The new year is the perfect time to take a closer look at your skin care routine and reevaluate how your habits may be helping (or hurting) your skin. However, resolutions are easy to make on January 1st and difficult to stick to throughout the year. year. Behavior is hard to change, especially when it comes to our health, according to a study published in July 2016 in the journal Public Health. Every year, Harvard Health Publishing and other publications publish articles like “Seven Steps to Sticking to New Year’s Resolutions” because it’s hard.
Harvard and others recommend breaking your goals down into small steps that you can easily reach. This way you can get profits and feel the progress of your solution. Also, when you reach these small milestones, you should celebrate with something tangible, like a medal, gift, or some other victory lap. And don’t punish yourself for a mistake, says the American Psychological Association: Health changes are gradual and progress is a win. Don’t blame yourself for mistakes because they are normal.
Long-term change isn’t easy, but consistency is key, especially with skin care, says Heather Richmond, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center in Houston. She says regular use of quality skin care products makes a huge difference in the long run, but don’t expect overnight results, especially when it comes to reducing the signs of aging. Take retinoids, for example—they’re known to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, according to Harvard Medical School, but with regular use, it can take up to six months before you notice an improvement. Whatever resolution you choose now, you should stick to it throughout 2022 for the best results.
Use sunscreen every day and in all seasons
Sunscreen may sound simple, but it is the most effective skin care tool. Every dermatologist mentioned in this article claims that daily sunscreen is the highest resolution they want to see people use.
“Continuous use of sunscreen has been shown to have the greatest impact on preventing accelerated aging and skin cancer,” says Mamina Turegano, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Sanova Dermatology in Old Metairie, Louisiana. is committed to using sunscreen every day as part of her morning routine.” She recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, and also looking for a moisturizer with SPF. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, sunscreen protects the skin from UVA rays that cause premature aging and UVB rays that cause sunburn.
If you’ve made it this far and think you’re exempt because you’re not outside during the winter months, think again: Studies show that the blue light produced by our computers and electronics also negatively affects our skin. For example, a small study found that exposure to blue light was linked to the production of free radicals, which are linked to premature skin aging. Not to mention, as the Skin Cancer Foundation points out, UVA rays can damage the skin even through windows, such as when driving or working indoors in natural light.
Don’t sleep with makeup on
Sleeping with makeup on can cause many skin problems, Burgess says, from clogged pores and pimples to extremely dry lips, and there’s the risk of serious eye damage.
Fortunately, this solution is simple: wash your face before your head touches the pillow. If you’re using an oil-based concealer, you’ll need to remove solvent-based makeup: Burgess recommends foaming cleansers “that can emulsify most foundations and lipsticks.” Be sure to use a mild cleanser around the eyes though, as I knowsays Burgess. Recommend AmLactin ($15.99, Amazon.com) as a pharmacy option that won’t break the bank. Or you can look for a generic ammonium lactate, which usually costs less than $20 a bottle. You can also choose a lotion or cream, which usually comes in tubes or tubs, not creams, as recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
Burgess recommends HydraFacial, which can help restore skin’s hydration during the winter months.
Do not use in an indoor solarium
While studies have shown that indoor tanning significantly increases the risk of melanoma, the AAD estimates that approximately 7.8 million American adults used tanning beds in 2015 alone. These numbers have been declining since their peak, but the United States has not progressed. The Skin Cancer Foundation says the use of tanning beds should be banned, as Brazil and Australia have done dr. Richmond and Dr. Turegano both claim that indoor tanning is a huge no-no, and Turegano hopes to make tanning beds illegal by 2022.
Don’t throw away expired or unused products
Many people spend the New Year cleaning up their homes, and if your skincare shelf is broken, it may be time to cut. Turegano can sympathize: “I like to try as many products as I can to see if they’re worth recommending, but my bathroom cabinet has become a junkyard with tons of half-stocked skincare kits, many of which are probably outdated. Makes skincare superior.” His personal skincare resolution for 2022 is to simplify and organize his skincare products and plans to use the KonMari method to organize and classify products.
Not sure where to start? Check the expiration dates on all your skin care products and throw away anything that has expired. It also leaves behind anything that irritates the skin. So try to rationalize further, Turegano says. “If you have two hyaluronic acid products, you probably don’t need them. If you have the same type of product, choose one with a higher percentage of the active ingredient.
Don’t Choose Your Skin When You’re Stressed
Skin picking can lead to infection and scarring, and this is one way Turegano wants to see people break into the new year. While many people choose their own skin for stress relief, Turegano suggests that by 2022 people choose to find other anti-stress options for skin picking, such as bubble wrap, aerobic exercises, and facials, recommended by the TLC Foundation. . For body-oriented repetitive behavior.
According to the International OCD Foundation, skin picking is a clinical impulse control disorder in some cases. They point out that up to one in 20 people suffer from this condition, and according to a study published in March 2021 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, skin picking increased in this group during the COVID-19 pandemic. If this is the case for you, guidance from a mental health professional may be helpful. According to the International OCD Foundation, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can help treat skin conditions.
Keep your routine simple and consistent
“More is not better and can only cause irritation. Exfoliating, exfoliating and over-applied products are not necessarily better than following a simple and effective skincare routine.” Turegano says a good rule of thumb is to stick to three simple products that work: sunscreen, cleanser, and moisturizer.
Don’t smoke
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 40 million people in the United States smoke cigarettes. Moreover, with the increase in recreational use of cannabis, the category of “smokers” is expanding: in a 2021 Gallup survey, 12% of adults reported smoking cannabis, the highest number to date.
Whether you’re lighting a cigarette or a cannabis joint, Burgess points out that the smoke affects your skin, leaving it looking dry, dull or red. He suggests avoiding smoking at all costs, which could mean switching cannabis users to edibles instead of giving up THC.If you want to get rid of your smoking habit by 2022, the CDC provides information and resources to help you do so.