With 2018 quickly approaching, it is time to start thinking of some new year’s resolutions, which are always a great way to make positive changes to different parts of your life. When it comes to your skin, here are a few resolutions that just about everybody would benefit from trying.

I resolve to…establish a daily skin care routine that I can actually stick to   

At the start of each year, many people resolve to take better care of their skin, but find it hard to follow through with this.

Why?

Usually because they do not have a skin care routine to follow.

Of course, you do need to be realistic when putting together your skin care routine. If you know that you are rushed in the mornings but have more time at night, then a ten step routine for the morning is not something that you are going to stick to for very long.

So, what exactly does a skin care routine need to consist of?

Here are some of the essential steps to follow:

• Cleanser – this is something that needs to be done every single night
• Toner – this is an optional step, but will help to rebalance your skin’s pH level, which the cleanser would have disrupted
• Eye Cream – another optional step, but necessary if you have anti-aging concerns
• Serums – it is worthwhile including at least one serum in your skin care routine
• Moisturizer – this step cannot be skipped, as everybody’s skin will benefit from a moisturizer
• Sunscreen – essential for the daytime, but not necessary at night

Try to leave a minute or two between each step, so that the active ingredients in each product will have time to penetrate into your skin before being diluted by the next product.

I resolve to…moisturize my skin as soon as I step out of the shower, while it is still damp

It can be easy to forget to moisturize your skin as soon as you step out of the shower, but this is something definitely worth making an effort for.

Why?

Because a moisturizer is designed to form a protective layer over the surface of your skin. This layer has two purposes:

• To seal in any water and oils on the surface of the skin, preventing them from evaporating
• To protect the skin from environmental damage

By applying a moisturizer while your skin is still damp, this means that the excess water will be trapped beneath the moisturizer, and the only place for it to go would be into your skin. If you do not moisturize, this water will only end up evaporating, leaving your skin feeling quite dry.

I resolve to…wear sunscreen every single day

Sunscreen is something that many people neglect, especially when the sun does not seem to be strong.

However, this is a huge mistake…

Not only is the sun responsible for up to 90% of premature aging, meaning wrinkles, fine lines, sagging skin, age spots and more, but it can also lead to skin cancer. 

Studies have shown that using sunscreen every day significantly reduces premature aging, as well as your chances of developing skin cancer.

Can’t seem to remember to apply it?

Try keeping your multiple bottles of sunscreen in different places, such as in your bathroom, by your front door, in your car and in your office.

Don’t forget…

Even if it seems to be a cloudy day, sunscreen is still essential. The sun’s UV rays are able to penetrate through thick cloud, and are just as dangerous in the winter as they are in the summer.

I resolve to…try a new, healthy food at least once a week

Trying new foods is such a fun resolution, and is one that will benefit your skin too.

How?

The key here is the word healthy. Your diet has a direct impact on the health of your skin, and while it is easy enough to resolve to eat healthier, this is a resolution that is not very specific, meaning that most people do not end up sticking to it.

By trying a new, healthy food, at least once a week, you will no doubt end up finding new foods that you love, and can then incorporate more of these into your diet.

Here are a few examples of healthy, and extremely tasty, foods that you may not have tried yet, each of which are fantastic for your skin:

• Bone broth – contains a high level of minerals, as well as collagen
• Sea buckthorn – rich in antioxidants, as well as so many nutrients
• Sunflower seeds – contains important antioxidants, as well as omega-6 fatty acids
• Dragon fruit – rich in vitamin C and fibre
• Seaweed, kelp and algae – great for hydration, and also contains anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties
• Kefir, sauerkraut, miso and kimchi – all of these are fermented foods, also known as probiotics, which improve the health of your gut and boost the health of your skin

Don’t forget…

You can even make “normal” fruits and vegetables seem more exciting by trying different varieties. Everything from tomatoes to onions to herbs come in a range of different varieties, and each one will have its own unique flavor and appearance.

I resolve to…change my pillowcases twice a week

Even if you already change your bedding once a week, you should really be changing your pillowcase more often.

Why?

Because this is the part of your bed that comes into contact with your face for so many hours each and every night. While you sleep, everything from sweat to bacteria to dead skin cells are shed from your skin onto your pillowcase, meaning that they only end up back on your skin the next night.

If you suffer from acne…

You may find that changing your pillowcase more often ends up reducing the amount of breakouts that you experience.

