It might be a tired adage, but it works: the New Year is a great time for a New You! And now is an excellent time to review your habits and consider changing some things. Great skin doesn’t happen by accidentâit takes time and commitment.  Read on for 8 skincare resolutions you should actually follow.
1. Keep A Skincare Calendar
Keeping a skincare calendar is first on our list of resolutions because itâs the best way to track your skinâs changesâthe calendar helps you recognize cause and effect, which helps you develop a helpful regimen. âProperly analyzing your skin type allows for custom treatment for each individual client,â says Charlotte’s Book advisory board member Jillian Wright, owner of Jillian Wright Clinical Skin Spa.
Itâs not overkill, although at first it might seem insane, if you’re already busy: just assign a new color in your gmail calendar and keep it skin-specific, or create a new calendar on your phone dedicated to appointments, reminders, and anything skincare.
RenĂ©e Rouleau, a CB verified and celebrity-beloved aesthetician, is adamant about the calendar: she suggests keeping one for three months, and periodically transferring your phone notes to a months-view calendar so you can see everything at once. âAt the end of a month, being able to see the entire 30-day period at a glance will allow you to look for any possible patterns. Itâs helpful to use colored pens and symbols since there will be quite a few things to make note of.â For more advice on what to track, read RenĂ©eâs full article here.
2. Fill That CalendarâPlan Ahead!
What exactly goes in the calendar? Well, on the official medical side, you should see a dermatologist for a full-body check up once a year.
The ideal anti-aging skincare maintenance routine, according to Charlotteâs Book verified expert Dr. Gervaise Gerstner, âconsists of a peel or microdermabrasion once a month, and then Botox and/or a dermal filler every three to four months.â
Depending on your current Botox usage, this timeline could be longer; people whoâve been using Botox for a while usually donât need to refresh as often. If you use Restylane, twice per year is the recommended refresher course.
Keep in mind that treatments like microdermabrasion require a series of six treatments to smooth out old acne scars and minimize fine lines: planning ahead is definitely required. Plus, the regularity of treatments relates to efficacy. Dermatologist Dr. Robyn Gmyrek explains it this way: âWeâre constantly creating a low level wound-healing response, which puts out new collagen.â To keep that collagen building, stick to Dr. Gerstnerâs recommended once-per-month schedule.
If youâre not peeling or on a microdermabrasion program, a Classic European style facial is recommended once a month by most aestheticians. If once a month seems crazy for your schedule, donât worryâquarterly facials will do the trick. For treatment-specific information on how to plan the calendar, check out this article.
3. Get Your Daily Dose Of Greens
At Charlotteâs Book, weâre firm believers that beauty is an inside job. The new yearâespecially after all those gluttonous holidaysâis a great time to reconsider your diet and start new habits. âJust as your other organs react to the consequences of what you eat, so does your skin,â says Jessica Katz RD, a CB verified nutritionist based in New York City. âWhen my clients look totally radiant, I look at their food diaries, and I see a high consumption of plant-based, healthy foods.â
Joanna Vargas, a CB verified holistic facialist, requires patients to get on the green juice program: âI love green juice! The greens instantly hydrate the skin while encouraging lymphatic drainage, so youâre de-puffed and glowing!â
Liquid chlorophyll, a sort of green juice on steroids, can provide a simple, daily dose of concentrated goodness. Read more about that from expert Dana James, here.
4. Make H2O A Priority
It sounds easy, but we often overlook thisâdrinking plenty of water is key to flushing out toxins and refreshing skin. Stick to one main water bottle during the day so you can keep a tally of how many times you refill it. To figure out how much water you need per day, use this formula.
5. Start Using Retinol
Dr. John Martin, a facial cosmetic surgeon, recommends reconsidering your products at this time of year: he says if you donât already use retinol, you should consider it. We recently wrote this article about the top three dermatologist-recommended skin-savers, and retinol is right up there with no smoking and sunscreenânow is better than later when it come to retinol!
According to Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a Charlotteâs Book verified expert and Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center, âYour mid 20s is a reasonable time to start using topical retinolâit stimulates collagen and increases skin thickness and elasticity. For a young person, using retinol is like making sure the skinâs foundation is as strong as possible, so it can resist wrinkling as much as possible as you age. Over the counter retinol is an excellent place to start. It is less potent than prescription strength retinoids, and also less irritating.”
6. Start An Ingestible Beauty Regimen
Chlorophyll, green juice, and regular edible greens are a great way to start your ingestible beauty regimen, but there are other ways to amplify the benefits of your digestive system: probiotic powders are a great way to balance your gut and keep the skin glowing. Be Well Probiotic Powder is Dr. Frank Lipmanâs five-strain probiotic supplement: add a teaspoon to your smoothie to ease chronic indigestion. ImmunâĂge (a favorite of supermodel Irina Shayk) or Glow Inner Beauty Powder are both amazing.
7. Try Something New!
For every concern, there’s another better, newer twin treatment in the worksâthis year, why not try something new? Even if you’ve tried it all, there’s something perfect for you. Microneedling was all over the news this year, and it’s a wonderful way to renew your skin. “It’s the wild, wild west,” says CB verified expert Dr. Doris Day, who includes microneedling in her roster of treatments. “We donât really have standardized protocols or data on this technique, but my colleagues and I have developed a protocol that works for us.”
There are also new treatments for everything from bags under your eyes to acne scars: according to dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, a compound originally used as a glaucoma medication is in Phase III clinical trials as a prescription topical treatment for dark undereye circles. And there’s a new filler approved for acne scarring called Bellafillâit doesn’t just provide immediate filling and lifting benefits on facial crags.
READ THIS NEXT:Â Innovative New Treatments In Aesthetic Dermatology
CURIOUSÂ about our experts? They’re the best.
Learn more about Aestheticians Jillian Wright and Renée Rouleau, and Dermatologist Dr. Gervaise Gerstner
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