Skincare Resolutions for a Flawless 2016!

January is here again, the time of year when we make resolutions and rules to abide by for a “New Year New Me.” As genuine as our intentions may be, resolutions are hard to keep. Waking up at the crack of dawn to get in a workout before work sounds like a good plan, until our alarm goes off and hitting snooze sounds so much better. It’s important when choosing goals to not be too hard on ourselves and to try something simple to keep us on track. Let’s start 2016 off by showing our skin some love it deserves and make it a priority to step up our skincare game this year. The following are rules - or resolutions if you will – that are effective at achieving your best skin yet! A few of the rules coming next may seem like basics, but you’d be surprised how often these crucial fundamentals get skipped.

Wear SPF 30+ Every Day

Even though it sounds redundant and preached now more than ever, we sometimes forget how important an everyday sunscreen really is. For the few of you out there who still rely on the SPF in your makeup or are using a daily SPF below 30, unfortunately you aren’t doing your skin any favors. Sunscreen is one of the most important things you can do for your skin. Not only does it protect against sun damage and skin cancer but it is also the foundation of an anti-aging routine. You are never too young to start an anti-aging routine as preventative is much easier than correcting.

Stop Smoking

Let’s be real, it’s 2016 and by now everyone knows the negative side effects from smoking. Besides the obvious ways smoking can harm the body both inside and out, it also increases premature wrinkles and aging. Your blood vessels constrict when smoking causing less blood flow, meaning important nutrients and oxygen are no longer able to reach the skin. Even the repetitive motion of pursing your lips to smoke that cigarette can accelerate unsightly lines and wrinkles to form around your mouth. If you want healthy and younger looking skin, kick the habit!

Eat Better

Again, sounds like a no brainer. We are what we eat. When we have a diet full of trans fats and dairy (i.e. pizza, ice cream and doughnuts) it makes our taste buds happy but our skin scream! Both dairy and trans fats cause inflammation and irritation like redness, breakouts and swelling. By filling your diet with more fruits and vegetables containing antioxidants, it can reduce inflammation. Clean eating is happy eating, in more ways than one!

NEVER Go to Bed with Your Make Up on

Hey, I’ve been there myself. It’s been a long day and I can barely change out of my day clothes before crawling into bed, I get it. The struggle is real but the ramifications can be much worse. We have touched on this topic before in another blog but here is a reminder of what can happen when you skip the before bed routine. Clogged pores, acne, dehydration, skin irritation and even rashes can develop! I know some days are hard but power through that nightly routine and your skin with thank you in the long run.

Don’t Pick!

This one is hard for everyone, especially when that whitehead is staring at you or the scab you think is never going away just needs a little help. Picking can actually cause more inflammation and irritation as well as the spreading of bacteria causing the area to look worse than it did before. It can even increase your chances of scarring or discoloration, leaving a more permanent mark rather than just letting it heal on its own! Stay strong and resist the urge to pick!

Get a Routine that Works for You

Trends come and go in the skincare industry and newer better ingredients pop up all the time. A regimen that works great for a friend may wreak havoc on your skin, not everyone’s skin is the same! See a skin professional to help guide you into a routine that is gentle or aggressive enough for your concerns. Switching from product line to product line frequently can also be part of the problem. You want to give a routine enough time to work before you move on. Remember there is also a chance of purging when you first start a new regimen as it can be cleaning out previous impurities the last routine left behind. Find something your skin loves and stick to it.I think these rules are realistic expectations for the coming year and a resolution we won’t regret! Remember it’s the small changes that make the biggest difference. As always if you need a skin guru to keep you on your path to flawless skin, we are always here to help!

We at ZONA Med Spa want to make one thing perfectly clear, your skin.

Skincare Resolutions for a Flawless 2016!