1. Change up your beauty.

Next to nail polish, applying makeup is one of the best ways to experiment with your look without permanently altering your appearance. If you decide the makeup doesn’t look so great, simply wash it off. In general, many women tend to limit themselves to pale pinks, nudes and other natural colors. So, this year spice up your personal palette by incorporating bolder, more vibrant shades. For the lips, opt for a rich red, which looks great on everyone. You just have to find the right shade. If red lipstick seems too radical, try lip glosses in red tones. For the cheeks, drop the pink, rosy shades and pick up blush in light plum or creamy coral.

• Product picks: Stila Lip Glase — Fruit Punch, Philosophy Supernatural Lip Gloss Ruby, Colorescience Retractable Blusher Brush — The Color Purple, Colorescience Retractable Blusher Brush — The Rising Sun

2. Switch out your shadows.

Playing with eye shadow provides a dramatic change and again, there’s absolutely no commitment. If you typically gravitate toward neutral colors, try a bold blue shadow or deep purple for sultry, smoky eyes.

Also, select metallic shadows that compete with your eye color, suggests Notebook. ”Grey, silver and white can make a brown eye ‘pop’, while gold and bronze make a blue eye stand out,” Anne Carullo, senior vice president of global product innovation for Estèe Lauder, tells the magazine.

• Product picks: Stila Smoky Eye Palette — Original, Stila Eye Shadow Matte — Batura, Stila Eye Shadow Duo — Borealis, Stila Eye Shadow Trio Gold Glow

3. Seek a new scent.

Many of us typically stick with several scents for every occasion. For 2009, instead of playing it safe with your perfume, go for a new fragrance. Perfumer Frederic Malle tells InStyle that when selecting scents, it’s best to sample a fragrance and see how it wears all day before deciding if you like it. He also suggests starting your search with a classic fragrance rather than following the latest trends in perfume.

• Product picks: Vera Wang, Marc Jacobs, Philosophy The Fragrance, Philosophy Amazing Grace Fragrance, L’Occitane Cherry Blossom Eau de Toilette, L’Occitane Neroli Eau de Parfum

4. Get a cut.

You can quickly modify your mane with a beautiful cut. This spring hair trends include shorter cuts just above the shoulder. But, if you’d like to keep your longer locks, get a trim — about two to three inches — or add layers to your face, hairstylist David Evangelista tells Bazaar. Not sure what cut you’d like? Peruse your favorite magazines and Web sites for ideas.

5. Consider a color change.

For temporary color, try a semi-permanent glaze or a home highlighting kit, suggests Good Housekeeping. Prefer a more drastic change? Then, see a professional. Going from dark blond to light blond at home can leave hair looking monochromatic, whereas a professional stylist can create beautiful tones, explains the magazine.

6. Change your style.

If the above hair suggestions seem too extreme, experiment with different hairstyles. It doesn’t have to be a style overhaul. A style change can be as simple as wearing a classic ponytail, a side ponytail bun or straightening typically curly tresses. Then, complete the look with pretty hair accessories.

See also:

Get Ready for the New Year, Tip #3

Get Ready for the New Year, Tip #2

Get Ready for the New Year, Tip #1