Sometimes even the most beauty knowledgeable woman occasionally sleeps with her makeup on, skips the sunscreen, or forgets to make a yearly appointment to see a skin doctor.
Here are a few tips to help you start the New Year with healthier skincare habits.
MOISTURIZE AFTER SHOWERING
We all know a hot shower can strip the skin of oils. Face creams and body lotions are excellent substitutes, as long as you apply them correctly. Keep body lotion right in the bathroom, Seeing it will remind you to apply it when your skin is damp, within a few minutes of turning off the water.
WEAR SUNSCREEN EVERY DAY
Doctors have long advised wearing sunscreen daily (SPF 30) and reapplying it often. The challenge is finding a cream that offers enough protection and doesn't feel cakey, try using an organic and natural brand.
TAKE OFF YOUR MAKEUP AT NIGHT
Makeup can mix with skin oils and dirt and can cause zits. Cosmetics can also trap skin-damaging free radicals that float in the air, even if you've had a long day, and the bathroom sink is 20 feet away...
Avoid the situation entirely by washing your face or cleansing as soon as you get home and be sure to remove your mascara as well.
BOOK A YEARLY MOLE CHECK
Having a dermatologist survey your body once a year is crucial. After the holidays, or when the kids go back to school is a good time to get checked, before you leave the doctor's office, make an appointment for next year.
EXFOLIATE REGULARLY
A baby's skin replenishes itself completely every 14 days," explains Howard Sobel, a clinical attending physician in dermatology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "But by age 30, an adult takes a full 28 days to replenish." With all that extra time, skin cells have a chance to dry out and lose luster—unless you jump-start the renewal process by exfoliating. Use a gentle face scrub, once or twice a week.
BE GENTLE ON YOUR HANDS
For starters, stop treating your nails as tools. Tearing open boxes leads to chips and peeling.
Keep both nails and hands from dehydrating, use mild antibacterial soap, choose natural and organic moisturizers rich in Aloe, butters, vitamins, and botanical extracts, to keep your hands soft, supple and protected, if you are planning to be outdoors, choose a hand cream with sunscreen to protect your hands from harsh UV rays.
CLEAN YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES
You probably don't realize what can happen when good brushes go bad: Makeup and skin oils build up, creating a breeding ground for bacteria that can cause irritation. Wash your tools monthly with mild liquid hand soap and lukewarm water (hot water can cause bristles to fall out), then rinse well, squeeze out the excess water, and allow the brushes to dry thoroughly by balancing them over the sink. Once a week sprits them with antibacterial.
KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF YOUR FACE
Yes, it's tempting to squeeze a pimple, but touching your face with your fingers brings pore-clogging oil and dirt to the skin. Stop this habit! Get rid of magnifying mirrors.
STICK WITH THE PROGRAM
Waiting for a new skin treatment to show results can be a test of patience. A good anti-aging cream can take six weeks, so don't give up, But if nothing has changed by week six, the product will never work for you, Time to move on.
REDUCE YOUR ALCOHOL INTAKE
Now, not taking away all your fun, you can still have a glass of something. But drink more than one cocktail a day and your skin will suffer. Alcohol increases the level of inflammatory agents in the bloodstream which can hasten skin sagging over time.
