The Citizen (KZN)

Five skincare resolution­s in 2024

ACHIEVABLE GOALS: THESE YOU CAN MAKE AND KEEP

- Citizen reporter

No matter how tired you are, stick to your routine every day.

New Year’s resolution­s have a reputation for getting broken. In fact, it’s been reported that most people abandon their resolution­s as soon as two months into a new year.

While we have the best intentions when setting them, we sometimes fall into the trap of aspiring to unrealisti­c standards. Not only does this make our resolution­s difficult to achieve, but it also makes them feel like hard work.

This year, instead of aspiring to unrealisti­c beauty goals that may leave us abandoning ship, we’re committing to small, achievable goals that will make a great impact on the health and beauty of our skin in the long run.

Lamelle Research Laboratori­es has identified five realistic skincare resolution­s you can

make (and keep!) this year:

Remove your make-up before going to bed

Have you ever come home late, wanting nothing more than to skip your evening routine and simply collapse into your bed? Going to bed with make-up on is terrible for your skin and should be avoided at all costs. It clogs pores, may lead to breakouts and leaves skin looking lacklustre.

Stick to your evening skincare routine, and remove your makeup before going to bed – no matter how tired you are.

Apply SPF every single day

Did you know that your skin is vulnerable to sun-induced DNA damage all-year round? This means that you need to apply a broad-spectrum sun protection product every single day, even on overcast and rainy days.

Choose an SPF with a superior formulatio­n and additional anti-ageing benefits. It protects against the full spectrum of sunlight while the super-antioxidan­t Pycnogenol destroys harmful free radicals to decrease the number of harmful enzymes that cause thinning and sagging of the skin.

Stay hydrated

There are endless benefits to drinking water throughout the day. From better digestion to maintainin­g healthy blood pressure, water nourishes our bodies and helps them to function optimally. It is also essential for hydrated skin. The more water you drink, the more hydrated and plumper your skin will be, plus, as water helps flush out toxins, you’ll also enjoy a clearer complexion with fewer breakouts.

You can give your skin even more hydration by incorporat­ing hyaluronic acid into your skincare regime.

This ingredient is known to hold 1 000 times its own weight in water, and is considered the very best option for dehydrated skin.

Focus on antioxidan­ts

To combat the effects of harmful free radicals on the skin and body, it’s important to ensure your diet and skincare regime is rich in high performanc­e antioxidan­ts.

When it comes to food, be sure to eat plenty of brightly coloured fruit and vegetables such as strawberri­es, oranges, bell peppers and tomatoes.

When it comes to skincare, vitamin C is your best friend.

A powerful antioxidan­t with the ability to prevent and correct hyperpigme­ntation, increase the skin’s radiance and slow down the signs of ageing, vitamin C is a skincare must-have.

Stop touching your face

Harmful bacteria can be found all around us – from our cellphones to our car keys to our door handles.

Most importantl­y, it’s also on our hands. Even if you’re diligent about washing your hands regularly, there will still be plenty of germs on your fingers throughout the day, and every time you touch your face, you’re transferri­ng this bacteria onto your skin.

The same goes for dirty cellphones and pillow cases – the bacteria they transfer to the skin is a leading cause of breakouts.

Avoid touching your skin as much as possible and don’t pick at blemishes, as this may lead to infection.

Clean your cellphone and wash your pillow case regularly – your skin will thank you for it!

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