New Year, New Skin, New You!

Happy New Year! It's that time of year we start planning our new year's resolutions. No matter big or small, it’s a good thing to think about how we can continue to improve ourselves – so in addition to “eating healthier" and “exercising more", here are a couple (beauty-related) resolutions you can add to your list: 

WEAR SUNSCREEN EVERY DAY 

Adding yet another step in your morning skincare routine when you’re already rushing to get out the door every morning doesn’t sound like something you’d want to do – but trust us, this skincare step is on the top of the list when it comes to absolutely necessary skincare steps. The sun’s UV rays are one of the biggest contributors to accelerated ageing, sun spots, hyperpigmentation and skin cancer. Although the sun’s rays aren’t as strong during the colder months, or in colder climates,  

If you really don’t have time to add another beauty step in your skincare routine, we have the ultimate solution for you! Moisturisers containing SPF are a great way to keep your skin hydrated and protected from the sun’s harsh UV rays.  

We recommend: Dragon’s Blood Radiance Daily Moisturiser $39.95 

This silky, fast-absorbing age-defense moisturising cream that protects the skin from the five main causes of premature ageing, including UVA, UVB, Infrared Radiation, Blue Light and Pollution. Just remember to reapply if you’re spending lots of time out in the sun.  

THROW OUT EXPIRED BEAUTY PRODUCTS 

As much as this one hurts, it’s so important to throw out products that have passed their expiry date. Throwing away unused product that you’ve spent hard-earned money on is never easy but trust us when we say your skin will thank you for it! Due by dates are there for a reason – products are no longer effective or become harmful to the skin when they’ve passed expiry, so using them on the delicate and sensitive skin on your face will just wreak havoc and lead to dryness, breakouts, redness and rashes.  

Also remember to keep note of when you broke the seal of a product and refer to the period-after-opening symbol usually located on the back or bottom of the packaging to ensure you don’t cause any skin irritation from products that have gone bad! 

STOP CONSTANTLY SWITCHING UP YOUR PRODUCTS 

We’re sure that 2019 will bring a plethora of new beauty products and new skincare. Although it’s always so tempting to try out all the latest releases, especially when you hear people gushing about them, constantly switching between using different products will irritate your skin. It usually takes a month to experience the positive effects of a skincare product (this is because the average cell turnover is 28 days). Constant introduction of new and different products can overwhelm the skin, and you won’t be able to distinguish which are working for your skin and which might be causing irritation and breakouts.  

That’s not to say trying new products is a bad thing – in fact, switching up your products to tend to the changes in your skin, such as switching to a richer cream during the winter months or changing to a more potent Retinol product as the skin ages, is a good thing. Just make sure you switch out products one by one and allow time for your skin to interact with the product before switching to a new one.  

CLEAN MAKEUP TOOLS ON A REGULAR BASIS 

We know! It can be such a chore to gather all your makeup brushes and stand at the sink thoroughly scrubbing away. But if you want to eliminate a possible source of acne and cease breakouts caused by bacteria build-up on your brushes, this beauty resolution is crucial. 

There is lots of debate on how often you should wash your brushes – some people say every second day, others say monthly is fine. We recommend washing your brushes weekly to ensure you aren’t allowing bacteria and dirt to gather in them. Plus, it’s probably not too difficult for most to dedicate 10 minutes every Sunday night to getting those brushes squeaky clean for the week ahead.  

USE A NATURAL EXFOLIATOR 

In 2018, we’re leaving harsh scrubs and abrasive exfoliators behind! Natural and non-abrasive exfoliators are officially in.  

If you’ve been reading up on our blogs of late, you’ve probably noticed that we talk a lot about natural exfoliation – and for good reason! Also known as chemical exfoliation (don’t worry, they aren’t as scary as they sound – in fact, they do wonders for the skin), AHA and BHA exfoliators often come in the form or a liquid or cream and work their magic by removing the “glue" that holds on to dead skin cells. Although the sloughing away of dead skin cells is a process that occurs naturally, as we age this process begins to slow down, causing dry, dull skin and uneven texture.  

AHA and BHA exfoliants assist in this process by encouraging the removal of unwanted skin cells to reveal refreshed, renewed, radiant and younger-looking skin.  

We recommend: Dragon’s Blood 3-In-1 Advanced Treatment Cleanser $19.95 

Want to know more? You can read more about chemical exfoliation here. 

What are your New Year's Beauty Resolutions? Leave them in the comments below!