Here are a few practical, yet effective New Year’s skin resolutions that will help you to improve not only your physical appearance, but also your confidence and overall well-being.
Every year at this time, we sit down and think about what our New Year’s resolutions should be. It’s the one time of the year when we are full of motivation and we are committed to doing whatever it takes to improve our lives. We plan to eat better, to exercise more, to be more practical with money or to kick our bad habits. Change is good and if you are motivated to do it, then there is no time like the present. Are there any resolutions we can make to benefit our appearance? You bet there are. Does it have to be really difficult? Absolutely not! If you resolve to make little changes to your current lifestyle and daily routine––and stick with them––the outcome can be huge.
Here are a few practical yet effective New Year’s resolutions that will help you improve not only your physical appearance, but also your confidence and over all well-being:
I will be sure to always get a good night’s sleep.
A good night’s sleep has tremendous benefits for both the mind and the body. If we are sleep deprived then we may be suffering from irritability, slowed speech, a flattened emotional response, and the inability to multi-task. There are also studies to suggest that lack of sleep can influence our weight, memory and immune system. But remember, when it comes to our appearance, we do call it “Beauty Sleep” for a reason. When we don’t get enough sleep, we tend to have an increased level of stress hormones in our bodies. When high levels of stress hormones are present, it can lead to inflammation. When we are talking about our skin, this means we could be speeding up the appearance of aging. Lack of sleep can also worsen some existing skin conditions, like acne. When we’re tired, our skin looks tired. It can look dehydrated, lose its youthful glow and look dull. Remember, sleep relaxes our facial muscles, and this is a good thing because it can help smooth out the fine lines and wrinkles we may have. A good night’s sleep allows us to wake up feeling and looking refreshed. So, for the sake of overall health and appearance, make a resolution to always get a good night’s sleep.
I will apply moisturizer to my face and body every single day.
This is such an easy resolution to make and the benefits will be tremendous. When you get out of the shower or bath, take an extra minute to apply moisturizer from head to toe. Do this while your skin is still damp to help seal in your skin’s natural moisture. Moisturizers and body creams are really great for the skin. Your skin will feel more comfortable and it will look better overall. Dry, flaky or ashy-looking skin does not necessarily look youthful or healthy. There are so many factors that can dry out your skin. Long hot showers, using soaps that are too harsh and even weather can negatively impact our skin. Taking just a minute each day to replenish the skin with much needed moisture can vastly improve how it looks and feels. And remember, when going outside, a moisturizer containing SPF 30 with both UVA and UVB protection is essential to guarding your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. So, slather that moisturizer on your feet, legs, arms, elbows and especially your face for a New Year’s resolution you will love!
Break bad habits in the name of beauty.
So many people look at the beginning of a New Year as the perfect time to kick their bad habits. Smoking, drinking, too much alcohol, lack of exercise and eating too much junk food all seem to be habits that many people want to kick. These habits can negatively impact your appearance, especially your skin. So, if you can kick them for the sake of both your overall health and appearance, maybe you will be more likely to keep these resolutions all year long. Why should you kick these specific habits? Smoking depletes the oxygen from your cells, which ultimately can lead to the signs of early aging. Too much alcohol can dehydrate your skin and deplete it from vital nutrients. A regular exercise regimen not only results in a toned body, but also leads to toned skin. And your diet is another key factor. As the saying goes, “We are what we eat.” So, it’s important to throw away the junk food and eat fruits and vegetables instead. Look at your bad habits and their effects on the entire body and you will be more likely to break them.
Written by beauty expert, Jacquie Carter Director, Worldwide Outer Nutrition Education and Training at Herbalife.
