Have a Beautiful Year: Easy-to-Keep Beauty Resolutions
Whether you’re opting to work out more regularly or make time to unplug for a set number of hours a day, the best New Year’s resolutions are a combination of self-care and self-improvement. Though it may sound trivial, don’t forget to squeeze in some skincare efforts, as well. Your beauty routine can have a major effect on your health and wellbeing, so between the flossing, money saving and kale juicing, consider adding one of these five easy resolutions for 2017 that are easy enough to keep.
Repeat after me: Wash your face before bed…no exceptions.
I might sound like your mom saying this, but you should absolutely never go to bed without washing your face, especially if you wear makeup. The 60 seconds it takes is well worth the effort to avoid unnecessary breakouts and dull, congested skin. If you tend to doze off while reading or watching TV and are too tired to drag yourself out of bed to wash your face, make a habit of cleansing when you get home from work or after dinner. This way you will never wake up with a mascara covered pillow again!
Protect thy skin from the sun.
The recent sunscreen debate has been majorly stressing me out. For years, we were told we needed to wear it to help protect us from skin cancer and now we are being told that the chemicals in the sunscreens are dangerous. An all-natural sunscreen will keep your skin safe from the sun without spreading icky chemicals onto your skin. As a beauty plus, acne scars will fade much faster when protected from the sun. Sunology Natural Sunscreen Lotion for Face SPF 50 is light enough to wear everyday under your makeup and is unscented which those with sensitive skin will appreciate.
Beat the heat.
Step away from the 400-degree flat iron! Blow dryers, curling irons, hot rollers and flat irons can all damage your hair with their high heats by making it week, frizzy, dry and lackluster. Give your strands a break and master some hot tool-free hairstyles like French braids or use inexpensive foam rollers for flirty curls. And if you can’t part with your dryer (we get it, it’s frigid out there and wet doesn’t place nice with cold), consider a product like L’Oreal’s Boost It Blow Out Heatspray to protect your hair while styling.
Take control of your makeup bag (once and for all).
Letting go is hard (even when it comes to beauty products you don’t really use all that often…because one day, you might need that gold glitter liner for a theme party, right?) But by only keeping products you use on a regular basis, you will always be able to find your go-to cosmetics and get ready faster (less clutter and time gained…win/win?) Not to mention, old makeup can be a breeding ground for bacteria, so, though it might hurt, it’s a good idea to toss that tangerine lipstick you’ve had in your toiletry bag since 1992 that you’ve kept around in case it comes back in style. Make sure you know when all of your products expire and wash your makeup brushes once a week. Cosmopolitan has a great article with more information on expiration dates here to read. It’s pretty eye-opening!
Stay hydrated.
We had to sneak one healthy habit in, these are New Year’s resolutions after all. Not only is water good for your health all the way around, but it also can give you a major beauty boost. Drinking enough water every day (48 to 64 ounces for the average person) flushes toxins out of your body that otherwise make your skin look dull, makes nails stronger, prevents dry cuticles, improves skin’s elasticity which fights wrinkles, reduces hair breakage and helps prevent some acne. Need we say more? If you struggle to remember to drink enough water throughout the day, try a water bottle that tracks your intake so that you know exactly how hydrated you are.