The New Year brings with it the sense of starting over and making things better than they were before.
No matter what age you are, one thing is true—you’re older this year than you were last year, and you’re never going to get any younger.
No one wants their age to show up on their skin, and the key to looking younger than your years is quality skincare. Even if you haven’t been the best at taking care of your skin in the past, now is the time to commit to new skincare resolutions.
You probably have some in mind already, but just in case you’re looking for some suggestions, we’ve got some beauty habits that will likely help you arrive at this time next year looking even better than you do right now.
That’s a resolution you can embrace, right?
1. Pay More Attention to Your Skin
One of the best ways to find out if you’re taking good care of your skin is to be more aware of it—not only how it looks, but how it feels and how it reacts to your day-to-day schedule. When does it break out? When does it get dry or oily? When does it seem to look dull, and what makes it look its best?
Our bodies are constantly going through changes, and these changes affect our skin. When you don’t get enough sleep, lines and wrinkles are more visible. When you eat a meal full of junk food, you may notice increased inflammation and redness, or even acne. Overindulge in alcohol and you could get next-day puffiness.
Start paying more attention, and notice when your skin responds well to what you’re doing. It’s the best way to make healthy changes that keep you looking your best.
2. Start Where You Are
As you start noticing your skin more often, you may be tempted to grow overcritical, zooming in on your age spots, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, sagging, and the like. This can discourage you from making healthy changes, and we don’t recommend it.
Instead, take a positive view of where you are right now. Noticing flaws can lead you to solutions, but notice the good stuff, too. Maybe your forehead is still blissfully lacking wrinkles, and your lips are full and plump. Maybe you left your acne years behind and now enjoy smooth skin, even if it is a little dry.
Take a balanced view of your skin, and then go from there when deciding how you need to address any issues.
3. Detox Your Skincare Cabinet
We recommend pulling all your skincare products out and laying them on the counter where you can see them all clearly. It’s time to detox your routine so that you begin the year fresh. Some suggestions:
- Get rid of makeup products that are over 6 months old. For eye products, toss those that are 3 months or older.
- Clean your makeup brushes–dirty brushes can deposit bacteria on your skin, increasing your risk for inflammation and acne.
- Look over your cleansers—are they still right for your skin where it is today? Toss any that are full of chemicals you can’t pronounce, or that have harsh sulfates in them.
- Check your moisturizers—are they still working to keep your skin properly hydrated? If you’re experiencing dryness, consider trying something new. Look for natural butters and oils in your moisturizers—toss those that are full of mineral oil, parabens, alcohols, and other toxic ingredients.
- Re-evaluate your serums. Those anti-aging serums may have worked last year, but if they’re not pulling their weight anymore, get rid of them and look for something that will.
- Consider buying only clean, non-toxic beauty products that are made without potentially dangerous chemicals and with natural, nourishing ingredients. Our CV Skinlabs products all provide youthful results without any irritating or toxic ingredients. For more information on what ingredients to avoid, check out our list.
4. Embrace Gentleness
When we’re young, we can scratch and scrape at our faces without too many worries, but starting at the age of 30, those habits are likely to do more damage than good. With each passing year, it’s important to be gentler with your skin.
Skip harsh chemical cleansers in favor of nourishing ones. Skip harsh exfoliating scrubs in favor of gentler fruit-acid-based options. Skip scalding hot water in favor of lukewarm. Remember that your skin has to last you a lifetime—so treat it gently!
5. Don’t Neglect Your Neck
Most of us don’t think much about our necks until they start to age. Then we panic. Wherever you are in your life trajectory, it’s never too early to take care of the delicate skin on your neck. Use a gentle exfoliator to get rid of dead skin cells, and start applying moisturizer morning and night to preserve that youthful décolleté.
6. Eat for Your Skin
Your skin pulls nutrients from your bloodstream just like your other organs do, which means it’s significantly affected by what you eat. This too becomes more apparent as you age. Watch how your skin reacts to various diets.
To promote healthy, youthful skin, eat more water-rich foods like melons and soups, drink water regularly, and eat lots of fruits and vegetables to provide your skin with anti-aging phytochemicals and protective antioxidants.
7. Mask at Least Once a Week
If you’re not already masking regularly, this is the time to do so. In the past, face masks were used only for special occasions, but now they’ve become a necessity in our quest for delaying aging as long as possible.
Choose a mask that addresses your skincare concerns. Some are moisturizing, some exfoliating, and some oil-absorbing. Your best bet is to rotate among them, as we all need help in these areas from time to time.
- Clay masks help draw out dirt and impurities and can help skin recover from environmental stressors and pollutants.
- Clarifying and exfoliating masks help slough off dead skin cells and brighten your complexion.
- Moisturizing masks drench your skin in moisture and help you combat dryness and flaking.
- Sheet masks help reduce puffiness and are great right before special occasions or after a stressful week.
What are your New Year’s skincare resolutions?
