5 Skincare Habits To Adopt In 2022

Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?

We’re are all set to enter the new year 2022, and the start of the year is a perfect time to reflect and set new goals. Adopting new habits can be tough since it can take days or months to get used to them. However, they’re achievable. Instead of setting short-term goals (e.g., crash diets that never work), create habits that you can stick to.

My main goal for 2022 is to achieve healthy skin. Are you hoping for the same? Here are five habits you can adopt in the new year for healthy skin: 

1. Say No to Wipes

While face wipes are a good quick fix, nothing is better than washing your face with soap and water. It may seem like a simple request, but it’s important to cleanse your skin every day. We shed 50 million skin cells a day. If you don’t wash and exfoliate, then all of the other stuff you’re doing to help your skin is not going to penetrate in. It’s going to sit on there like a layer of dust. Make sure when you’re choosing a cleanser, you turn over the bottle to look at the ingredients. Some products have the same bubbly sulfates as dish soap, which can strip the skin. Look for natural surfactants and moisturizing ingredients.

2. Wear Sunscreen everyday

We’re beginning to sound like a broken record with the whole sunscreen thing. But it really is the most important step in a skincare routine. 90 percent of the signs of aging come from unprotected UV exposure. Spending time in the sun unprotected also increases your risk for skin cancer. So, it's important to find a product that fits into your daily routine.

I use the online dating analogy. If you use the first sunscreen that looks good or smells good, then the relationship is not going to last. You have to date the sunscreen to make sure it fits into your lifestyle and your budget.

3. Start using retinol 

A vitamin A derivative (a.k.a. retinol) is a dermatologist favorite for fighting the signs of aging. Using one every night can increase collagen production and decrease collagen breakdown. “Retinoids teach aging cells how to behave like younger, healthier cells by encouraging them to turnover more rapidly. This makes way for new cell growth," says Joel Schlessinger, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist.

4. Don't pop every pimple

The satisfaction you get from obliterating a whitehead is not worth the potential for permanent scarring. In your 20s, you may recognize that some of the things that used to fade down, like freckles or discoloration, doesn’t. So, popping pimples could lead to long-lasting dark spots. Instead, I recommend applying cortisone cream and Visine (yes, the same liquid you use on your eyes) to help minimize redness and pain. 

5. Sleep properly

Sleep is something we could all use more of, and seven to eight hours a night will help you achieve clear skin—among other amazing benefits. If you don’t sleep, your cortisol levels can go up. And when your cortisol levels go up that promotes inflammation in your skin. When you do finally hit the sheets, remember to boost the skin benefits by applying an anti-aging product like retinol.