New Year's Eve is quickly approaching, which means resolution season [1] is upon us. I know I am more than guilty of being overly ambitious when it comes to setting goals for myself. I either try to do too many things or try to achieve a few very difficult things. But because they're usually not feasible, I end up disappointing myself pretty early in the new year. However, I think 2019 is going to be different. I've put together 14 beauty resolutions that are easily attainable — and sustainable throughout the rest of the year!
Resolution: Drink More Water
The benefits of drinking a lot of water [2] are seemingly endless, but one that is almost immediately noticeable is that it plumps up your skin. Personally, I have found that anytime I drink more than my daily water requirement, my skin looks visibly more glowy. A great way to monitor your water intake is to buy a reusable bottle that helps you set a goal. I use this giant 1-Liter Bottle From BKR [3] ($48) and aim to drink at least three of them a day.
Resolution: Commit to Moisturizing Regularly
I have dry skin due to my eczema, and though I'm usually pretty good about moisturizing at least twice a day, I slip up sometimes. Moisturizing regularly [4] not only keeps your skin feeling plump and bright throughout the day, but over the long term, it also helps prevent premature wrinkling and aging. Moisturizing also helps build up your skin's protective barrier to shield against the elements. Another addition to this resolution is to also try to regularly apply moisturizer to my neck and hands — they're just as important as your face!
Resolution: Carry Facial Mist With You
If you regularly wear makeup for long periods of time, you know that your face can start to feel a little dehydrated throughout the day. You end up with dry, tight skin when you finally take off your makeup at night. A quick fix to this is to always carry a travel-size facial mist [5] with you to prevent flakiness and to refresh the look of your makeup. My current fave is Tatcha's Luminous Dewy Skin Mist [6] ($48), which leaves a nice, glossy finish on your skin — even if your makeup has been on for hours.
Resolution: Allow Yourself Some Dedicated Beauty Time
We're all so used to being on the go, it can be easy to brush away the things that aren't a necessity. I've done my makeup on the subway more times than I can count. But next year, I want to make a conscious effort to give myself at least a few minutes in the morning to pamper myself and prepare my look for the day. Having a little bit of time to yourself to go through your beauty routine can make a serious difference in your mental calibration for the rest of the day.
Resolution: Take Better Care of Your Hair
I don't know about you, but hair care is always the thing that falls off of my beauty routine. I dye, curl, and blow-dry my hair to my heart's delight without thinking about the long-term consequences on my hair's health [7]. I want to commit to taking better care of my hair, whether that means applying heat protection prior to heat styling, using a hair mask more than once a month, or putting hair moisturizer in my hair on the daily. (Hey, we do it for our faces, so why not our hair, too?) I've recently been loving the Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream [8] ($52) to help rejuvenate my hair after a lot of heat styling.
Resolution: Get More Sleep
"Beauty sleep" isn't just a phrase that your mom uses. Believe it or not, the amount of sleep you get has a direct impact on how your skin looks and feels [9]. Plus, your skin regenerates while you sleep, which allows your skin care to work better. Sleeping more will help me feel more healthy overall — and will ensure that my nighttime skincare products don't go to waste.
Resolution: Try Out New Products
I think it's easy to get stuck in a beauty routine and avoid trying out any new products, but sometimes, going out on a whim gives you new holy grail products. I used to avoid sleeping masks like the plague because I thought they would make a mess and not benefit my skin as much as I wanted them to, but when I tried out the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask [10] ($45), it completely changed my mind; I now use the mask at least once a week. I want to challenge myself to be adventurous with new products in 2019.
Resolution: Splurge on Your Lips
It's really convenient to grab a lip balm [11] from the drugstore, and while there are many decent ones, there's something that feels really luxurious about buying a more expensive one. Spoil yourself with a high-end lip balm with quality ingredients, like Bite Beauty's Agave Lip Mask [12] ($26) — your lips will seriously thank you.
Resolution: Keep Your Beauty Products Organized
Everyone always jokes about "the chair" — you know, the one that all your dirty clothes pile up on — but no one ever talks about "the desk." Every beauty-lover knows that there's a desk somewhere in your house, whether it's in your room, office, or bathroom counter, where all of your beauty products get discarded. Next year, make an effort to keep your beauty products organized so you can easily find what you need. Not only will it make your space look more aesthetically pleasing but the cleanliness will also make you feel more productive. These Clear Stackable Drawers [13] ($19) from The Container Store can be divided into different sections, so you can easily sort out your products.
Resolution: Apply SPF Daily
Sun protection [14] is often the last thing people think of including in a beauty routine for fear of smelling like a day at the beach or getting a weird flashback in photos. However, a ton of brands have come out with sunscreens that are scentless and layer well with the rest of your skin care and makeup. Next year, I want to make a conscious effort to wear SPF every day, even in the wintertime. Supergoop!'s Unseen Sunscreen [15] ($32) is the perfect addition to an established skincare routine because it's made for layering.
Resolution: Eat Food That Is Healthier For Your Skin
Eating healthy doesn't only make your body feel better, but it also helps your skin look better. I want to make an effort to cut down on processed sugars and overly salty foods in the new year and to up my intake of foods that will benefit my body and skin. Healthy fatty foods like salmon and avocado can really nourish your skin, and incorporating them into your diet can really make a difference in your skin's texture and appearance.
Resolution: Pick Out Products That Actually Match Your Skin Tone
For the longest time, I believed that eye-shadow palettes were just eye-shadow palettes and that you could just pick the color based on what you gravitated toward. The day I learned about undertones seriously changed the way I looked at makeup for the better. Until that point, I had been using a cool-toned eye-shadow palette that made my skin look washed out, and I couldn't figure out why. After a Sephora consultation, I discovered that my skin has a warm, yellow/olive undertone [16], and I should pick out products accordingly. The Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette [17] ($54) has become my go-to for all things neutral and warm for my eyes.
Resolution: Stop Comparing Your Beauty Routine to Other People's
With the internet — and especially Instagram — you have so much access to other people's lives and therefore their beauty routines. It can be easy to think that your regimen is not enough, or too much, or just generally wrong. But if you've found something that works for you, you should feel comfortable sticking to it.
Resolution: Constantly Remind Yourself That You're Beautiful
We live in a world of extremely demanding beauty expectations, and sometimes, it can feel hard to keep up. In 2019, make an effort to remind yourself that you're beautiful in your own way. Whether you write notes to yourself on your mirror, or set a reminder on your phone, or even ask Alexa to set a recurring message so you can hear it verbally, it'll perk you up and help you walk a little taller. Next year is going to be the year of you, and these reminders will make you the strongest you've ever been.
