Faster than the speed of light, 2023 is here! Seems impossible, right? As always, it comes as a shock that another year has come to a close... though it’s a time to be grateful to step into a new one.
Every January brings a new opportunity to start fresh- to purge bad habits and pledge to include better ones in our daily routines. Alongside the typical resolutions to eat healthier and spend less time on our phones in 2023, we’re also hoping to focus on the care and health of the largest organ in our bodies: our skin! Here are a few simple ways San Diegans can make proper skincare and a practical beauty routine a priority in the New Year.
An ounce of prevention…
You’ve been hearing it since you started toddling into the sun - sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! It’s such a crucial part of skin care, especially here in San Diego, where the sun is shining more often than not and much of our summers (and springs, and falls!) are spent lounging on the sand or paddling into the sea. If you’ve been looking to swap out the strong-scented, greasy sunscreens of your youth, try Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen, which protects all skin types from harmful rays while remaining 100% invisible, weightless, and scent-free.
There’s a free type of preventative care you can incorporate TONIGHT: sleep! While it’s tempting to catch another episode of Yellowstone or refresh your Instagram Explore page, getting enough Zzzs is essential to healthy, happy skin. Studies show that “chronic poor sleep quality is associated with increased signs of intrinsic aging, diminished skin barrier function and lower satisfaction with appearance.” So turn off the TV, put down the phone, and head to dreamland for more radiant and healthy skin!
Make your mornings easier
Whether you’re scrambling to get to the office or simply logging on for a Zoom call, your morning beauty routine might be stealing precious extra sleeping, meditation, or coffee-sipping minutes. Beauty hacks like eyelash extensions, eyebrow waxing, and brow lamination treatments can save you time spent applying mascara, plucking stray hairs, and filling in your brows, meaning you’re ready to say “can everyone hear me?” in no time.
Do a beauty bag purge
Got grimy makeup brushes? Expired face creams? A peach lipstick you know you’ll never wear? Time to clean out the beauty bag (and wash the bag while you’re at it!). Brushes should be washed weekly and replaced every 1 - 3 years, while face creams and serums should be tossed 10-12 months after opening. Properly stored makeup can last up to three years, but let’s be honest - if you’ve tried it 5 times and always think “nope!” then it’s probably time to consider your experiment finished.
While you’re digging through your beauty arsenal, take a look at the ingredient lists and consider replacing products with questionable chemicals with ones boasting cleaner ingredients. Parabens, phthalates, and methylisothiazolinone are all ingredients that have been found to be potentially harmful, so consider swapping them out.
Happy skin habits
In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear recommends a simple tip to help you add a new habit to your routine - habit stacking. Use the formula “After/Before [CURRENT HABIT], I will [NEW HABIT]. So if you want to start a gua sha regimen, and know that each morning you’ll pour a cup of coffee, change the routine to “before I pour my cup of coffee, I will do a 2 minute facial massage.” Make the habit even simpler by keeping your gua sha tool right by the coffee maker.
Other easy habit stacking ideas:
Before I turn on the TV in the evening, I will put on a face mask.
After I put on my running shoes, I will apply sunscreen.
Siri, add self-care to my calendar
If heading to the spa is a once-in-a-blue-moon activity for you, consider ramping up your self-care by booking something indulgent every one to two months. Microdermabrasion is most effective when repeated every 2–4 weeks, while dermaplaning can be done every month. Eyelash extensions last longest when filled every 3–4 weeks, and brow lamination should be scheduled every 4–6 weeks. Maintaining a regular skin and beauty routine ensures you feel your most radiant – and research suggests that regular self-care helps you reduce stress and avoid burnout. In an age when we’re moving at a mile a minute, self-care is certainly health care worth investing in!
After eating, drinking, and stressing your way through the holidays, consider making 2023 the year you give your skin the attention it deserves. At Eye Candy Studio in Point Loma, we offer high-quality, indulgent treatments for your lashes, brows, and skin - from microdermabrasion to dermaplaning and lash and brow services. Book an appointment for gorgeous low-maintenance lashes or a relaxing post-holiday facial at our new Shelter Island location!