Have you set any skincare resolutions yet? There's no better time than now to create some good habits that'll set the foundation for your best skin routine - ever. If you’re having trouble setting some, we’re here to help. Here are eight amazing skincare resolutions to start with!

1. Start Double Cleansing

Let’s leave the cleansing wipes in 2020 - especially when double cleansing is so much better. Here’s why: double cleansing is amazing for all skin types, plus it’s a much gentler and more environmentally friendly option. Single use wipes (and their packaging) aren’t recyclable, nor do they break down quickly in landfill. 

On top of that, makeup wipes just push around makeup on your skin. They’re not a suitable replacement for a proper makeup remover, like at all - they don’t actually remove anything, they just break makeup down. 

In comparison, a cleansing oil or balm can actually dissolve and grab onto any oil-based grime on skin, leaving your skin fresh and actually clean. 

SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil | $105
This cleansing oil grabs every little bit of makeup and grime left on the skin.

2. Get Enough Sleep

Even though we all know that beauty sleep is important, a lot of us probably still aren’t getting enough. Here's the thing - the consequences of not enough beauty sleep are much, much worse than just getting dark circles. Your skin doesn’t get enough time to renew itself, potentially making your skin look older than it really is.

Not enough sleep is also associated with heightened water loss in skin - meaning skin feels dry and uncomfortable, even after you use skin care to compensate for the dryness. The moral of the story is get your full 8 hours beauty sleep! Your skin will thank you (we promise). 

3. Wear Sunscreen All Year Round

We know - even in summer, you’re probably not wearing sunscreen at the best of times. But here’s the thing - you’ve got to stop underestimating it. Why? First, sunscreen is your best insurance against premature signs of ageing. 

It’s a well-documented fact that UV exposure is the number one cause of early fine lines and wrinkles.

And if you’re using skincare ingredients or getting professional treatments done that make your skin sensitive to the sun, the bad news is you’re not really doing yourself any favors! In fact, you might be making things worse for yourself. Here’s how. 

Ingredients and treatments like retinol and chemical peels photosensitise your skin - that’s the clinical way of saying that your skin is more sensitive to light. That means it’s even more susceptible to the very damage you’re trying to prevent in the first place! So take it from us and ensure that you’re wearing sunscreen all year round (and yes, even during the wintertime)!

Declaré Sun-Sensitive Anti-Wrinkle Sun Cream SPF 30 | $89
Protect your skin with a minimum SPF30 to shield it from the sun’s harmful rays.

4. Work With Your Skin, Not Against It

Knowing your skin type and how to treat it well goes a long way to take your skin from meh to amazing! This rings the truest for oily skin - there’s a lot of old-school, incorrect advice that suggests completely drying out and stripping the skin to ‘reduce oil’. The great thing is that we now know that this is a less than ideal approach. 

Instead, you can work better with your skin by ensuring it’s cleansed and hydrated properly - and only then are you able to properly address any issues or concerns that you have. 

Working with your skin also means listening to it. For example, if your exfoliator says it can be used daily, but your skin is saying ‘no’ with increased irritation and stinging, that’s a sign. In this case, you’d work with your skin by reducing exfoliation frequency.

5. Don’t Skip Antioxidants 

It’s a tough call, but if there’s only one resolution that you go for off of this list, make it this one. Antioxidants are powerful skincare ingredients that have many benefits for the skin. First, they can help provide some protection against excess sun damage for younger looking skin. Antioxidants are also able to brighten uneven skin tone, adding a healthy, lit-from-within glow to skin. 

Interested yet? 

Best of all, some antioxidants are able to trigger the production of collagen for younger, firmer skin. We’d recommend starting with Vitamin C - but any antioxidant will do!

Elizabeth Arden Anti-Aging Daily Serum | $205
Loaded with antioxidants, this serum protects skin from harmful free radicals.

6. Keep a Skincare Journal

Here’s the thing - have you ever started a bunch of new ingredients at once, but had a bad reaction? The thing is, you won’t be able to tell which one caused it. Or maybe you’re waiting for results from a particular skincare product, but day to day, you don’t see much of a difference.

That’s where skin journaling helps - journaling can be either taking progress photos, or even just making a note of what skincare products you’re using and when. A combination of both is even better so you can tell what’s really working for your skin (and what isn’t).

7. Start Using Retinol

If you’re not using a retinol product yet, what are you waiting for? Retinol is one of the best ways to fight off fine lines and wrinkles from your own bathroom counter. This Vitamin A derived ingredient increases cell turnover from deeper in your skin than AHAs can, encouraging skin to renew itself and boost collagen production.

We know, adding a retinol to your skincare routine takes time, patience, and a lot of moisturiser - but it pays off in full (and then some) by fighting off wrinkles and even turning back the clock. 

Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules | $190
Retinol and ceramide combine in a nourishing, wrinkle-fighting formula for younger, firmer skin. 

8. Treat Yourself!

Above all, treat yourself! Skincare should be fun and something that you enjoy doing morning and night to take care of yourself. For some, that means splashing out on the stuff that really works, and for others, that means indulging in luxury beauty. Luckily for you, at Beauty Affairs, you don’t have to choose between one or the other.

If you’re still trying to put together the best routine for yourself, check out our skincare quiz!

Products Mentioned: