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The New Year is fast approaching and while some people may have already started working on their resolutions ( if you make one) there are some things we should agree to leave behind in 2017. This week I am going to be talking about five beauty trends you need to leave behind in 2017.

Over highlighting

I’m talking about that ‘natural glow’ many women try to achieve by using a glowing powder or cream stick. Highlighting just the right points on your face can be amazing, when the light hits you at the right angle that is. But, I’m not entirely sure how this became a ‘thing’ and it may be time to stop using more than two highlights on your face. I’ve seen some people sparkling like Edward* out in the sunlight. *clearly a Twilight reference – sorry, not sorry.

Unicorn anything

I really thought the unicorn trend was left behind in 2016, but then there was the Unicorn frappuccino released by Starbucks in April and the Unicorn Essence by Farsali that started making appearances on beauty vloggers You-Tube pages. Now, Too-faced cosmetics is also set to launch their Unicorn-themed holiday makeup collection called Life is a Festival, which includes a lipstick properly entitled Unicorn Tears. Unicorns are magical, happy, pink, and beautiful, but can we leave the unicorn tears in 2017?

Over-edited pictures

To believe everything we see in the media and on the cover of glossy magazines is, most definitely, naive. Celebrities have been long known to have their photos retouched when appearing in the spotlight, sometimes with or without their consent. Just last week actress Lypita Nyong’o’s pictures were heavily retouched for the cover of Grazia U.K magazine and this left the star voicing her concerns about African-American beauty in Hollywood. There is nothing wrong with the light smoothing of a wrinkle, but pictures should not be altered in such a way where the subject is almost unrecognizable.

Weird brows

I was not entirely sure if these brows were a joke when I first started seeing them on Instagram. Some memorable ones included the feather brows, glitter brows, braided brows (thanks photoshop) and the most memorable, the squiggle brows. 2016 was all about bold and full brows, so I am not sure how we have managed to stray so far from normalcy. While these looks may work in high-fashion, I hope not to see any more brow trends popping up in my Instagram feed for 2018.

Eyelash extensions

Have you considered eyelash extensions? I have, but then I asked myself — is this something that’s really for me? Sure, they would be more convenient that having to glue the false regular lashes to your face, but I’ve realized that a well-invested mascara is all you need to make your natural lashes look long and full. There are too many negative affects associated with eyelash extensions. You can’t get your lashes wet (no sad movies for you!), they are expensive, and not to mention time consuming. So that’s why I am voting to leave this trend behind and stick to my Too-Faced mascara.

What will you leave behind in 2017 ? Comment below.

I want to be excited about the new Wonder Woman movie coming out this year, but at every turn Warner Bros/DC Comics does something insulting and sexist that makes me change my mind.

Like accepting a promotional partnership with thinkThin, for example.

Wonder Woman, one of the strongest and fiercest female superheroes and first to receive a standalone film, is now the face of a diet bar. Good job Warner Bros. Good job.

Now, before I go any further, I should say that I have never tried a thinkThin bar. The website does not emphasize weight loss, but rather promotes general wellness and healthy lifestyles. The bars themselves are described as a “nutritious” snack to satisfy hunger without the guilt.

But, with a name like thinkThin, the image it creates is not a positive one.

This is what Michele Kessler, the president of thinkThin, was going for in terms of message: “We wanted to celebrate a hero film featuring a woman in the leading role,” she wrote in a press release. “We love that Wonder Woman has super strength and we’re proud to offer delicious products that give women the everyday strength they need to power through their day.”

I respect that comparison, but I doubt that message will get through. Instead, most people, particularly young girls, may see it as body shaming.

It’s bad enough that most female leads in film, especially superheroes, are extremely lean and thin, representing a certain type of woman. The larger, plus-size woman is always the funny friend or the wise confident. Magazines and news publications are jam-packed with articles about diet fads, offering up 10 ways to lost that stubborn belly fat while showcasing dresses only available in size zero. Women are berated with these images on a daily basis — do we really need it from Wonder Woman too?

Wonder Woman should be promoting acceptance as much as physical strength. She should be focusing on self-love, courage, intelligence, and independence. This character is a huge inspiration to young girls worldwide! Remember when the U.N. announced this fictional character was to be the honorary ambassador for the empowerment of girls and women? Think thin — is that the message this former ambassador is sending?

This is a serious missed opportunity. Warner Bros screwed up big time and I’m not sure if they can do anything to rectify it now. Wonder Woman is supposed to be a role model for girls. She is supposed to represent a strong-willed woman, someone who doesn’t need a man to save the day — someone who is smart enough to save both Batman and Superman at the same time!

But so far, all I see is another disgraced sell-out.

What do you think of this new partnership? Let us know in the comments below!