The Only Skincare New Year’s Resolutions You Need

If learning how to properly take care of your skin is on your list of new year resolutions, we’re here to help! Here’s how to achieve your best skin possible in 2018.

Common Areas for Improvement – Prioritize These in 2018

While we’re all unique, there are certain tendencies we share – and problems with sun protection, regular moisturizing and proper cleansing are at the top of the list. By working these steps into your skincare regimen, you will be on your way to younger, healthier looking skin.

Moisturize Immediately After Showering

Problem: A steaming shower, especially in the cold winter months, may sound relaxing, but a hot shower strips your skin of essential oils.

Solution: Turn down the water temperature to warm instead of hot, and make sure to apply your facial moisturizer and body cream right after you get out of the shower to help lock in moisture.

Pro Tip: Keep forgetting to put lotion on after you shower? Try keeping it in the shower with you, that way you can quickly apply it when your skin is damp and before it has lost any of its moisture.

Don’t Skip the Sunscreen

Problem: You always remember to put sunscreen on when you’re at the beach or laying around the pool, but what about all of the sun exposure your skin is seeing while out for a walk, or when you’re simply running errands?

Solution: Look for a daily sunscreen that’s at least SPF 30, light-scented, and non-greasy so it feels more sheer on the skin.

Pro Tip: Keep your face covered by using a foundation that has SPF already built into the ingredients, and use a daily moisturizer that also contains SPF for days that you’re makeup free so you’re always covered.

Always Remove Your Makeup Before Bed

Problem: Wearing makeup to bed can mix with the oils in your skin and dirt from the day (hello car exhaust and dust particles) causing unwanted acne. But let’s be real here, you’ve had a long day and standing at the bathroom sink is less appealing than your bed that seems to be calling your name…

Solution: Avoid the before-bed-dilemma and wash your face as soon as you get home for the night. Your skin will be thanking you every time you click “watch next episode” and you can head straight for your bed when the time comes to turn in.

Pro Tip: Keep a pack of makeup remover wipes on your nightstand for those nights when you find your head hitting the pillow only to remember you forgot to wash your face.

Don’t Forget to Clean Up After Working Out

Problem: You’ve discovered an amazing new workout class at a great studio, but they’re missing the locker room. If you’re not washing the sweat off right away, you may have the acne (and bacne) to show for it.

Solution: Wear moisture-wicking clothes that are specifically designed for working out, and pack a change of clean clothes to wear on your drive home so your skin isn’t paying the price.

Pro Tip: Pack some salicylic acid Stridex pads in your gym bag and wipe your face, back and chest after class to remove some of the sweat and dirt from your skin before changing into clean clothes for your drive home.

Cleanse Your Makeup Brushes, Too

Problem: You can’t exactly remember the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes. Makeup and skin oils build up on unwashed brushes and create a breeding ground for bacteria. Yikes!

Solution: Makeup brushes and sponges should be cleaned once a week, in a perfect world. If once a week isn’t realistic, set an alarm on your phone to wash your brushes once a month with a liquid hand soap or baby shampoo and use lukewarm water.

Pro Tip: Spritz your brushes with antibacterial pro brush cleaner weekly, or wipe your brushes on a makeup remover wipe daily after you apply your makeup.

Hands Off!

Problem: No matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to avoid the temptation of squeezing a pimple and the bigger issue is touching your face during the day brings pore-clogging oil and dirt from your hands onto your skin.

Solution: If you find yourself always touching your face during certain times of the day, such as on your traffic-filled drive home from work, try keeping a stress ball in your car to keep your hands occupied by something else and off your face.

Pro Tip: If you can’t seem to keep yourself from that protruding pimple, make sure to thoroughly wash your hands prior to touching your face, and apply an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream immediately after to help with inflammation.

Stay in Touch with Your Skin

Keep consistent with your skincare. You won’t see significant changes immediately, but it will pay off, so keep at it! Take note of any new spots or growing moles and check in with Radiance Skincare & Laser Medspa, or your dermatologist, if you see anything abnormal.