There’s an ancient Chinese proverb that goes: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now”. Aside from the obvious current real-world implications about how maybe we really should have all started planting more trees 20 years ago, it means that meaningful growth and success can only be achieved if you do something now.
Perhaps that’s why there’s so much motivational energy going around these days. The first few months of a new year often propel changes in even the most lackadaisical people. As we leave the 2010s behind, why not commit to making 2020 the year you look and feel better than ever? One of the ways to do that is by investing in your health and well-being. To help you get started on this, check out some of our favourite makeup and skincare resolutions for this year.
Read more after the jump:
Be Clean, Be Kind
Environmental issues made huge headlines in 2019, and the science is undeniable. We are currently experiencing a global ecological crisis that threatens the very survival of our species, and the only responsible course of action is to change the way we live in significant, meaningful ways and make a commitment to become more eco-conscious.
Fortunately, the beauty industry has adapted to growing trends and responded to the push for more environmentally friendly products and packaging admirably. However, consumers need to continue driving the push for more sustainable practices and hold brands and companies accountable for their actions. This year, consider throwing your support behind eco-friendly beauty brands and becoming more discerning about the products that you purchase. Even small measures can make a big difference if we all do them together. Why not ditch the company still practicing cruel animal testing, or swap your regular lipstick for a vegan lipstick instead? This could pressure the brand into changing its outdated ways.
Prioritize Your Skin
With the makeup trends over the last couple of years favoring no-makeup makeup looks, why not dare to go all-natural and just go without makeup for a change? The days of covering up every single pore, pimple, and flaw are over. In 2020, skin is in, and you do yourself a favour by investing in skincare and having actually good skin than buying the latest heavy foundations and base makeup to fake a flawless appearance. This year, put together a skincare routine that works for you and keep to it religiously. Apply the same zeal in caring for your body skin, too!
Use Sunscreen
Here’s the simple fact of the matter: there’s just no good reason not to wear sunscreen. Skin cancer is the most common kind of cancer in America, affecting over 3 million people in the country annually. Estimates from the American Academy of Dermatology suggest that 1 in 5 Americans have a chance of developing skin cancer in their lifetime and that there are currently over a million people in the United States living with melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.
You need sunscreen to protect yourself from cancer-causing UV exposure whether you’re 5, 15, or 50, male or female. Find a product with an SPF of 30 or higher and apply it at least a half-hour (ideally 45 minutes) before going outdoors. Reapply every 2 hours or after strenuous activities, sweating, or swimming for best results.
Treat Yourself
It’s become more widely accepted in recent years to make an effort to set some time aside for yourself. Given how hectic our daily lives can get and the barrage of stressors we have to combat constantly, it can be nice to unwind with a clay or sheet mask at the end of the day or go to the spa even if there’s no special occasion. You can go in for treatments that can slice a few minutes off the time you take to get ready in the morning (such as a lash lift or a lip blush), visit a dermatologist for the first time, try out dermabrasion or go in for a full-service facial, or just buy yourself a humidifier to keep your skin from drying out at night. We encourage you to pamper and focus on yourself this 2020! You deserve love, too.
There’s no reason to go over the top when it comes to your new year’s resolutions. Choosing to go with bite-sized beauty goals such as the ones we’ve listed here can help you stick to these habits better. In turn, these small habits can make a lot of difference on your skin health, mood, as well as how you feel about yourself.
Images by fashion photographer Ola Kowalska for Beauty SCENE
