier's 2008 Holiday Collection, as featured on the model above.

The Pink Diamonds look features two key products from the collection: the Pink Diamonds Palette ($36) for mesmerizing eyes and Pink Icing Lipstick ($18) for a stand-out pout!

The Pink Diamonds Palette has five rich and pigmented shades that are perfect for that holiday look. The gorgeous colours of pearl white, vivid fuchsia, metallic silver, black sparkle, and gold shimmer come in a fashionable mock-croc container. Each eyeshadow glides on smoothly for vibrant colours that will last you well into the evening. Use all five eyeshadows simultaneously (as on the model above) or any combination your heart desires! You'll have fun experimenting with the colours and textures of this palette, and you'll have a multitude of looks to carry you forward into the New Year!

Lise Watier's Pink Icing Lipstick is literally that - like icing on the cake! The creamy and metallic texture of this intense fuchsia looks and feels great on the lips. Use Pink Icing with Lise Watier's Black Stars Pencils or Precious (Liquid) Eyeliners for a bold lip look. Or pair it with the Pink Diamonds palette for a dramatic look that will have you set for any holiday party! Watch out for that mistletoe :)

The signature Pink Diamonds collection is perfectly named - just like diamonds, the make-up of this collection is a girl's best friend! Enjoy and Happy Holidays to all!

To see more Make-up Junkie coverage of the gorgeous products from Lise Watier, check these out:
24 Carats Gloss and Precious Eyeliners
Magic Pearls Eyeshadow and Black Stars Eyeliner Pencil

Here are some photos of us having fun behind the scenes from a recent creative shoot with Sam (our gorgeous model) and Andrew (of ACM Photography). The pics are just a snippet of why I love what I do and why I should at all times remain behind the camera!

1. Standard three girls = Charlie's Angels shot with fan blowing à la Jennifer Lopez music video style:
2. Apparently my character is supposed to be holding a cell phone (I always thought they all held guns!). Instead, I look like I'm holding a hot dog:3. I decide that in this instance only - guns are more fun!4. Yes, too much fun!This time of the season always make me very thankful for the wonderful family and friends I'm surrounded with and for this life that I'm fortunate to lead. Thank you everyone for the support. Happy Holidays to you and yours!