10 Skincare Resolutions to Make for the New Year

The New Year is on its way and with it comes our good intentions of New Year resolutions. It’s extremely easy to make plans for changes in your skincare routine, but it’s not hard to fall behind on making those changes especially when you get short on time or get sidetracked with other tasks in life.

However, the New Year is a great time to set and stick to your resolutions. A little bit of effort now will pay off by the end of the year. There are many ways you can improve the overall health of your skin with some of these simple New Year skincare resolutions, ahead!

1. Prevent Sun Damage

No matter what time of year it may be, the sun’s rays can damage your exposed skin with UVA and UVB. Over time, this damage can lead to sunspots, freckling, an aged look, and other blemishes. Some moisturisers include sunscreen in the cream, but you may have to look for a sunscreen separately. Try to aim for 30 to 50 SPF and apply it as directed.

2. Drink Plenty of Water

Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water is a very important resolution to make. Try to aim for eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day at a minimum, but more is always better! Healthy hydration on the inside will show on the outside as well in brighter and clearer skin, less puffiness around your eyes, and tighter skin around your cheeks and neck.

3. Don’t Forget to Moisturise

Drinking water helps hydrate your body from the inside out, but applying moisturiser directly to your skin is a great addition to your hydrating routine too. When your skin is hydrated, you’ll even notice a reduction in the appearance of acne breakouts, blackheads, fine lines and wrinkles as your skin reaches a more balanced, healthy state. Some of the most notable hydrating ingredients are aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, and squalane.

4. Pamper Your Lips, Too

Taking care of the skin on your face is a great resolution, but many of us neglect our lips too. Dry lips are prone to cracking and if left to get worse can lead to bleeding and permanent damage. Moisturising your lips with a thick hydrating balm can go a long way in improving your overall complexion.

5. Stay on Top of Daily Cleansing

Setting aside a non-negotiable amount of time each day to thoroughly cleanse your face should be the most important resolution you make. If you stick to no other resolution this year, a twice daily cleansing routine should be your priority. Cleanse your face in the morning to remove impurities that were brought to the surface while you slept, and cleanse your face in the evening to remove makeup and other contaminants you may have been exposed to throughout the day.

6. Wear a Mask Once per Week

Keeping your skin moisturised with your favorite moisturiser is a great daily resolution to have, but try adding in a weekly resolution too. Hydrating masks are a great addition to your overall skincare routine and can go a very long way in helping to repair damaged skin and provide a much smoother complexion. You can find a wide range of masks that focus on providing different results such as clay masks can tighten your pores or hydrogel masks can reduce wrinkles.

7. Choose Your Favorite Exfoliant

Exfoliating your skin is a great way to remove built up surface impurities and dead skin cells. You won’t have to use an abrasive scrub to get good results with an exfoliant, and will notice instantly softer skin the minute you finish. Exfoliation can be added to your once a week schedule along with your mask, or you can find a gentle exfoliant that is made for daily use.

8. Don’t Leave Makeup On Overnight

Leaving makeup on overnight can wreak havoc on your skin by trapping pore-clogging impurities in your pores and on the surface of your skin. This can lead to blackheads, whiteheads, acne and other problems you don’t want to deal with. No matter how tired you may be, always try to make a conscious effort to set aside 5 or 10 minutes to give your skin a refreshing cleanse before climbing into bed for the night.

9. Get Plenty of Sleep

Often overlooked as a culprit to poor skin, but not getting enough sleep can lead to puffy eyes, numerous fine lines, and an abundance of wrinkles. Always try to get plenty of sleep each night. Obviously this may not be possible, but by making a conscious effort you can improve your general skin condition and health.

10. Stay Consistent All Year

Staying consistent is going to be your biggest challenge, especially if you are new to setting a solid yearly resolution for your skincare routines. It may take multiple weeks before you can see real results in your skin, but sticking with it will pay off in the end. It’s understandable to want to see instant results, and in some cases you will have instantly smoother and softer skin, but to get the absolute best results, sticking with the routine over the long term is your best bet for amazing looking skin!

Whether you just pick one or two resolutions and stick with them, or go with the whole set of ten, you will still be making positive improvements in your overall skin health and complexion. You’ll also notice a reduction in age lines, wrinkles, blemishes and acne breakouts.

Making resolutions is the easy part, but sticking to them can be difficult in this day and age. If you can maintain a proper skincare routine throughout the year, you will notice exceptional changes in your skin over time. Happy New Year!