Looking for an easy segue to start taking your skincare seriously this year? Instead of some grand, abstract resolution, here are seven simple resolutions to help you jump-start your regimen, or implement into your current regimen. Super simple. And super effective. No. 6 gets the gold star for most fun to adopt.
1. Switch From Foam to Oil Cleanser
It’s hardly a conundrum why people go ga ga over foam cleansers. They offer that squeaky-clean sense of satisfaction we can feel when we glide a hand across our face after cleansing. But soapy foam-based cleansers can be incredibly drying to the skin, often damaging the outermost layer of our skin, the acid mantle, which is paramount to our skin’s health! Do your skin a favor and sub in an oil cleanser, even if you have oily skin. A lot of the time excess oil production is a result of dryness, believe it or not.
2. Start Taking SPF Seriously
This is the most vital of the skincare resolutions you can adopt. A whopping 80% of skin-related aging comes from the sun’s rays. That means a HUGE chunk of that damage is totally preventable! SPF is a skintellectual’s best friend. Opt for a broad spectrum sunscreen 30 SPF or higher. Even in winter months and when the forecast is showing overcast, 40% UV rays still hit your face. It’s agreed across party lines: SPF is the bipartisan solution to premature aging.
3. Give Squalane a Go
If you’re looking for a clean, single ingredient ultra-potent moisturizer, squalane is the answer. It’s even proven to reduce redness and inflammation, making it ideal for those with dry skin, rosacea, or acne scars or redness. Squalane has one of the lowest comodegenicity ratings out there, meaning it doesn’t clog pores. It’s got enough star power to be a standalone, or toss it in your evening moisturizer!
Oils are moisturizing by definition, but many of them are heavy and can be a nightmare for acne-prone people. If you’re set on a traditional oil, opt for argan or rosehip over often problematic oils like coconut or cocoa butter.
4. Introduce an Acid 3x Per Week
No, I’m not talking about super strong acid peels done by an esthetician a few times a year. Just bring the acids home! Acids can do wonders to exfoliate your skin, melting away dead skin cells weighing your complexion down. Like Columbus, they can help you discover a whole new layer of skin you never knew was waiting for you under all the dead skin buildup. Start with lactic acid - the mildest of all - it is your new skincare salvation. Apply it on a cotton pad and exfoliate for 30-60 seconds. If your skin is on the sensitive side, you can wash off with water to neutralize any sensation. If not, you can leave it on. Pro tip: make sure to let it dry and absorb before applying other products.
5. Pinpoint the Pesky Foods Flaring Up Your Skin
Next up, nutrition has a huge impact on our health; that includes our skin. Tried everything to get rid of acne and irritation? Maybe your skin is trying to tell you something. Try isolating food groups one at a time for a week or two. Start with dairy, one of the most pervasive causes of acne flare ups. Eliminate it for 2 weeks and see if that changes. Then try gluten, then carbs & refined sugars. Pro-tip: Gut health overall is a big contributor to problem skin - switch your diet to at least 50% plants and drink half a gallon of water a day to restore gut health.
6. Have More Sex
Who said skincare was a hassle? Make 2020 the year of finally successful resolutions, brilliant skin, and total satisfaction; they’re not mutually exclusive. In fact, mastering the art of seduction not only has the potential to relieve stress, hypertension, and sleep irregularity, but also make vast improvements to your complexion. How? Dr. Melissa Piliang, M.D., a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic says,
"Sex increases blood flow to the skin, which will give you a brighter complexion".
Is a partner hard to come by these days? Not a problem. You can get most of these benefits by yourself! It’s all in the orgasm.
7. Don’t Wear Makeup to Bed
Last on our list, but by no means insignificant. Not washing your makeup off before bed is a surefire way to trigger acne, irritation, even infection! Take Anna Pursglove from the UK who purposefully did not wash her face with anything but water for 30 days and STILL wore makeup. She aged 10 years in a month! Her skin was flaking. She even had dandruff on her eyelashes from crusty leftover mascara. Of course, this is an extreme example, of course, but you’ll likely experience these effects in small doses by not cleansing your face of the day’s makeup even for a night.
So there you have it: the seven wonders of the skincare world. These simple resolutions can solve a whole sea of skin issues when practiced altogether. Start at the top of the list and work your way down. You’ll be glowing by February.