Beauty Resolutions for 2018!

It's almost the 2018 New Year, and we are all looking to improve ourselves one habit at a time. Habits become routines and our routines make up our daily lives and character. In order for us to improve, we need to know what needs fixing (or tweaking shall I say.) This will also and most definitely involve our BEAUTY ROUTINES!

Yes, it will involve how to improve your outer appearance, but it also will entail taking care of the insides of our bodies and creating habits to live a longer, fuller, happier life! So we can be beautiful inside and out! These next tips will help you start out 2018 on the right foot...

Double Cleansing

Okay, so I know that so many people think this is unnecessary, but I'm seriously so tired of hearing women say the only step they use to take off makeup is with one wipe. (really?!) If you think about much bacteria and dirt lands on your face on top of the layers of oil and pigment that settles into your pores throughout your day (or night), you have to understand that a quick swipe of a semi-wet cloth will not remove EVERYTHING. And for your skin to be clear and vibrant, it must first be CLEAN.

We all know that oil and water don't mix, and water has no effect on oils, so why would we expect a water-based product to remove our oily makeup? Most foundations contain some sort of oil that helps smooth out the product on the skin to give it a smoother, more hydrated look; so it makes sense that you need oil to break up and move around oil, right?

What's great about cleansing oils, is they start as an oil to break up your makeup and once you add water, it turns into a light foaming cleanser. It will also take off every bit of makeup on your face from foundation to waterproof mascara; talk about a one-stop-shop! Then once you've rinsed it off, you can follow up with your regular cleanser to really tackle and knock out the rest of dirt and sebum leaving your skin squeaky clean! You'll soon thank your goddess-like skin for this extra step, so take your sweet time pampering yo face!

Sunscreen, Boo!

I mean this seems pretty self-explanatory, but I am a culprit of forgetting to apply sunscreen every day. Sunscreen has definitely evolved over the years and it's not all just the super greasy, thick, white-filmed stuff we were used to when we were kids. We're adults now, and modern beauty has paved a way for us to incorporate sunscreen into our beauty routines whether we work outside all day, or inside for a corporate company.

Dermatologists recommend to wear at least SPF 30++on your face and SPF 50++ on your body. Why is it so important? Because our skin is the most vulnerable part of our body to the suns damaging rays; it is known that direct sun exposure can cause premature aging, wrinkles, sun spots, and even in some cases, skin cancer. It is super important to get the recommended amount of sunscreen on your skin and make sure that it's applied often enough to keep protecting it.

For those makeup lovers out there, fear not; we have options for you too! There are formulas that come in the form of makeup primers to apply underneath your foundation as well as setting sprays to set your makeup and refresh your skin throughout the day. Talk about convenience!

Make sure that when you're shopping for your next sunscreen, be sure to test it out, make sure you're not allergic to it, and make sure you use Broad Spectrum SPF. (Broad Spectrum protects the skin against UVA-aging and UVB-burning rays.) It will ensure you get the highest level of guard time for your skin and keep you looking glowy and youthful. So slather it on people- better to be safe than sorry!

Cleaning Your Makeup Tools Frequently

Duh. I mean we all know this one right? But do we actually do it as often as we need to? No, of course not!

Now, if you have been wondering why your skin hasn't been clearing up, or you have that pimple that just wont go away, or your skin is SUPER oily and clogged—your makeup brushes are most likely the culprit. If you use them every.single.day. on your skin, you can't blame anyone else but yourself! (Well, me too haha.)

Makeup brushes need to be cleansed at least once a week. Don't make it a chore, but make it a part of your necessary beauty regime just like you do with all of your skin care products. If you're relaxing in the house on a lazy Sunday, wash the brushed you've used throughout the week with a gentle brush cleaner or even baby shampoo, and leave them out to dry flat on a paper towel. They'll be ready for you to use by the morning time. Instead of piling a mountain up in your dirty bin, if you stick with your routine, you'll have fewer and fewer brushes to clean making your job much easier.

As for your sponges, they need love too! And definitely more often if you have acne-prone or sensitive skin. You should be cleaning your sponges after every use. Sponges are porous and therefore they hold way more bacteria than your makeup brushes. If you use disposable sponges, don't worry about it, just toss it and forget it; but if you use powder compacts and they have the "re-usable" sponge inside to touch up your makeup throughout the day, make sure to toss it pretty frequently. Applying old makeup on your skin is so not cool—and your skin will agree.

Last but certainly not least, don't forget you other beauty tools that you use consistently on your face and around your eyes. I'm talking about your tweezers, pencil sharpeners, lash curler, extractors, etc... These go on your skin and they need a little scrub-a-dub-dub from time to time. A quick wipe down with alcohol (not the kind you drink) will keep these tools disinfected and ready to use whenever you need 'em!

Protect yo hur!

