21 Skincare New Year's Resolutions for 2021

It's only November. Trust me, I know. But with the way 2020 is going, I think we're all ready for a fresh start. A new year is the absolute perfect time to reflect, learn, and change old habits.

Start 2021 off with the skincare routine you deserve. No matter where this next year takes us, at least you'll have glowing skin when you get there.

Goals for perfecting your daily routine

1. Take a long, hard look at your routine. Like anything, you get into the habit of doing the same skincare routine over and over, but don't let laziness get in the way of having perfect skin. As the new year approaches, take time to reflect on each step in your routine. Decide which steps are necessary— and which can stay in 2020.

2. Identify the holes. While reflecting on your routine, you may come across a few holes. Are you hydrating enough? Do you even exfoliate?

Check point #3 for one key step you might be missing...

3. Start using SPF. Every. Single. Day. Sunscreen not only protects against skin cancer, but wrinkles and sunspots, too. Seriously, why wouldn't you use it?! Before you ask -yes, you should use sunscreen even on rainy days.

4. Figure out your skin type. While all skin is different and will react differently to products, there are four main skin types that are generally agreed upon in the skincare community: normal, oily, dry, and combination. Which one are you? Answering that question will help you figure out which products you need and which ingredients to prioritize.

5. Know the ingredients you need to meet your skincare goals. Now that you know what skin type you are, it's time to figure out which ingredients you need to incorporate into your routine. While some ingredients are staples across skin types (hi, exfoliating enzymes and hydrating humectants), there are some that will address your specific issues and some to stay away from. Check out an ingredient glossary to learn more.

While it's all about protecting yourself, skincare is supposed to be fun, too!

6. Start using retinol no matter what age you are. Okay, if you're 20 or younger, you actually don't need to use retinol quite yet. But head to point #7 for some key info I'm sure no one has told you yet.

For those in their mid-twenties or up, it's time to embrace this key ingredient. Let me break it down for you.

Retinol is basically the skin's best friend. She brightens skin, sweeps away dead skin cells, reduces acne, boosts collagen production, and functions like an antioxidant to fight damaging free radicals. Trust me, you want her on your team.

Retinol is an intense product, so do your research and follow a few simple rules...

7. Prioritize moisturizing even if you have oily, acne-prone skin. A common misconception is that you only have to moisturize if you have dry skin. Not true! If you have oily or acne prone skin, you need moisture just as much.

8. Start working towards beautiful skin while you sleep. In 2021, there are things you can do while you sleep to ensure you wake up with glowing skin. To start, sleep face masks are huge right now, and I'm not talking about the one you wear on a plane because your neighbor refuses to close the window.

There are actually face masks that work towards beautiful skin while you sleep. Masks like the Glow Recipe Watermelon Sleeping Mask use AHAs and hyaluronic acid to exfoliate and hydrate your skin.

9. Treat yourself and make skincare fun. While it's all about protecting yourself, skincare is supposed to be fun, too! Just like an exercise routine, you're not going to stick to your skincare routine if you don't enjoy it.

The most fun product I own is the FOREO UFO Smart Mask Treatment. This high-tech device is just cool. Literally! Depending on which mask you choose, the device actually becomes cold or warm. Whenever I have friends over, they always beg to do a mask.

10. Realize your diet is affecting your skin more than you think. Certain foods are so good for your skin that you'll want to eat them every day. While this is great news, it also means that other foods can negatively impact your skin in gross ways.

Foods that provide you with skin-nourishing nutrients are:

• Carrots
• Spinach
• Berries
• Beans, peas and lentils
• Salmon
• Nuts

While the above foods are a great start, eating healthy foods in general will set you on a path of peak health and beauty.

Goals to get you off the skincare naughty list

11. Identify the ingredients to cross off your list. There are certain ingredients you skip while stocking your pantry, and that should be the case in your toiletry cabinet, too.

Two ingredients to remove from your skincare routine immediately are witch hazel and parabens.

12. Throw out old, expired products. Any skincare junkie is guilty of getting a product, using it once, and forgetting about it. Take a look at all your cosmetics and throw away anything past its expiration date.

Not all beauty products have expiration dates, so you'll have to use your best judgement on some products. Get ready for an organized bathroom— spring cleaning came early this year!

13. Start taking advice from dermatologists and licensed estheticians, not random Instagram influencers. There are plenty of licensed estheticians on social media that are more than happy to share all of their skincare tips. Go follow them and soak up their knowledge instead of listening to that influencer who got paid to tell you she loves that toner that will actually dry out your skin.

14. Exfoliate! But do it right. At one point in my life, I too thought that peak skincare started and stopped with St. Ives Fresh Skin Face Apricot Skin. No.

Physical exfoliation is actually extremely damaging to your skin. Skin on the face is gentle and tears easily, which is exactly what happens when you rub those small beads all over.

Instead, try a chemical exfoliator, which uses various acids to break bonds that hold the skin together. That sounds scary, but that skin was dead already anyway. Getting rid of those dead skin cells can help lighten dark marks, unclog pores, and give skin a more youthful look.

15. Stop DIYing skincare. No matter how much you like your coffee and egg white face mask, let it go. Those items belong in the kitchen.

I know it's fun to play scientist, but the truth is that few DIY skincare recipes are rarely ever safe, effective, or good for your skin.

16. For the last time, stop sleeping with your makeup on. No matter how cute your look was, falling asleep with your makeup on is a big no-no. Makeup traps dirt, oil, and environmental pollutants in your pores— hopefully I don't have to tell you why that's bad. This type of stress on skin can not only make you break out, but also lead to a reduction in collagen production and therefore premature aging. Yikes.

17. Throw out your cleansing face brush. The skin on your face is entirely too gentle for the type of friction brushes create. Plus, cleansing brushes trap bacteria, so you're essentially just spreading germs all over your face. Gross.

If you prefer to use a device over your fingers to apply cleanser to skin, try a silicone device like the FOREO Luna 3. Not only can you wash away gross bacteria from silicone, but you also won't be tearing up your skin in the process.

18. Leave peel-off masks in 2020. Yes, I have come to kill potentially another beauty fav from your childhood. While I know it is oh-so-satisfying to peel off these masks and look at all of the junk that came out of your face, please resist.

19. While we're at it, leave makeup wipes in 2020, too. The damage wipes do to your face make them entirely not worth the convenience.While rubbing and scrubbing to get your makeup off, you are basically creating wrinkles and fine lines on your own face. Stop that!

"But wait Jen, you told us to never sleep with our makeup on," you say. I know.

Thankfully, there is an alternative! In 2021, we have oil cleansing balms, like Farmacy Green Clean, that have ingredients to dissolve and wash away makeup.

20. Drink more water. You knew it was coming, and here it is: Drink. More. Water. According to Mayo Clinic, the average man and woman should drink about 7 and 5.5 standard-sized water bottles per day, respectively.

How much water do you drink every day? If nothing else, make 2021 the year of hydration!

The most important skincare goal for 2021

21. Start loving your skin, no matter what! Skin is your largest organ and hopefully if you take care of it, it will take care of you.