2020 has been a year to remember, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to forget parts of it. If your beauty and wellness goals fell by the wayside during 2020, you’re not alone. The good news is that a new year is truly the best time to start fresh and form new (and better) habits. Check out these 21 beauty goals to add to your 2021 New Year’s resolution list (with tips from beauty experts about how to make your resolutions actually stick) that will help you make this year your most glowing one yet.
Hair
Make the change you’re craving. “I’ve got 3 options for you… change the length, change the color or get bangs,” says Giovanni Vaccaro, founding member and Artistic Director of Glamsquad. New year, new you (well at least new hair). Try the fun color you’ve always wanted (“dark honey blonde or that silver-blonde trend you’ve seen but think you can never pull off, now is the time to try it! Obviously, consult with your colorist and know that whatever you choose, maintenance will be needed”), get chunky bangs, or crop your hair into a shag or a cute lob, which generally looks good with any face shape or texture.
Stick to routine haircuts in 2021. You probably didn’t get as many haircuts as usual last year and for good reason. When it’s safe to regularly visit the salon, recommit to getting regular trims which will keep split ends at bay and give the hair an overall fresh and healthy appearance. “Every client of mine knows that 10-12 weeks is when they should return for a haircut. Hair grows on average ½ an inch a month, and during the colder months, split ends tend to be more common,” says Vaccaro. Before any haircut, Glamsquad offers a personalized consultation and ends with your favorite blowout (service performed outdoor/in-home upon request).
Invest in a silk or satin pillowcase. “Satin pillowcases are great for all hair textures, allowing the hair to slide against the fabric as you move around in your sleep,” says Vaccaro. “These are especially necessary for women who have double-process, weak or color-treated hair.”
Commit to scalp care. Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp, so it’s a good idea to treat your scalp as kindly as you would the skin on your face. Try out a scalp serum filled with ingredients that will both clarify your scalp for flake-free strands while keeping your hair moisturized.
Treat your hair right for the season. “This time of year, I tend to go for more moisture and conditioning products. Deep condition once a week, and twice a week for really dry and curly hair. This step in everyone’s routine is often overlooked, but is critical for achieving healthy, glowing, frizz-free hair,” Vaccaro says. “In the summer months, I’ll wash my hair less and… typically go shorter with my hair… so I use less styling products and keep it more natural.”
Get serious about volume. “My clients want more volume (#bighairdontcare). It makes them feel sexy and put-together,” Vaccaro says. “I use Glamsquad’s The Untamed Texturizing Finishing Spray as my secret weapon to create lift at the root after styling on all of my clients.”
Skincare
Properly cleanse your skin daily. “I find new clients are excited about serums or sheet masks and neglect the first step of routine or use foamy cleansers that dry and disrupt their skin’s pH balance,” says Tomás Glenn, a lead face therapist at Chillhouse. “You have to start out right and proper cleansing is key.”
Leave makeup wipes in 2020. Makeup wipes can be harsh on your skin, plus they’re not very environmentally friendly. You could try Blue Moon Clean Rinse Cleansing Balm, which will seamlessly melt makeup and get skin clean while keeping it hydrated. And then Ceramic Slip which uses plant-based soaps to get skin squeaky clean without that tight feeling.
Get to know your skin type (dry, oily, combination, sensitive), then choose products accordingly. Fun fact: if you have acne-prone skin, you don’t need to swear off facial oils, especially when they contain a dose of salicylic acid, like U.F.O Acne Treatment; in fact, sometimes skin that is oily is actually begging for moisture and over-compensating by making too much sebum.
Add products with active ingredients to your routine. If 2020 hasn’t aged you, you’ve won the genetic jackpot. Regardless of your age, consider adding in anti-aging ingredients like AHAs, retinol, and vitamin C.
Use a chemical exfoliator. There are ways to exfoliate skin that don’t involve harsh scrubs (that are sometimes made with plastic beads). Opt instead for acid exfoliators, which may sound scary, but are actually a gentle, effective way to slough off dead skin and leave you glowing. Look for products that contain AHAs like lactic or glycolic acids. AHAs are naturally occurring acids that help break down the top layer of skin, leaving it smooth, soft, and even.
Try something new. After a year spent moving from the kitchen to the couch, make 2021 a time to travel into uncharted territories, even if that means trying a product that’s new to you. You could add a refreshing essence to your routine which uses peptides, botanical extracts, and fermented honey to help resurface and firm skin.
Make a designated travel kit. It may seem far off, but this year you may be boarding a plane and traveling somewhere new (fingers tightly crossed). Be organized and ready to go when the time is right by getting travel-size versions of your faves.
Detox your body. Don’t let your face be the only part of you that gets love this year. You could invest in a body scrub like Charcoal Smoothie that helps smooth bumpy skin or keratosis pilaris while helping clarify and exfoliating your body.
Keep your skin glowy without the sun. Look like you got kissed by the sun, but keep your dermatologist happy by opting for shimmery body oil gel with nurturing ingredients and a light golden hue.
Nails
Bring oil into your nail care routine. “Put a drop of oil on your cuticle and massage around your cuticle, rub it into your nail and underneath it for at least 30 seconds. Do that 2-3 times per day,” says Tran Wills, founder of Base Coat. “It helps with the healing process and also promotes nail growth and strength because it’s bringing blood flow into your nails. You can use olive oil, coconut oil, any kind of oil you have lying around.”
Take good care of your existing manicure. “I used to pick my dry cuticles and chip my nails, but now I use cuticle oil on my gel manicure and it helps my cuticles a lot,” says Molly Romah, Lead Nail Technician at Chillhouse. “And I carry a mini nail file to smooth out my chipping nails.”
Commit to toxic-free nail products. “It took me about 2 years to find the right company to formulate our polish. When we first opened we were using other brands that were 5-free. Base Coat is 10-free,” says Wills.
Wear gloves while cleaning and have a lotion next to the kitchen sink. “Right now people are cleaning more than ever and all the chemicals and alcohol products they’re using are super dehydrating,” Wills says. Look for alcohol-free cleaning and beauty products to ensure your nails stay hydrated. “Those are things people don’t think about, but they do create really dry cuticles and brittle nails,” Wills says. “I always recommend people have a bottle lotion at their kitchen sink and in all their bathrooms. Make sure you put that on right away just to bring back that moisture in your skin”.
Wind down by giving yourself a mani. Giving yourself a weekly manicure and investing in some polishes you love (plus a really great topcoat) can be relaxing, plus the polish is a visual reminder to care for your nails. New to at-home manicures? ‘The Paint Box kit is the perfect place to start! The custom striper brush, dotting tool, and clean-up brush included in the kit make nail art easy. Purchasing The Paint Box also gives you exclusive access to our web series #OutsideTheBox, where you can view step-by-step tutorials on how to recreate iconic Paintbox looks yourself at home”, says Mabelyn Martin, creative director of Paintbox. “With Neu Kitchu original nail strips and decals you can do custom nail art at home in just 15 minutes, and they’re long-lasting’, adds Romah.
“I recommend Chillhouse’s reusable press-ons, Chill Tips,” Romah says. “We have six designs to choose from and they’re perfect for at-home manicures — we just launched a new collection of designs called Keep Pressin’ On.”
Explore the power of nail strengthener. Give your nails a 24-48 hours break from the nail polish. “Apply a nail strengthener twice a week or before using any regular nail polish,” Romah says.
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