10 Skincare Resolutions for the New Year

10 Skincare Resolutions for the New Year

The Glow Recipe Team|December 31, 2014

Hey, let’s be honest. While we might like to think we’re faithfully using a transcendental 30 step skincare regimen every night, the Glow Recipe team isn’t perfect either :). So after a long discussion with the team about our own skincare vices and after sifting through many email questions from our beloved customers, we’re drawing up a list of our 10 skincare resolutions for the new year.

Just as one bout of sit-ups does not a six-pack make, we know that skincare isn’t just about the instant fixes but is a marathon of daily steps that add up to long-term results . So here’s to a wonderful year of fun, health, family, friends, happiness – and good habits. When 2016 hits, we know we’ll be partying (and hopefully looking like) it’s 1999.

Let us know if you have any questions or feedback in the comments below or email us at love [a] glowrecipe [dot] com!

Lots of love from the Glow Recipe team and Happy New Year!

NEW YEAR SKINCARE RESOLUTIONS

Image by: uditha wickramanayaka

1. SPF is your best friend.
One of the most frequent questions we get is whether you can skimp on SPF since it’s winter, or since you’ll be in the office all day.

Here’s a revealing quote from Skincancer.org: “While ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, the main cause of sunburn, are the strongest in the summer, ultraviolet A (UVA) rays remain constant throughout the year. UVA rays account for up to 95 percent of the UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface. Although they are less intense than UVB, UVA rays are 30 to 50 times more prevalent, and go through glass, making sun protection necessary indoors as well as out.”

Dermatologists often say that 90% of premature skin aging is due to UVA. Using an SPF at the last step of skincare, year round is essentially the best thing you can do for your skin. And since SPF can degrade on the skin when exposed to UV, finding a moment to reapply via a SPF Compact? Even better. At Glow Recipe, an additional goal is to curate more sunscreens in 2015, in addition to one of our favorites – Dr. Oracle’s EPL Daily Sunblock SPF 50.

Image by: William Warby

2. The Golden Rule of 60 Seconds

It happens to everyone. After washing your face…you get distracted. Your phone is beeping updates, your computer, magazine, favorite tv show is beckoning. And you end up applying your skincare a long, long time after cleansing.

While Korean beauty shows have been talking about the ‘critical first 3 seconds’ that skincare ingredients need to hit your skin after cleansing, we’d like to take a slightly milder approach. We find that skin is dewy and hydrated immediately and up to approximately a minute after cleansing, and then it starts to dry out and get tight. It’s important to seal in this hydration by starting your skincare routine as soon as possible vs. just applying emollients to skin that is already starved for moisture. So whether it’s keeping your favorite skincare items in the bathroom, or trying to minimize distractions along the way, prioritize your skin until you’ve finished your daily or nightly routine.

3. Remove your make-up ASAP
Just as you can’t wait to get out of your restricting work clothes or jeans and slip into comfortable, clean pajamas as soon as you get home….your skin is the same way. Makeup can actually trap pollutants and grime collected throughout the day against your skin. A small step that can go a long way to improving your skin is immediately washing your face as soon as you get home and applying your skincare.

Bonus points if you use a cleanser without Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfates; Image by: Michael Bentley

This way, not only is skin less exposed to oils, dirt and debris that can cause breakouts and skin-damaging free radical activity, but your skincare also has time to work its magic for longer.

Check out our 2014 post on How to Double Cleanse for a guide on deep cleansing skin at the end of the day.

4. Give your skin a hand – exfoliate
Did you know that baby skin completely renews itself in less than 2~3 weeks? As we age, skin turnaround takes anywhere up to 28 days or longer. Just as the body can feel a little sluggish over time, skin is the same way and overtime slower skin turnaround means a build up of dead skin cells that makes skin rough and dull. While the topic of exfoliation has been around for a long time, it’s an essential skincare tip that we can’t stress enough – think of it as a mini-boot camp to help reset skin. Set a day of the week to be your weekly exfoliation day or use a cleanser like Dr. Oracle’s Powder Cleanser that works both as a cleanser and a gentle daily exfoliant.

5. Clean the items that touch your skin on a daily basis.
We unconsciously and consciously touch our faces thousands of times a day. Often with hands that Bacteria and allergens can transfer from fingers to skin, exacerbating acne and irritation. But it’s not just our hands, it’s our cell phones, pillow cases, wash clothes, make up brushes. If something is touching your face on a daily basis, an effort to cleanse, wash or disinfect them at least once a week can do wonders to help remove the triggers that can cause breakouts and inflammations.

Image by: Jason Trbovich

6. Sleep right.
The term beauty sleep is actually literal – a good night’s sleep is essential to youthful skin. We’re all going 100 miles an hour and sleep often drops to the bottom of the to-do list. Dr. Perricone, MD says that “When you don’t get enough sleep, the body produces excess cortisol, a hormone that breaks down skin cells. Get enough rest, and you’ll produce more HGH, which helps skin remain thick, more “elastic,” and less likely to wrinkle.”

While we’re on the topic of sleeping, it also helps skin elasticity to sleep on your back, vs. your side or stomach. Sleeping on your stomach means that you are pressing your face into your pillow for several hours a day, which causes creases, also known as ‘sleep lines’. After years of sleeping in the same position, these lines eventually stop going away when you get up. Trying to change the position you sleep comfortably in a herculean task in itself, but something to think about!

7. Get your DIY Facial on

Masks are a great way to indulge in a pampering at-home facial, without the price tag. The best thing about masks are their versatility and you can easily add a mask or two to your skincare regimen depending on your skincare needs and concerns. With the immense variety of formats from clays, wash-offs, leave ons and sheets, finding masks that work for your life style should be a cinch.

Check out our past blog post on everything you need to know about masks and find a selection of Glow Recipe approved masks here.

8. Create a routine and stick with it.
If you don’t already have a routine that you love, 2015 is the year to create a skincare routine that works for you and to stick with it. Check out our past blog posts on creating a robust yet doable day time and night time skincare routine (it’s not a million steps, we promise).

Our Morning Skincare Routine
Our Evening Skincare Routine

Also, when you start a routine, try to at least stick to it for a minimum of 6 weeks. While many skincare products start to show results in a week, some even less, true results take time and patience.

9. Give some love to your lips and hands.
Your lips and hands are often the most neglected parts of your body. Lips are especially dry and prone to lines as they don’t have sebum glands that the rest of your skin does. Apply a thick layer of an emollient lip balm (we love Whamisa’s organic lip product) to keep lips hydrated and supple throughout the night. As for your hands, use an hand cream with SPF during the day to prevent wrinkles and age spots and an super moisturizing hand cream at night. We like to keep a lip balm and hand cream handy on our nightstands as a reminder to reapply right before you sleep.

10. Book your yearly mole check.
And last but not least, remember to book your yearly mole check with your dermatologist!