Having an effective beauty and skincare routine is a key part of maintaining your health and wellness. The start of a new year is a great time to commit to prioritising your self-care. With that in mind, here are some beauty and skincare resolutions for the new year. What’s more, many of them are either free or very inexpensive.
Make sure you’re living a healthy lifestyle
Sleep, diet, and exercise are the foundation of anything to do with health and wellness. For clarity, diet includes hydration. You don’t have to stick to pure water. You should, however, stick to healthy drinks such as water, milks (dairy and/or plant) and fruit teas. Fruit and vegetable juices are fine in moderation. Be aware, however, that they can be high in sugar.
You must limit your caffeine intake. Also, if you smoke or vape, then make it a priority to give up as soon as you possibly can. They are both very bad for your skin (and hair and nails and teeth).
Clean off your makeup every night
Reusable makeup remover pads will usually remove makeup in one go with just warm water. If you want to be extra sure everything comes off quickly, use them with micellar water. No matter how tired you are, never go to bed wearing makeup.
Respect expiry dates and periods
Fresh products generally have an expiry date that applies regardless of whether or not they are opened. They may also have an expiry period that applies from the point when they are opened.
All other products have an expiry period. For example, if a product has an expiry period of 6 months, this means that once you open it, you have 6 months to use it.
Respect these dates and periods. If a product has gone past them, throw it out. It doesn’t matter how expensive it was, you can’t use it safely.
Keep your tools clean
In particular, keep your makeup brushes clean. It’s kinder to your skin and makes them last longer. Also, be prepared to throw out makeup brushes when they wear out.
Invest your budget where it matters
The four pillars of skin care are cleansing, toning, moisturising, and sun-protection. Steaming, exfoliation, and masks can also be very useful. If you have a limited budget, then you should prioritise moisturising and sun-protection.
Also, the more limited your budget is, the more important it is that you do your research thoroughly before you spend it. Some higher-end products really are worth every penny of their price. Others are no better (or not much better) than more affordable alternatives. Simple products (like scrubs) can often be made easily and affordably at home.
Learn how to give yourself a facial massage
Massage stimulates the body’s systems. By doing so, it encourages the quick delivery of oxygen and nutrients along with the prompt removal of waste and toxins. You don’t need any special tools for facial massage and it’s easy to learn. There are plenty of free tutorials online.
Have a professional facial regularly
Depending on your budget, regularly can mean anything from once a month to once a quarter. You should, however, aim to have a professional advanced facial once every three months at least.
If money is really tight, you could look at going to treatments offered by training organisations (e.g., colleges). Treatments are discounted as they are given by students under the supervision of trainers.
The main benefit of having a regular check-in with a professional is that they’ll be able to assess your skin knowledgeably and effectively. This means that they can recommend both the best facials and the best products to use at home between facials.
Remember skincare continues below the jaw
You should take care of your throat and neck in much the same way as you take care of your face. As you go down the body, your approach to skincare will stay the same. You will, however, probably use different products. This is because the skin below your face is thicker than the skin on your face.
You should pay especially close attention to the condition of your hands and feet. Both do a lot of hard work. They can easily start to suffer for it unless you take proper care of them.
Treat your nails with the care they deserve
High-quality nail-care tools are very affordable and most last a long time if not indefinitely. It can be helpful to have different tools for your fingernails and your toenails. This is because your toenails are often thicker than your fingernails.
If you wear polish or false nails, then give your nails time off between applications. This lets them breathe freely and regenerate. It, therefore, helps to preserve their strength.
Protect your smile
It’s a cliche but it’s true. A great smile really is your best beauty asset. It therefore really is worth taking the best, possible care of your lips and teeth.
If you have the budget, then modern, ultrasonic electric toothbrushes are definitely worth the money. If you don’t, however, then you can still get a great clean from an old-school toothbrush. Supplement your brushwork with mouthwash and floss.
Make a point of going to the dentist every 6 months and having any treatment they advise. Firstly, this ensures that your teeth stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Secondly, dentists may notice other health issues you need to have checked.
Look after your hair
Use the right products and tools for your hair. This is particularly important if you dye it. Dyed hair needs to be treated especially gently. Even if your hair isn’t dyed, keep the use of heated tools to a minimum and try to use them on their lowest setting.
In particular, try to avoid using hair dryers regularly. You can remove a lot of moisture from your hair with just a towel, particularly if you use a microfiber towel. If possible, then leave it to air dry. If that’s not possible, use a hairdryer to finish it off.
If your budget allows, invest in silk hair scrunchies and/or a silk pillowcase. Silk is very gentle and protects your hair from breakage and damage.
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