Freshen up your face for the new year

It's a new year and time for a new you from head to toe, inside and out. In the first part of our four-part "New Year, New You" series, we focus on a concern of almost every woman — your complexion. The bad news is that every bad habit and every bit of stress and strain is reflected on your skin ... but the good news is you can heal your skin and prevent future damage with at-home cutting-edge skin care products. Want to learn how? Read on. It's all in this edition of the Trend Report!

Fountain of youth
The secret to forever-youthful skin may literally lie in the "fountain" — water! Moisture-depleted skin cells yearn for plumping, healing hydration, which you can provide through both product selection and application. Dr. Fran Cook-Bolden, a Manhattan-based dermatologist, director of the Ethnic Skin Specialty Group and author of "Beautiful Skin of Color," notes that winter skin is especially dry, which often means scaly, dry flakes (which can be more obvious on darker skin). She recommends limiting bathing to quick, tepid showers or baths (avoid very hot water) and don't completely dry off — seal in your hydrating efforts morning and night with a thick, moisturizing cream.

Trend tip: Hydrating products to try: Borghese Acqua di Vita "Living Water" Hydrating Seru ($95), Dior HydraAction Deep Hydration Sorbet Gel ($45), MD Skincare Maximum Moisture Treatment ($42), or the fashion insider's cult favorite, Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre "24hr Miracle Cream," now available in the US ($20). For your hands, try Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream ($8) worn with a pair of cotton gloves overnight, and for your lips we swear by Jo Malone's shiny, mint- and honey-infused Vitamin E Lip Conditioner SPF 15 ($20)!

When darkness falls
Oh, those dreaded dark undereye circles! They happen to the best of us, but rather than blame fate, heredity or too many late nights, take action. According to Dr. Dennis Gross, Manhattan-based dermatologist, creator of MD Skincare and author of "Your Future Face," lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking too much caffeine and overindulging in alcohol cause capillaries to leak iron and blood cells into the undereye area, giving it a dark appearance. Keeping allergy and sinus conditions in check can also help reduce dark circles. For even more impact, consider a skin care product dedicated to this problem area.

Trend tip: Undereye products to try: Bremann Research Labs Hylexin ($95), Eye Lifting Serum with Grapevine Resveratrol ($68) from French vinotherapy skincare line Caudalie (a cult fave of celebs and beauty insiders), Lancome Renergie Microlift Eye ($54), L'Occitane Immortelle Eye Balm ($30) or Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Eye Cream ($12) — with its light tint and optical diffusers, it may be all you need.

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Tighten up
There's nothing like a little do-it-yourself tightening (a la Botox) to get the beauty world abuzz. Tracie Martyn (beloved for her resculpting facial treatments) was convinced to bottle her Firming Serum ($175) so that A-list clients such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Susan Sarandon and Liv Tyler could reap its benefits beyond Martyn's luxurious Fifth Avenue salon. And Freeze 24/7, another trendsetting anti-wrinkle cream, was originally sold from a small table at Henri Bendel; thanks to the wrinkle-melting properties of muscle-relaxing GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid), it's now one of the store's best sellers.

Trend tip: Tightening products to try: DermaDoctor Immobile Lines Instant Topical Line Relaxer ($110), Kiehl's Cryste Marine Firming Cream ($45), Estee Lauder Perfectionist [CP+] Serum ($55) and Perfectionist Correcting Concentrate for Lip Lines ($35) or Benefit Ooo La Lift ($18), created specifically for the eye area.

Drugstore deals
Whether you want to just dip your toe in the regeneration waters or you prefer beauty on a budget, there are plenty of wonderful skin care products waiting for you on the shelves of your local drugstore! Mainstream brands are quick to adapt to the trends and treatments established by the higher-priced lines. For the face, try Olay Regenerist Targeted Tone Enhancer with pro-retinol ($19) or Aveeno Positively Radiant Anti-Wrinkle Cream ($13.99) with total soy complex and Vitamins B5 and E — both improve fine lines and even out skintone. And for the body, try Nivea Body Skin Firming Moisturizer with Advanced Q10 Complex ($6.99), which claims to firm, tone and tighten in just two weeks, or Vaseline Intensive Care Renewal Age Redefining Body Lotion ($6.49) with 30 percent more anti-aging alpha-hydroxy acids.

Trend tip: You heard it here first — in March, Jergens will add a natural glow Face Daily Moisturizer to their outrageously best-selling collection of self-"glowing" moisturizers for the body. Created specifically for facial skin, it adjusts to your skintone to provide the appropriate glow. They've also added a third shade (Medium/Tan) to the assortment, just in time for summer fun!

Do-it-yourself doctor treatments
If your New Year's resolutions call for some serious skin care and repair, then get busy! We're wowed by the potential of these products: Dr. Dennis Gross' MD Skincare Skin ER Emergency Repair Alpha Beta At-Home Facial ($52) — which contains a month's worth of weekly facial treatments: a face peel (the first chemical peel formulated for at-home use), a cleanser with toner, a firming eye lift and a hydra mask; pH Advantage 10/50 Exfoliating Pads, an “at-home” mini-peel treatment that is as easy as wipe on/wipe off; or Prevage™ Anti-Aging Treatment ($150) — an exclusive collaboration between Elizabeth Arden and Allergan (maker of Botox) — which contains idebenone, a powerful antioxidant for correcting and preventing degenerative cellular damage.

Trend tip: If you do use an at-home face peel, remember to treat your skin with gentle, tender loving care afterwards — follow directions to the letter, do not use any other exfoliation products for at least a week after the peel, avoid sun exposure and tanning and wear sunblock with an SPF of at least 30 outdoors.

Judy Gordon is a New York-based style consultant and the “Today” show’s style editor. She has been covering the fashion and beauty beat for the past decade. To learn more about Gordon, you can visit her Web site, TheTrendReport.com, which highlights style trends in America and across the world.

firstVIEW is the primary supplier of photos to Fashion Friday. Go to www.firstVIEW.com for the latest pictures from top fashion shows around the world, including New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Milan, Brazil, New Zealand, South Korea and more.

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