Did you know that the material your pillowcase is made from can also have an effect on your skin?

Fabrics such as cotton end up causing friction when your skin rubs against them, leading to exacerbated wrinkles and fine lines on the side of your face that you usually sleep on. However, silk and satin do not cause any friction, with your skin simply gliding over the fabric instead.

I resolve to…use skin care products that have been designed for my skin type

There are many products out there that state that they are suitable for all skin types, but using products that have been designed for your specific skin type will hugely benefit your skin.

These are the five main skin types out there:

• Dry skin – a dull and rough complexion that is easily prone to flakiness, itchiness and irritation
• Oily skin – a shiny complexion with large pores. Highly susceptible to acne and blackheads
• Normal skin – a radiant complexion with minimal sensitivities and blemishes
• Combination skin – a combination of the above on different parts of your face
• Sensitive skin – a complexion that easily reacts to both internal and external factors 

Once you have established what your skin type is, you can then begin using products that have been specially formulated for this.

You may be wondering…

Will this actually make a noticeable difference to my skin?

The answer is a most definite yes, unless you are blessed with the normal skin type, in which case you can get away with using a wide range of different products.

Each skin type will have particular requirements when it comes to ingredients and formulas, and using products that have been designed for your skin type will allow your skin to really thrive. 

Remember that there are different factors out there that can cause your skin type to change, from your age and hormonal changes to your environment and any medications that you may be taking.

I resolve to…begin using an eye cream

Once you have left your early 20s behind you, it is time to begin using an eye cream.

Many people wonder…

Why can’t I use my regular moisturizer around my eyes?

You can, but the skin around your eyes is far thinner than the skin on the rest of your face, so a dedicated eye cream will contain specific ingredients to nourish this delicate skin.

Here are a few ingredients to keep an eye out for when purchasing a new eye cream:

• Hyaluronic acid
• Ceramides
• Retinol
• Vitamins C and E
• Squalane
• Vitamin K
• Arnica 

Wondering how often you should be applying your eye cream?

Once a day is usually enough, but if you have particular anti-aging concerns, then you may want to apply it once in the morning and then once more in the evening.

I resolve to…stop neglecting the skin on my hands

The hands tend to be the part of the body that can really give away a person’s age.

Why?

For a few different reasons, but mainly because your hands are the part of your body that are most often exposed to the elements, with the sun having a huge impact. Your hands are also likely washed more often than the rest of your skin, leaving them susceptible to dryness, which promotes the aging process.

So, what can you do about this?

Here are a few easy steps that you can follow to nourish the skin on your hands:

• Swap standard antibacterial gels, which are extremely drying, for moisturizing versions, and do the same with any soaps that you use
• Make sure that you are re-applying sunscreen to your hands multiple times throughout the day. Keep a travel-sized bottle of sunscreen with you at all times to ensure that you do not forget
• Moisturize your hands with a thick cream before bed, covering them with thin cotton gloves if you want them to be extra soft in the morning

I resolve to…clean my makeup brushes once a week

There are so many people out there who never actually clean their makeup brushes.

Are you guilty of this too?

If so, this is something that needs to change immediately.

Why?

Because using dirty makeup brushes transfers dirt, bacteria and old makeup remnants onto your skin, which, as you can imagine, will not be doing your skin any favors.

Unclean makeup brushes will also have an effect on makeup application, leaving the end results not as smooth as they otherwise would have been.

Ideally, you would clean your makeup brushes every time they are used, but a deep clean is not very realistic for the average person on a daily basis.

However, for those who would like to clean their brushes each day, there are sprays that you can use in just a couple of seconds, as well as automatic brush cleaners that make the job so easy.

For everyone else, once a week, or even once every two weeks, is how often you should be deep cleaning your brushes. There are many methods of doing this, from lathering it up with a soap in your hands to cleaning them in a bowl with some baby shampoo.

It does not really matter which method you choose, as long as you ensure that your makeup brushes stay clean!

I resolve to…visit a dermatologist once a year

If you have not visited a dermatologist for a while, then this is definitely a resolution that you need to make.

Why is this important?

Because a dermatologist will survey your body for any worrying moles, and will check all of the crevices that the average person tends to miss when self-checking their skin.

Don’t have a dermatologist?

The internet is a great place to start, as you will be able to check the websites of local practices and find a doctor who appeals to you. You could also speak to your doctor, as they will likely be able to recommend a dermatologist to you.