Clean out your make-up bag and start as you mean to contine, writes Phyl Clarke.
I'M CHEATING THIS week, but only for your benefit, dear readers. I've enlisted the help of make-up artist Leonard Daly to guide us through these difficult first weeks of resolutions, clear-outs and "to do" lists. If in doubt, always check with the experts, or as my dear father used to say: "If you want to buy sausages, go to a butcher." Daly certainly knows his sausages, and here he gives us his New Year lowdown.
Start by inspecting your make-up and skin care kits and decide what is worth keeping and what is to get rid of. Mascara is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. As a make-up artist Daly changes his mascara every week, but you don't need to be that excessive - he recommends getting a new one every eight to 12 weeks.
Did you know that products now have a use-by date? Skincare packaging features an image of an open jar with a number beside it, which relates to the number of months the ingredients stay effective. Daly advises doing a big clear-out every six months.
A make-up lesson with him entails an assessment of your current skincare and make-up products. "I have thrown out bags of make-up for clients and sent them home with a kit that is a fraction of the size, but all the products will be used."
Winter skin is exposed to the worst kind of weather, plus the drying effects of central heating, so take extra care of your skin. Daly's personal choice is the MD Formulationsrange, which includes super exfoliant, glycolic acid. It is also extra hydrating.
He also loves Dermalogica'sBarrier Repair and Climate Control for skin protection in the winter months, and stresses the importance of wearing an SPF as his top anti-ageing tip.
Refreshingly frank about his skin secrets, Daly avoids anti-wrinkle injections, in favour of Planet Skincarewhich he calls his "best friend". It contains synthetic snake venom which acts like Botox, getting rid of lines and also giving a smoothing effect.
When it comes to make-up, he is not a fan of following seasonal trends. "Make-up is very personal and your face shape, skin tone and the amount of time you're willing to put into doing your face are all factors in choosing the right products. During a consultation with one of our therapists you get to try out the products, touching and feeling them. Would you buy a pair of shoes without trying them on? This way you end up with colours that you'll love because they work for you."
In winter we need to warm up our face with the right tones. Daly stocks cult range Kevyn Aucoinexclusively in Ireland, and the peach coloured blush is a winter favourite.
"It's amazing - it comes in a cream and a powder, so there is one to suit all skin types, giving natural flushed cheeks without a hint of a big red face."
With so much knowledge and technical skill, it's a natural progression for Daly to start giving courses in make-up, and his classes will appeal to everyone from budding professional make-up artists, to someone who just wants to be able to do their own make-up like a pro.
• Queen Beauty Emporium, 66-68 Aungier Street, Dublin 2, tel: 01-4789633, www.queenbe.ie. Irish Timesreaders will receive a 30 per cent discount on selected services.