“New Year, New You”. It’s a mantra we hear repeatedly this time of year, and with good reason. The beginning of a new year offers a chance for fresh starts, and the perfect excuse to go all in on some new healthy habits. There are many ways you can work toward improving yourself in 2020 but how about making 2020 the year that your skin gets truly cared for, and finishes the year looking more radiant than ever.

Ready to set some serious skincare goals for 2020? Here are a few to get you started.

Create a Regimen You Can Stick With

Want a simple, basic skincare goal you can stick with in 2020? How about making a complete skincare regimen one of your priorities. If you’ve kept your distance from a regular regimen for fear of needing to use 20 different products every day, let me tell you that isn’t the way it needs to be.

A good skincare regimen should include a gentle cleanser, toner, moisturizing agent and exfoliant – all formulated for your skin type. You don’t even need to use all of these every day. For instance, you might opt to use an exfoliant just a couple times a week. However, cleansing and moisturizing daily are essentials regardless of your skin type. If you’re having trouble staring with a routine, make a commitment to following through on those two steps daily, and then add in the others over time.

Never Hit the Sheets Without a Clean Face

The human body is miraculous in so many ways, one of them being how it works so hard to repair itself while you’re getting some much-needed shut eye. While you’re sleeping there are processes occurring within your skin cells that are essential for repair and rejuvenation. It’s important that you set the best stage for nighttime repair by thoroughly cleansing your face before you go to bed – without exception.

There’s also another reason you should never go to bed without cleansing your face. All that oil and debris, combined with cosmetics and skincare products can settle into your pores, creating a breeding ground for bacteria and other undesirables. This not only increases the chances of waking up to a fresh blemish or two, it can also contribute to larger pores, and premature aging.

Drink Plenty of Water

Here’s a quick biology quiz for you. What is your body’s largest organ? Give yourself a pat on the back if you answered your skin. We often forget that our skin is a vital organ, and more often than not, take it for granted. Just like the rest of your body needs water to survive, so does your skin, and if you’re not getting enough of it you can expect to see and feel the impact.

Water is essential for your skin cells to perform their essential functions, and without adequate hydration your skin will become visibly less plump, dry, fragile, and more susceptible to damage and premature aging. Make sure you get in at least 8 glasses a day for beautiful skin and your overall health.

Commit to Wearing Sunscreen Every Day

How many of us are out there looking for the magic bullet that will provide us beautifully radiant, youthful looking skin? I wouldn’t go as far as to say there’s a magical elixir, but sunscreen definitely comes close. The best way to prevent premature aging is by being proactive in protecting your skin against the very things that cause the most damage – like the sun.

The sun is wonderful, and provides us with essential vitamin D. However, it’s easy to get too much of a good thing. In fact, after more than about 15-20 minutes of unprotected sun exposure your skin becomes vulnerable to oxidative stress and damage caused by UV rays. This damage not only accelerates your skin’s aging process, it also exponentially increases your risk of developing skin cancer. If you only hold true to one of your skincare goals this year, make it your commitment to wearing sunscreen every day - even when you’re not planning on spending time outside soaking up the sun.

Wash Your Makeup Tools Regularly

Here’s a question you might not be able to answer. When was the last time you cleaned your makeup tools? I’m talking about all the brushes, sponges, and other implements you use on your face almost daily. If you’re like most people, you start off with good intentions of cleaning your new set of brushes regularly but you forget or you want to wait to clean them when you know they won’t be used for a day or two and will have time to dry.

When not cleaned properly, your makeup tools collect all sorts of dirt, skin oils, residue from skincare products, and heaps of dead skin cells. This means your makeup tools are a breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria. This doesn’t exactly sound like something you want to be rubbing all over your face. Dirty makeup tools are counterproductive to everything you’re trying to achieve when you apply your cosmetics.

Most skincare experts recommend cleaning the makeup tools you use most frequently at least every week. For tools that you use less frequently should be cleaned twice a month, while infrequently used tools can be cleansed monthly.

Go Clean and Make the Switch to Natural Products

Finally, here’s a goal that’s not only good for your skin but also a smart move for the environment. Now is the perfect time to make the switch to natural products that support the health of your skin gently, naturally, and beautifully. As you’re considering new skincare products to add to your regimen this year, make it a priority to support companies that focus on natural formulations.

This is only one year of your lifetime. Now is the perfect time to develop habits that will help keep your skin beautifully radiant for years to come. Respect your skin by taking good care of it and choosing skincare products formulated with some of nature’s most nourishing and restorative ingredients.

"Skin Cancer " "Environment;Healthy Beauty;Healthy Choices " " "Acneic;All Types;Breakouts;Clogged Pores;Dehydrated;Dry;Enlarged Pores;Oxidative Stress;Premature Aging;UV Damage "