1. Consider what really concerns you. Not surprisingly, you’re more likely to work on resolutions that are meaningful to you. Think about your most pressing skincare or beauty concerns. Would you like to improve your acne, lead a healthier lifestyle to prevent rosacea flare-ups or get enough beauty sleep? Would you like to quit smoking? Would you like to pare down your beauty budget? The more invested you are in a goal, the more likely you are to keep it. It may help to list the pros of your goal so you have tangible proof of why your goal is so important.
2. Make your resolutions simple (i.e., concrete). Instead of resolving to have healthier skin or better hair or be more adventurous with your makeup, be specific. These grand goals don’t really tell you much about where to start or exactly what to do. And you can’t measure or evaluate them. “’Be more optimistic,’ ‘Find more joy in life,’ ‘Enjoy now,’ are resolutions that are hard to measure and therefore difficult to keep. Instead, look for a specific, measurable action,” writes Gretchen Rubin on her blog, The Happiness Project, on Psychology Today.

   For instance, think about what typically contributes to healthier skin. Your list may include: keeping a routine of washing my face and moisturizing every night; getting products for my skin type; using sunscreen; using anti-aging serums; getting rid of expired products; and getting enough sleep.

3. Create a minimum. The more resolutions you make, the less likely you are to follow through. Try to avoid piling on your goals. Unless you’re highly organized and have a history of accomplishing tons of goals, keep your resolutions to two to three — at least the beauty-related ones. Several goals are manageable.
4. Take baby steps. If your goal is to climb a mountain, you wouldn’t plan a trip the week after setting your resolution. More likely, you’d make an appointment with an instructor, get some gear, train on rock walls at the gym and climb smaller mountains before jumping into that big trip. It’s best to take small steps. Those small steps will lead to the big one. So figure out what small steps you need to take every day or a few times a week to accomplish your resolution.

   Take the example above of wanting healthier skin. You don’t have to tackle all those items at once; let each one build on the other. One week, you might start by being more consistent with your daily routine. Then the next week, you might head to the store and search out effective serums. The week after that, you work on getting more sleep. This helps in creating goals that are feasible and less overwhelming, which increases the chances that you’ll accomplish them.

5. Get creative. There are many inventive ways to keep yourself motivated with your resolutions and to maintain some perspective. Write inspirational messages on a few sticky-notes and tape them up in various places throughout the house, at work, in your purse – wherever you’ll see them the most. Post reminders on your calendar. Use your alarm to signal a prompt. Check out applications and tools for your computer and cell phone. Look for ways to chart your progress on the Web that are fun and functional.
6. Adjust accordingly. If for some reason you realize that your resolution just isn’t working, be ready to adjust. There’s no rule saying you can’t tweak your resolutions. Consider what’s slowing you down and make a list. Then, think about how you can fine-tune your resolution to make it work better. No big deal. Evaluating your progress and the resolutions themselves is important for accomplishing them. Even better, try to anticipate problems that may arise with your resolution and plan for them.
7. Seek out the right resources. You may need some guidance when creating and maintaining your goals. At Skincare-News, we have tons of articles on everything from skincare and makeup to hair care and natural products. You may want to check out some fantastic skincare and beauty blogs (see our list of the top 100 here), too. Go to your local library or bookstore for the latest skincare books. If you want to better understand your skin and get products to fit its finicky needs, check out renowned dermatologist Leslie Baumann’s, M.D., book, The Skin Type Solution.
8. Recognize the difficulty. Creating new habits and ditching old ones are no easy tasks. Don’t forget to acknowledge that it’s a tough job and give yourself a break if you take a few steps back.
9. Manage stress. When we’re stressed, many good habits seem to go out the window. Feeling overwhelmed and weighed down doesn’t lend itself to the best environment for building healthy habits and accomplishing great things. So you can focus on meeting your goals, start learning healthy ways to overcome stress in advance.

   A few ideas: Stave off unnecessary stress by knowing your limits, saying no, taking out the “shoulds” from your to-do list and expressing your feelings, suggests Helpguide. Try out some breathing techniques. Find activities that relax you, such as going on a walk, writing in your journal, calling a friend to vent or taking a bath. If you tend to be a perfectionist, work on letting go of your flawless aspirations. Remember that resolutions are supposed to improve your life not overburden it.

10. Reward yourself. Set up little rewards along the way to boost motivation. You may choose beauty-related rewards like getting a manicure, creating your own DIY treatment or buying a new product. Or other enjoyable activities like lunch with a friend at your favorite restaurant or a trip to the movies.

Whatever your beauty resolutions, these 10 tips can help you stay on task and work through your goals. Remember that simple, actionable aspirations work best. You may think big — like having healthier skin or maintaining a slim beauty budget — but take baby steps. And pat yourself on the back every once in a while for working hard!