THREE years ago, I wrote about setting beauty resolutions in my very first column. With the arrival of the new year, which also marks the start of a new decade, and in the spirit of “new year, new you”, we should take this opportunity to reset some of our beauty resolutions and adopt healthier beauty habits.
RETHINK YOUR SKINCARE REGIMEN
Everyone has their own concerns when it comes to their skin. Whether it’s dry, oily or acne-prone, it’s only natural to think we need a long list of products to counter these problems when in reality, we should keep things simple by limiting the products we put on our skin. Stick to cleanser, toner, moisturiser, and sunscreen before layering on minimal make-up.
If one of your resolutions is to be more prudent with money but you still want to use extra products, such as facial masks, you can take the home remedies approach. Masks can easily be made using fresh ingredients from your kitchen. Minimising the number of products on your skin every day can also give it time to breathe.
DECLUTTER YOUR BEAUTY PRODUCTS
Take a cue from well-known Japanese organising consultant Marie Kondo and use the cut-throat approach in throwing out items that do not “spark joy” anymore, as well as products that have expired.
If your skincare corner and your travel make-up bag looks like an overflowing mess, it’s time to declutter. Learn about the shelf life of each beauty product. For example, mascaras typically last between three and six months. Don’t use expired make-up or skincare products as they may harm your skin.
Products such as facial cleansers come with an expiry date or a period of use after opening. If you are in the habit of keeping bottles of lotion or shampoos from hotels, throw them out.
AVOID IMPULSE BUYING
Ever been guilty of going into a beauty store thinking you’re just going to “look at a few products”, only to end up with a bag full of goodies? Unplanned purchases only add more products to your stash.
Before purchasing something, think about whether you really need it. Try to buy a new product only when the old one has expired or finished. Don’t feel pressured to buy something just because your friend did or you want to be part of the trend. Just because a sale is happening, it doesn’t mean you have to purchase anything. Always remember that there will be another sale in the future.
STAY ORGANISED
Like the rest of the house, make-up and skincare products should be organised neatly. Once you’ve decluttered, take time to reorganise your vanity corner. Invest in things that can be turned into make-up storage. Bookshelves are a good way to organise your make-up but be sure to arrange the items neatly as everything would be on display.
Buy some extra shelves and store your skincare products in the bathroom. If you do not have space in the bathroom, hang floating shelves on the wall. If you have too many products, buy some transparent storage boxes or bins so you can see what products are stored inside and neatly tuck the bins in a corner of your room. For products that come in tubes or pencils, arrange them in pretty-looking cups or mugs.
TRY THE 5: 2 SKIN DIET
The 5: 2 diet means you eat for five days and restrict calories or fast for the other two days. Try to adopt this strategy for your skin as well, where you should go without make-up for two days a week to let your skin breathe.
According to Glamour magazine, this “diet” supposedly helps detox skin from the build-up of products which can potentially lead to breakouts. But just because you go bare-faced for two days of the week, don’t slack off in your beauty regimen for the remaining five days.
Be consistent in caring for your skin and, most importantly, be disciplined in removing make-up before you sleep. Just like your food intake, you should also stick to a healthy balanced diet for your skin.
An average Jane with a make-up obsession, Syahirah Mokhtazar believes that the journey to the right lipstick shade is akin to finding your soulmate. Join her as she explores the beauty world, one lipstick swipe at a time. She can be reached at syamokhtazar@gmail.com.