New Year, New You
January is coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t continue making goals for yourself for the year. You’ve probably already made some resolutions for 2016 that you may or may not be keeping up with. It’s not too late, however, to make your beauty routine a part of your resolutions for the year. There are always changes that can be made to help you look and feel healthier, and improve your confidence.
Hair
Make an effort to start taking better care of your hair this year. This could be the year to leave you blow-dryer behind. Maybe not for good, of course, but reducing your use of blow-dryers and other heat styling products can save your hair from a lot of damage. Natural texture is in this year anyway, so why not lay off the heat a little? To make this even easier, stop washing your hair every day – stick to two or three times a week. Use dry shampoo to absorb grease while still leaving your hair with the natural oils that washing it strips away. Use a hair mask once a week to repair and nourish your hair.
Finally, get a trim regularly. You may be hesitant to trim often if you’re trying to grow out your hair, or maybe you just forget to schedule regular appointments. Either way, try to change your tune this year. Trimming helps get rid of split ends and keeps your hair healthy. If you’re forgetful like me, ask your hairstylist next time you go in when you should come back, and try to schedule an appointment right then and there.
Face and skin
Resolve to give your face and skin some extra love this year as well. The most important step you can take keep your skin healthy and looking good is to wear sunscreen every day. You may put sunscreen on hold in the winter months, or maybe you only break it out on the hottest days of the summer. This is a big mistake – the sun can damage your skin no matter how warm or cold it feels outside. At the very least, this sun damage can lead to lines and wrinkles. At the worst, it can cause much more serious issues like skin cancer. Avoid any of these unwanted effects by just throwing on some sunscreen under your makeup every day. To easier implement this in to your routine, try a foundation with SPF.
Another positive step you could take this year is to make sure you wash your face every night. Leaving makeup on overnight can cause your skin to become irritated and break out. Use a cleansing wash before bed and have some makeup wipes on hand for nights when you’re feeling particularly lazy or tired and are tempted to skip washing. Making this a habit will significantly improve your skin.
In addition, if you use makeup brushes, make sure you are washing them as well. You can wash your face all you want, but if your brushes aren’t clean, your face won’t be either. Unwashed brushes can build up bacteria and can be another source of break outs. This can be done weekly, rather than every night.
Your final and most important beauty resolution should be to generally take better care of yourself. Get more sleep – shoot for at least seven hours a night. Drink more water – eight glasses a day if you can swing it. These changes may seem small but they can make a huge difference in your appearance and overall health. You’ll look more awake and have clearer skin.
You have the whole year ahead of you to make positive changes. Try new products, make healthy choices and look forward to a better you!
Allison Lundy is a recent college grad, writer, area professional and lover of all things beauty. Raised in southern Virginia, Allison moved to the DMV to pursue her aspirations of a career in politics. She attended George Mason, where she discovered her love of writing at the student newspaper. During the day, Allison works in government affairs for a small trade association in northern Virginia. When she isn’t busy working and/or being a political junkie, Allison focuses on her other passions – beauty and fashion. She is always looking for the newest trends and trying out new products.