Extend your New Year’s resolutions past the typical two weeks that it takes to forget about your goals. Adopt one simple change each month, and within a year, you’ll dramatically improve the health, appearance and future condition of your skin. Preview the plan below — and stay tuned for monthly guides to help you achieve skin care success.
January: Re-evaluate your skin care needs.
Many of us rarely think about assessing our skin. It’s easy to go years without re-evaluating skin’s needs — even though they can change dramatically in a short time.
As the New Year begins, take some time to examine your skin. Is your skin drier than it used to be? Is it rougher? Does it look and feel oilier? Does it seem more sensitive? Do you notice any signs of sun damage? Then, make a list of short-term and long-term goals you’d like to achieve with your skin care routine.
February: Update your arsenal.
Go through your whole beauty stash — including cosmetics, skin care formulas and hair products. Toss items that are expired or outdated as they may no longer work — and in some situations can even compromise your health. Then, write out a shopping list to update your arsenal.
- Check out: Update Your Skin Care Arsenal. This article contains all the information you need to decide when to pitch products and how to avoid the problem of expired formulas in the first place.
March: Schedule an appointment with a dermatologist.
When it comes to effective skin care, regardless of age or skin type, there’s much to be gained from a short sit-down with a dermatologist. In just a quick visit, he or she can provide essential information about the condition of your skin and recommendations to improve your regimen.
April: Experience a new way to pamper.
Like anything in life, it’s more fun to change habits when there’s a reward involved. Take this month to find an enjoyable way to pamper and indulge yourself — while improving your skin at the same time. It could be as extravagant as a day at the spa or as simple as an at-home facial.
- Check out: Experience a New Way to Pamper, an assortment of pampering skin care experiences for every age and budget — including classic treatments, do-it-yourself indulgences and ideas for the spa.
May: Skin Cancer Awareness month — have a professional check your skin.
Whether you tan or burn in seconds, it’s essential to shield skin from skin cancer. In fact, diagnoses are growing among younger age groups and dark-skinned ethnicities. Even if you already use a daily moisturizer with SPF and avoid tanning beds, schedule an annual skin cancer screening with a professional. Your dermatologist can keep an eye on any unusual changes in your skin and let you know what to look for at home.
June: Evaluate your summer skin care.
As summer arrives, we’re often too busy updating our warm weather wardrobe and hitting the beach to worry about skin care. But by summerizing your skin care routine, you’ll ensure a healthy, gorgeous look that lasts long after your bikini is put away for the fall. From self-bronzers and sunscreen to SPF hair sprays and hydrating creams, discover how to re-invent your summer skin care routine.
- Check out: Reinvent Your Summer Skin Care Routine, a checklist of summer skin care, including everything you need to protect skin from the sun — the best SPF formulas, sunless tanning products and more.
July: Evaluate your progress.
After six months, it’s time to revisit your skin care goals and evaluate your progress. Have your immediate skin care problems like acne or dryness improved? What about your long-term goals? Take this opportunity to revise — or rev up — your skin care goals.
August: It’s back-to-school time — do some homework.
Even if you’re long out of school, embrace the back-to-school vibe and do some skin care research. If you haven’t yet, determine your skin type and use it to guide your skin care decisions. Also, research the latest innovative ingredients that have emerged on the skin care market and incorporate them into your routine.
September: Simplify your skincare ingredients.
Once you've delved into innovative ingredients and established an effective skincare routine customized to your skin type, take some time to revisit the basics. Whether you're looking for relief from acne, hyperpigmentation or aging skin, conclude your "back to school" skincare studies with 10 ingredients that offer time-tested results.
October: Ready your winter skin care routine.
Often, summer ends and winter begins before you have time to update your skin care routine. Ready your routine for cold, dry weather by stocking up on moisturizers and adding a few warming treatments to your routine.
November: Get a makeover by a professional makeup artist.
With the holidays around the corner, November is the perfect time to freshen up your look. Stop by a makeup counter for a consultation or schedule an appointment with a professional makeup artist or esthetician.
December: Celebrate success! And make your holiday wish list.
If you’ve stuck with your New Year’s resolution, chances are you’ll have a healthier complexion — and reason to celebrate. Take some time during the busy holiday season to reflect on your achievements. Also, don’t forget to make your holiday wish list and start dropping hints about what great products you’d like to see in your stocking.
- Check out: Celebrate Skincare Success! And Make Your Holiday Beauty Wish List. Not sure how to measure your success? In this article we help you evaluate your year-end achievements — and offer some indulgent ideas for celebrating your skin care success. Also, you’ll find tips for taking your new skin care regimen into the New Year.
This is the year to stick to your resolutions and transform the health and appearance of your skin. Be sure to check back each month for a how-to guide that’ll help you adopt — and keep — these new skin care habits.
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See also:
6 Tips to Update Your Look
5 Surprising Beauty Resolutions that Boost Your Skin
Tips for Making Beauty Resolutions Stick
Beauty on a Budget Handbook