Happy New Year to you and your skin! After the holiday season’s festivities, your skin is likely feeling dry, dull, and possibly even breaking out, so now is the perfect time to start some new skincare habits in order to bring the life back to your complexion. Here are the five skincare resolutions that everyone should make – and stick to.
Drink More Water
This sounds like an easy one, but so many of us don’t drink enough water throughout the day. Did you know that dehydration is one of the main causes of dullness and fine lines on the face? Essentially, a lack of water can actually cause you to look older. There are so many more skin benefits to drinking water – it not only helps to reduce lines, but hydrated skin cells are also plumper and firmer which, in turn, gives youglowing and visibly firmer skin. Skin cells are more efficient in repairing damage that causes ageing when they are hydrated, too, so drinking more water actually has anti-ageing benefits.
A top tip to ensure you are drinking the recommended two litres (or three litres in the warmer months) of water a day: invest in a large reusable water bottle and set yourself a goal for how many times you refill it per day. Also, most fitness apps (i.e. Garmin, MyFitnessPal, Fitbit) have a water-tracking option where you can set a goal and input your intake each day. It’s a great way to hold yourself accountable.
Wear Sunscreen Daily
We all know that it’s important to wear sunscreen on the beach and by the pool. We want to avoid burning and increasing our risk of skin cancer, but not everyone is aware that sun damage can happen through the mildest exposure to the rays and even when it’s cloudy. Here’s why you want to protect the skin on your face from sun exposure: UV rays can damage the skin’s elastin and collagen, leading to premature ageing. This damage only shows years down the line, but just because you can’t see it today does not mean it isn’t happening.
Sun exposure also causes pigmentation, sometimes called “sun spots”. You can reduce the appearance of pigmentation with certain products or regular skin peels, but it is much easier to prevent the effects by using sunscreen every day. The great thing is that many skincare brands now produce lightweight facial sunscreens with very high protection, such as the Clinique Super City Block Daily Face Protector SPF 40. This can be applied over your moisturiser and under makeup without feeling heavy on your skin and is perfect for daily use.
Add a Serum to Your Skincare Routine
The most basic skincare routine usually involves a moisturiser, but do you use serum? A serum is applied underneath your moisturiser and gives you extra skincare benefits that you just can’t get from a moisturiser alone. There are so many options when it comes to serums for every skincare concern and every budget, which means you can personalise your routine to exactly what you need. For example, if you want anti-ageing benefits, The Regenerating Serum from La Mer helps to diminish lines and wrinkles. GlamGlow’s SUPERSERUM, meanwhile, is fantastic for reducing open pores and refining the skin’s texture.
Start Using Facial Massage Tools
Tools such as a jade roller or gua sha stones not only feel amazing on your skin, but also help with lymphatic drainage and relaxing facial muscles which, in turn, helps to reduce both puffiness and lines. They also help your skin serums and moisturisers absorb better, so use them as part of your nighttime skincare routine to really get the best out of their benefits. If you prefer to use a facial massage tool in the morning, keep yours in the fridge for an instant pick-me-up in themorning. Unsure of where to start? Follow @fit_faces on Instagram to learn some great techniques from Natalia Broberg.
Change Up Your Nightly Routine
Your skin cells repair themselves at night, mostly between the hours of 11pm and 2am, which is why a good night’s sleep is so important when it comes to keeping your skin youthful and preventing premature ageing. To help this process even more, you can add in extra products and moisture to your nighttime skincare routine to create the optimal environment for skin cell repair.
Night creams such as Resilience Multi-Effect Night byEstée Lauder give you double the richness and benefits of the day cream to nourish skin while you sleep.The brand’s Advanced Night Repair serum actually helps in the repair process and reduces the ageing effects of daily skin damage, so it’s another great addition for your nighttime skincare routine. These are just examples, but you can add richer creams, oils, and repair serums to really give your skin a helping hand and wake up with beautifully glowing skin. Now go forth and stick to your skincare resolutions!
Shop the Story
Super City Block Broad Spectrum SPF 40, CLINIQUE
The Regenerating Serum, LA MER
Superserum, GLAMGLOW
Resilience Multi-Effect Night, ESTÉE LAUDER
Advanced Night Repair, ESTÉE LAUDER
