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By now you’ve probably seen people posting about their New Year’s resolutions all over social media. “Start getting up at 5 a.m.; go for a run every day; Eat vegan.” While goal-oriented resolutions like this are great, let’s be honest—it can feel overwhelming to be inundated with so many big change announcements all at once.
A to learn Conducted at University College London in 2009, it found that it takes 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic. It can take even longer for this behavior to become a habit, between three and eight months. Needless to say, developing a new habit takes quite a bit of time, dedication, and energy (both mental and physical). If you’re up for a bigger change like some of the above, great! If not, don’t worry. Smaller changes made over a longer period of time can be just as effective. In this post, I will share five achievable ways to improve your skincare routine in 2023.
5 tips for more successful resolutions
Whether your resolutions are about skincare or something else entirely, here are a few tips on how to make them more effective.
- Keep your resolutions simple and specific. Choose only a few small, achievable resolutions at the beginning. A maximum of three small targets is best, or you can choose just one larger target. Change is hard enough as it is, so be gentle with yourself.
- Make sure your resolutions are realistic. Real change is a marathon, not a spring. It takes a lot of time, dedication, and effort, so think carefully about your resolutions and make sure you don’t set yourself up for failure. When you already have a lot on your plate, small changes over time can still make a big impact!
- Make a plan and set milestones. Success is better achieved in small, bite-sized pieces. Write down the steps to achieve each goal. Planning is everything and will make it so much easier to actually stick to your resolution. If necessary, give yourself a schedule. How long will you give yourself to make this resolution a reality? Make sure to check back regularly to ensure you’re always moving toward an outcome, even (or especially) if that outcome just feels better.
- set reminders. Whether it’s your phone or a low-tech sticky note, use reminders to your advantage.
- Be patient and allow setbacks. Remember the study that said it can take time eight Months to develop a new habit? Well, the same study states that missing an opportunity does not affect habit formation. In other words, don’t worry about screwing it up! The goal is to strive for improvement, not perfection. There will inevitably be times when you suffer setbacks and get lost. Just catch up, move on, and focus on the bottom line.
5 simple skincare resolutions with a big impact
#1 Hang your head upside down for 2 minutes every night
It might sound weird, but this is something I’ve personally been doing for over a decade. As we age, blood flow to our faces naturally decreases. This is thanks to a reduction in the size of the blood vessels responsible for supplying the skin with oxygen and fresh nutrients. Hanging your head upside down is one way to push blood onto your face to make it look fresher and brighter. It’s the same concept as a facial massage, but as someone with redness-prone skin and sensitive capillaries, I find this puts a little less pressure on my capillaries.
Aside from the skin benefits, I actually find this to be a great way to calm my mind and put it into sleep mode. It forces me to pause for a moment, and doing it every night before bed has been a way of signaling my body that it’s time to wind down.
How to make it a habit
Add this to your existing nightly routine or set a reminder on your phone until it becomes second nature.
Learn more about this effective 2 minute trick.
#2 Use a facial scrub at least once a week
It’s something I preach about a lot, but that’s because I really believe in it and I’ve seen it with my own eyes. You can make a visible difference in your skin by using a physical exfoliator like a face scrub. The best part? It’s super easy to make and hardly takes any time! You’ll see a brighter, smoother looking complexion instantly, and these effects will increase over time. Scrubs are also a great tool if you are dealing with hyperpigmentation.
How to make it a habit
Provided you don’t use an acid exfoliator at the exact same time, an exfoliator can be added to your routine morning or night—just use it after your cleanser. Start by picking one day a week and add your scrub on that day. If you like the result and your skin tolerates it well, you can touch up for up to two days. I personally use our new one Triple Berry Smoothing Scrub twice a week since starting and I have to say I love the results. It has really made my skin look radiant during these dreary winter months.
Learn more about the Benefits of a face scrub and how to choose the right one.
#3 Wash your makeup brushes and pillowcases more often
This isn’t breaking news, but makeup brushes and pillowcases can harbor a lot of bacteria. They touch our face every day, which also means they collect oil, sweat, and dead skin cells every day. If you’re struggling with breakouts or irritation, it’s especially important not to reinsert them into your face, as this could result in uneven or dull-looking skin.
You should clean both your makeup brushes and pillowcases once a week. If you’re using a beauty blender, you might want to clean it more often since the sponge material absorbs so much. Not only is makeup better for your skin, it’s easier to apply and your brushes last longer.
How to make it a habit
To make this part of your routine, combine it with another weekly habit. Maybe you do your laundry every Sunday night or water your plants every Saturday morning. One benefit of washing makeup brushes during the day is that when it’s warm enough, you can set them out in the sun to dry for an extra fight against bacteria.
I personally like to use a Sulfate-free gel facial cleanser to wash my makeup brushes. Some people love to use specialty cleaners, which is great, but I like this because I already have it on hand.
#4 Wash your face every night
If you’re struggling to be consistent with your skincare routine, washing your face every night is the perfect place to start. You’ll never get skincare results if you’re inconsistent, but it can be intimidating to dive right in. That’s why washing your face every night is a good start (remember, success is better achieved in bite-sized chunks). A nightly skincare routine—even if it’s just a few simple steps—can help prevent clogged pores and breakouts, improve hydration, and minimize signs of aging. Once this feels automatic to you, you can start tackling the perfect morning routine.
How to make it a habit
One of my favorite tips is to do your nightly skincare routine earlier, e.g. B. when you get home for the day. Many people wait to wash their face just before bed and end up getting too tired. Make it a habit to wash your face as soon as you get home in the evening (or if you work from home, set an alarm clock every day around 5 p.m. or a time that suits you). If you commit to taking care of your skin every night, you will begin to see a visible improvement in your skin.
Even if you don’t typically struggle with washing your face at night, consider making it one of your skincare resolutions. It may be beneficial to do your routine earlier in the evening due to your skin’s circadian rhythm.
#5 Clean and organize your beauty products
Ringing in a new year is all about “out the old and in the new,” so why not apply that to your skincare resolutions? I know I’m not the only one who collects (hoards) products and then accidentally pushes them all the way to the back of my drawer. Out of sight is out of mind for me, which unfortunately means I don’t rediscover some of these products until much later when they’ve expired. The new year is a good time to take stock of what you have and make a mental note of what you used up and what you ended up not achieving. It’s also a good time to ditch products that are past their prime – here How do you know if a skincare product is expired?.
How to make it a habit
Unless you’re someone who accumulates a ton of new skincare and beauty products, just doing it once or twice a year can be enough. If you’re a skincare junkie who tends to scavenge for new products on a regular basis, it pays to clear out your makeup closet every three months. You don’t have to clean a lot every time, but this exercise is helpful because it reminds you of what you already have. That means you’re more likely to use things up before they even expire, and it can help you save money.
To keep things organized, stick a Post-It in the cupboard or drawer where you keep most of your products. Make a note of the date you last cleaned and also the date three months after that day to remind you when you do it again.
Famous beautician and skincare expert
An esthetician trained in cosmetic chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching skin, educating her audience and building an award-winning line of products. Her hands-on experience as an esthetician and trusted skincare expert has created a real solution – products formulated for nine different skin types to give your face exactly what it needs to look and feel good. Celebrities, editors, bloggers and skincare enthusiasts around the world trust her extensive real-world knowledge and ongoing research. Marie Claire calls her “the most passionate skin practitioner we know.”