New Year’s resolutions are fun to make, but often difficult to keep. Luckily, in the beauty world there are a few simple tweaks and adjustments you can make to your regime that will benefit your skin and makeup routine. Speaking to the skincare specialists at ZO Skin Health UK, they have narrowed it down to five easy beauty resolutions to make in 2020 to ensure you are maintaining your skin’s health whilst looking your best.
Resolution 1: Clean your makeup brushes and sponges
We all know that dirty makeup brushes are the cause of bacteria build ups, breakouts and beauty disasters- but how often do you really clean them? In 2020, make it your mission to clean your makeup brushes and sponges every 2-3 days to avoid makeup build up and residue of other colours mixing into your makeup look. A deep clean of brushes that are used on the face should occur once a week to avoid a build-up of bacteria that could result in acne and skin irritation. You should aim to wash all other brushes every other week and if you wash as you go, it won’t become a chore. Trust us, your makeup and skin will thank you later.
Resolution 2: Cool your shower
The skin is the largest organ of the body, so maintaining the best skin health is essential for reducing the risk of dirt, dust and pollution negatively affecting your skin. Whilst a long, hot shower may be relaxing and have its benefits for nasal congestion and muscle aches, the hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils. This is particularly harmful if you are suffering with a skin condition, as natural oils are vital to hydrate the skin and promote a fresh-looking complexion. Avoid boiling hot showers and be sure to moisturise straight after to lock in the moisture.
Resolution 3: Use a daily SPF
Whether it is cold or warm outside, sun protection is key for shielding your skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolent rays. Wearing a daily SPF is not just for protecting your skin against sunburn, but for preventing premature ageing, wrinkles and in the worst-case scenario, skin cancer. Aim to wear a SPF of at least factor 15 every day. There are a wide variety of products on the beauty market that now offer sunscreens that do not require you to take you makeup off to reapply such as The Colorescience Sunforgettable Brush-On Sunscreen. These formulas are compact for on-the go sun protection and do not leave your skin feeling greasy or sticky after application.
Resolution 4: Make your skincare routine sustainable
We’ve all heard of the usual suggestions to become eco-friendlier like turning off the lights, reducing food waste and rethinking your method of transportation but have you ever thought about making your skincare routine more sustainable? Most face wipes and cotton pads are terrible for the environment as they are not organically sourced, with chemicals that cause pollution, harm wildlife and further damage our ecosystem. Switch to reusable zero waste makeup remover pads, carrier oils that are not packaged in plastic and homemade facemasks to make a difference to your skin and the environment. Often going natural is better for clearing away any harbouring dirt and bacteria on the face anyway!
Resolution 5: Work on your brow and lash growth
From thin, plucked brows to thick, filled-in brows and natural lashes to falsies, we have seen a surge in brow and lash beauty trends in the 2000’s. Whilst experimenting with your makeup look is great, brow and lash hairs take a little longer to regrow and should be given a break from time to time! Try leaving your lashes and brows alone, allowing them to grow. If you really need a little lift or grooming, use a serum or eyebrow gel which stimulates hair growth.
This piece was brought to you by the experts at zo-skinhealth.co.uk