HAIR

Slim-style your locks

Believe it or not, your hairstyle can determine how heavy you look. “If you’ve
got a round face, then flat, straight hair will just hang limply to the
sides,” says Fearne Cotton’s hairdresser, Mark Hill.

Instead, go for styles with soft movement to break up the roundness of your
face – think model Sophie Dahl. The easiest way to achieve this is with Mark
Hill Sexy Curls Control Spray, £5.86. Simply spray over damp hair and dry
naturally.

Another easy way to drop pounds off your face is to switch your parting from
the centre to the side. Creating a front-sweeping fringe gives the illusion
of a heart-shaped face, à la Mariah Carey, which is the most flattering face
shape. Fact.

Long and short of it

“If you’re tall, step away from the elfin haircut – it’ll make you look
top-heavy,” warns Angelo Seminara, Trevor Sorbie’s International creative
director. “You need length to balance out your height and create a more
streamlined look.” Long layers work well – look to supermodel Gisele
Bündchen for inspiration.

Petite? “Long hair will drown you and make your body look squat,” says Angelo.
“Go with a style that’s shoulder-length or above, like actress Reese
Witherspoon. This will create distance between your feet and head and give
you the illusion of being longer and leaner.”

Quiff it up

“A scraped-back ponytail or messy knot ¿with a quiff is very flattering,”
explains Jonathan Soons, art director at Headmasters. “Sleekness at the
sides and volume on top makes your face look longer and can gently lift the
skin around your temples, making your face seem more defined.”

If you have time to wash hair first, apply Paul Mitchell Extra Body Sculpting
Foam, £8.95, on the crown of your head (imagine you have a halo – that’s
where the product needs to be). Roughly blow-dry your hair and scrape the
sides into a ponytail or loose knot, leaving the crown loose. Create a quiff
by twisting the end of the remaining hair and pinning it just in front of
your ponytail. You’ll have hot new-year hair and look slimmer than ever.

BODY

Follow the tan plan

Everyone knows you look slimmer with a tan, but use your fake tan cleverly to
really make the best of the effect. Just remember to go only one or two
shades darker than your natural colour.

James Read, the UK’s top tanning artist, who’s worked with Lady GaGa and Paris
Hilton, reveals his two-day plan:

Day 1: “Leave your tan on for five hours, then wash off for a colour
that’s two shades darker than your natural tone.”

Day 2: “Stand in front of a mirror and flex your arm muscles. Apply St
Tropez Radiance Mousse, £25, under the muscle, starting from your elbow and
working up to your shoulder. Creating a subtle darker line here will make
your arms look toned and reduce bingo wings. Tense your tummy muscles and
repeat the process, and do the same on your thighs. You can even apply two
lines either side of your throat, to make your neck look elongated.”

Whittle your waist

It’s simple: bigger boobs = smaller waist. And the best way to up your cup is
with bronzer. Benefit’s Hoola, £22.50, is perfect. Using a large brush and
the shape of your bra as a guide, sweep the bronzer just above the top of
your cup and down to your breast bone, to create the illusion of size.

Love a bit of sparkle? Dab a little Maybelline Dream Sun Glow Bronzing Powder
in Bronze, £4.99, on top. A hint of shimmer will make your breasts look
fuller and rounder – and not a needle in sight!

‘Skinny’ make-up

Wearing the right colours for your hair and skin tone can instantly take off
pounds by enhancing your best features. By applying your ‘skinny’ shade, you
can make your gorgeous peepers pop or draw attention to your luscious lips.
Follow these tips from Bourjois make-up artist Cassie Lomas:

Dark- and black-haired girls should opt for dark berry shades with a hint of
purple, but avoid burgundy and terracotta. Max Factor Earth Spirits Eye
Shadow in Passionate Plum, £4.45, and Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in
Electric Plum, £5.99, should be your staples.

Redheads should try rusts and dark reds, but avoid cool purples, greens and
blues – they’ll make your skin look pasty. Lancôme Le Contour Pro Lipliner
in Capucine, £16.50, and K by Beverley Knight Intense Lipstick in Cardinal,
£11, are great choices.

Blondes look pretty in peach but not in pink, so try Mac Powder Blush in
Peaches, £16, and Barry M Lip Paint in Peachy Pink, £4.25.

FACE

Shade yourself slimmer

Getting a thinner-looking face doesn’t have to mean scary surgery – use
contouring instead. “Applying a matte powder a few shades darker than your
natural skin colour on key areas of your face will create slimming shadows,”
says Max Factor make-up artist Caroline Barnes, who’s worked with Kylie and
Alex Burke.

After putting on your regular foundation, use a big blusher brush (with the
bristles squeezed into a square shape) to dab the matte powder into place.
Start under your jawline to create a more defined profile – it should feel
as if you’re pressing the brush into your skin.

For instant cheekbones, blow a kiss into a mirror and hold that pose! Now dab
into the hollow part, just beneath the apples of your cheeks, and work
towards your hairline. Finally, make your eyes stand out by softly dabbing a
darker-coloured powder into your eyelid crease.

Pluck away the pounds

“Thin – but not overly plucked – brows help your face appear thinner,” says
Valerie Sarnelle, make-up artist to celebs including Nicole Kidman.

For the ultimate weight-busting eyebrow shape, hold a make-up brush up
vertically to the outside of your nostril and line it up with the inner
corner of your eye. Where the make-up brush crosses your eyebrow is where
your brow should start, so pluck away hairs on the other side. Place the
brush on the outside of your nostril and line it up with the outer corner of
your eye to see where your eyebrow should end. Pluck any stray hairs beyond
that point. We love JK Jemma Kidd I-Conic Eyes Brow Pencil, £10, which
boasts tweezers, a brow brush, eyebrow pencil and sharpener in the lid!

PHOTOGRAPHY: REX, PIXELEYESPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK STOCKISTS:
BARRY M (BARRYM.COM), BENEFIT (BENEFITCOSMETICS.CO.UK), JK JEMMA KIDD
(ASOS.COM), K BY BEVERLEY KNIGHT (KBYBEVERLEYKNIGHTCOSMETICS.COM), LANCÔME
(LANCOME.CO.UK), MAC (MACCOSMETICS.CO.UK), MARK HILL (AVAILABLE AT
BOOTS.COM), MAYBELLINE (AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE), MAX FACTOR (AVAILABLE
NATIONWIDE), PAUL MITCHELL (PAULMITCHELL.CO.UK), RIMMEL (AVAILABLE
NATIONWIDE), ST TROPEZ (ST-TROPEZ.COM)

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