December 29, 2020

New Year’s Skin Care Resolutions

As we start the New Year, or any time of the year, it's always a great time to set some skin care goals for yourself. Make a resolution to take better care of your skin in the coming year.

Here’s ten ways to upgrade your skincare regimen for the New Year, so you can refresh your skin, and start the New Year off strong. If you have sensitive skin, it's even more important to improve on your skin care resolution.

1. Stay hydrated and eat healthy

This one is probably on your list of New Year’s resolutions already. In a Statista Survey, from 2024, almost half the respondents said one of their resolutions was to eat healthier. Healthy eating doesn’t just have to be for weight loss, but your overall health — including your skin, hair, and nail health — will thrive as well.

Eating lots of fruits, veggies, healthy fats, and protein is hard but worth it. Avoiding greasy, sugary food is important, as is keeping hydrated with water.

Our skin needs water and nutrients to stay healthy and glowing. Drinking water and eating a balanced diet are essential for keeping our skin looking its best and preventing premature aging.

2. Stop picking and touching your skin and popping pimples

Our hands can spread bacteria and viruses. If we touch our face, they can enter our body through our mouth or nose.

Because of COVID, we have become more conscious of touching our faces. This awareness may lead us to be more cautious about it in the future. For reasons more than virus and bacteria transmission, you should avoid touching your face.

Our hands carry dirt, oil, bacteria, and viruses that can clog pores and cause breakouts. Picking or popping pimples can spread bacteria and lead to more breakouts and even infection. So make it a resolution to keep your hands away from your face except for when it’s time to cleanse and moisturize. When that time comes, make sure to thoroughly wash your hands beforehand (pun intended).

3. Wash your reusable face masks

Luckily, we have a whole list of tips to help control maskne (breakout due to using a mask for long periods). One of our best pieces of advice for preventing maskne is washing your reusable face masks after each use. As time passed, we probably got lazy about washing our face masks regularly. Let's remember to change that habit.

Face masks trap in dirt, bacteria, and sweat which creates an acne breeding ground in the area under your mask. Don't wear the same mask multiple times because sweat and saliva can build up under it. Changing your mask regularly is important for hygiene reasons.

Make sure to have a few days' worth of masks to switch between and remember to wash them with your other laundry regularly. Best to use a gentle, fragrance-free laundry detergent. You can also make your own detergent using products for sensitive skin.

4. Cut out harmful ingredients

In 2020 California became the first US state to ban the use of 24 toxic chemicals found in personal care products. Forty nations have ceased the use of irritating ingredients such as formaldehyde, mercury, parabens, and phthalates.

Certain ingredients in skincare products, such as fragrances, dyes, alcohols, oils, and oxybenzone, can cause breakouts, inflammation, or irritation.

Check your skincare products for harmful ingredients to avoid before buying new ones. Look up information on their safety to make sure you are making a good choice for your skin.

5. Take off your makeup

After a long day, it's tempting to go straight to bed without removing your makeup. But if you do, your skin will suffer, even if you wake up feeling refreshed. Taking care of your skin by removing makeup before bed is important.

Leaving makeup on overnight can clog pores, dry out skin, and prevent it from renewing itself. It's important to let your skin breathe and go through its natural renewal process.

6. Don’t forget sunscreen

You may remember to use sunscreen at the beach or before a hike but forget to use it daily. This is especially true if you live in a cloudy area or haven't been going out much this year.

The sun's UVA rays can harm our skin, even on cloudy days or when we're indoors. This can result in premature aging and an increased risk of skin cancer. So daily sunscreen application is just as important in the fall and winter, and if you’re indoors.

Purchase a mineral sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. Keep it next to your toothbrush, moisturizer, or makeup. This will help you remember to apply it every morning. Sunscreen with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the safest and most beneficial, according to the Food & Drug Association (FDA).

7. Scrub away dead skin

If you aren’t already on the exfoliation train, this is the year to hop on it. Exfoliating a few times a week helps get rid of dead, dull skin, leaving behind a fresh, new layer of skin. Try a gentle exfoliating scrub to thoroughly remove makeup and impurities, smooth your skin and reveal your natural glow. Follow with a refining mask with kaolin clay to rejuvenate and smooth your skin.

8. Keep it consistent

New skin care products are always coming out, making it tempting to buy every serum or cream that promises great results. If you constantly switch products, your skin won't be able to adapt and show results. This is true even if the new products contain miracle ingredients. Give your skin time to adjust by sticking to a consistent skincare routine.

Consistency with your skincare routine is important. Once you find a product that works well for your skin, stick with it and give it time to show results. Once you have your essential skincare products, use them as part of your daily routine for the best outcome.

Try these routines for sensitive skin:

9. Declutter your skin care shelf

Does your over-the-counter acne cream you bought in middle school spark joy? Are you a bit of skin care hoarder? Find a routine that works for you, declutter for the New Year, and keep only the products you use regularly.

Keeping your skincare shelf clean and simple will help you move through your routine faster and more easily. This will make it more likely that you will stick to your skincare routine.

10. Practice Stress Reducing Techniques

Here’s another one that may already be on your resolution list, but what does stress have to do with your skin? Well, a lot.

Stress can make your body produce more oil, reduce collagen, and weaken your immune system. If you have preexisting conditions like rosacea, eczema, or psoriasis, stress can lead to flare ups.

To reduce stress, try to get enough sleep. Engaging in activities you enjoy, such as reading or walking, can also help.

You can update your skincare routine at any time of the year. Consider adding a few changes to your resolutions list today to improve your skin and overall appearance.