We rarely think about putting our hair in this category, especially if we're low maintenance and constantly put our hair in a bun, but it's important to make sure we spruce up our 'do as often as we can.

1. Make sure to keep op with your monthly haircuts.

I know it sounds HORRIBLE for my girls who have been growing their hair out for years and love their long locks, but it is super important to make sure you have your hair trimmed of any split ends that can further damage your hair. It doesn't need to be 3 inches each time, but make sure it's effective so your hair doesn't continue to split. You'll have your long tresses soon enough!

2. Two words... Deep. Condition.

Oh my goodness, this is probably one of the most important ways to keep your hair hydrated and rejuvenated. Whichever way you style your hair, you're bound to damage it someway. Yes, even if you leave it in a bun or braids. Our hair is made up of protein and when it's damaged the protein bonds break resulting in split ends and brittleness. Even if you can't splurge on a treatment at a salon, find an inexpensive protein-rich deep conditioner and let it sit in your hair for about 30 minutes then rinse. There are SEVERAL home made hair treatments that you can use also that will do the trick and leave your hair with a healthy shine and a full-bodied appearance.

3. Heat Protectant

We all know about this one, but for some reason we refuse to remember to use it once we buy it! Heat protectant is the key to preventing your hair from splitting in the first place. Using high levels of heat frequently on your hair breaks down protein bonds rapidly, especially around the ends of your hair and around the roots. Even though it's an extra step, it'll safe you a lot of heart (and head) ache in the end.

Sleep!

I am reemphasizing the importance of the term "beauty sleep." If you do not get an adequate amount of sleep, it can lead to many other problems you'd rather not deal with. Lack of sleep can affect your skin, hair, overall weight, and even mental conditions that you may or may not be suffering from.

There are so many different ways to help your sleep, but the biggest tip I can give is to really make sure you have enough time in the afternoon to wind down and feel sleepy. Try to avoid sugary drinks, caffeine, and junk food late in the day to avoid restlessness. Try drinking some soothing tea, do some stretches, read a good book, or take a nice warm bath to relax your body and get ready for a good ol' snooze.

If you have insomnia, try some herbal tea or melatonin capsules to help your body drift along to sleep. It can be rough to lie in bed awake all night fighting your body to finally re-boot itself. Try different options, but make sure you give your self time to adjust to any new routine, and take it easy. You'll be feeling like a new person!

Healthy, Balanced Diet

The best way to be beautiful on the inside and out is to feed our body the nutrition that will keep our cogs moving. Dieting is basically a bad word here. Diets are short term and we want to create a healthy eating a lifestyle that will carry us into a long beautiful life. Say it with me, LIFESTYLE.

Your focus shouldn't necessarily on how many rolls your tummy has or the number on the scale, you should focus on more important things like; heart health, normal blood pressure, better concentration, low cholesterol, and a healthy weight for your height and age. Everyone is different, so don't get to caught up in the numbers though. Just make sure you have a good chat with your doctor about what's healthy and right for YOU.

We have to keep in mind the yin and yang of a healthy body—healthy diet & EXERCISE. It's vital to make sure you're logging some hours in the gym too. Getting your heart pumping and your blood moving helps to lower blood pressure, release toxins, and improve overall cardiovascular health. Don't be lazy, get that booty in the gym! And while you're improving your overall health, you'll find that your skin, hair, and nails will be thanking you for all your extra hard work!

Care for your chompers!

I feel like a lot of people are embarrassed to admit maybe they forgot to brush and floss their teeth that day, but unfortunately we can probably already tell! Dental health is something we often overlook because we either feel that it doesn't really matter, or we're terrified of going to the dentist. Either way, we can't neglect our teeth! Almost 75% of US adults have gum disease, and there is evidence found that poor dental hygiene is linked to heart disease caused by thickening of the blood vessels in the neck! Yikes!

So, make sure to visit your dentist regularly and take extra special care of your pearly whites, it could be helpful in the long run!

Mental Health

There is so much stigma surrounding people who suffer from mental illness, and I'm here to tell you—it's far more common than you think! The most important thing to remember is that you're not alone. There are so many options for assistance if you need it. You'll ultimately need to decide what course of action you want to take, but the important thing is to really take care of yourself. Don't try to "tough it out" because you can't be beneficial to anyone else if you're not all the way mentally sound.

Mental illness, whichever form you may suffer from, can take a toll on not only your brain but your body. Physical symptoms of anxiety are very much a real thing for sufferers when they manifest into full blown panic attacks, or if you're lying down in bed all day long, everyday. Make sure to find a support system that understands what's going on with you, and only keep people around who are sympathetic and compassionate to your issues. It's OKAY TO SAY NO. You have control over what you choose to deal with, and make sure to never overload yourself with too much responsibility and stress.

Be gentle with yourself. You're way too precious. And self-care is not an option; it's essential.

[If you know someone struggling with suicidal thoughts and depression, please help them and reach out if you can.]

*National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255*