New Year’s Resolutions for your Skin
By Jessica, January 5, 2012
Forget the unattainable weight loss this January and dedicate your New Year’s resolutions to your skin. Shun the starved look of depraved detoxes and give your skin a lustrous glow with our ten skin commandments.
1. Thou Shalt Not Fall Asleep with Make-Up on
A rampant skin crime over the Christmas period, now is the time to repent for your pore-clogging sins. Falling asleep with your make-up on is a guaranteed way to encourage blemishes and dry skin out. Try cleansing earlier in the evening if leaving it late means you just don’t bother.
2. Thou Shalt Wear Sun Cream
Even in January’s cloud-blanketed misery. Impossible as it is to imagine, the sun’s rays can crack through those dark clouds and cause irreversible damage at any time of the year. Switch to a moisturiser with SPF for an easy way to incorporate sun cream into your routine.
3. Thou Shalt Not Pick at Spots
Morosely picking at your festivity-ravaged face will only exacerbate acne. Leave blemishes alone or risk scarring and spreading bacteria further. Remember that a spot will last a few days but the evidence of bludgeoning your skin’s imperfections will show for weeks.
4. Thou Shalt Ditch Expired Products
Not only will expired cosmetics be ineffective, they could also be harbouring nasty bacteria. Ditch anything that is past its use-by date or is starting to show the tell-tale signs of being past its prime, no matter how expensive or loved it is.
5. Thou Shalt Not Skip on Moisturiser
Even if your skin has an oil slick that could warrant an environmental warning, it could still be lacking in water. Depriving your skin of hydration can prompt it to pump out more oil to compensate, so get yourself an oil-free moisturiser.
6. Thou Shalt Use Products for your Skin Type
Take some time to examine your skin over the coming weeks. Your skin type can change as you age or even from season to season. Using the wrong products for your skin is, at best, like using no products at all. What’s even more likely is you will aggravate existing problems and instigate new ones.
7. Thou Shalt Not Smoke
This one probably features on your standard resolutions list too, but here’s one more reason to quit: smoking breaks down collagen and starves your skin cells of oxygen. The result is skin that sags, wrinkles and dulls before its time.
8. Thou Shalt Get Some Beauty Sleep
Skin regenerates and heals itself while we sleep – skimp on your zeds and your skin’s in-house upkeep will suffer. Seven to eight hours a night will keep you fresh faced and eye bag free, while some studies have even shown that acne, eczema, psoriasis and several other conditions are alleviated after a decent night’s slumber.
9. Thou Shalt Not Over-Exfoliate
Exfoliation is a basic component of even dry and sensitive skincare routines, but over-doing it can cause irritation and damage. Once or twice a week is the recommended dosage, but stick to individual product directions to avoid that just-peeled look.
10. Thou Shalt Get Regular Facials
Easily the most enjoyable resolution you will make this year, pencil yourself in for a facial at least once a month for thorough cleansing and hydration. If professional treatments are beyond your budget then treat yourself to some at-home masks instead.
