Five beauty resolutions to make in 2018

While committing to a slew of new gym classes, a diet overhaul or not drinking any booze for the whole of January might prove a recipe for disaster, resolutions that revolve around our beauty routines are far easier to stick to.

Instead of a month of broken promises, use the new year to enlist a host of realistic and do-able changes.

Whether you want to tweak your skincare routine, switch up your look or pamper yourself during what’s considered perhaps the most depressing time of the year, these are the resolutions we guarantee you won’t abandon by the end of the month.

Clean your make-up brushes

One of those mundane tasks that none of us want to do, not cleaning your brushes can leave them filled with bacteria-growing make-up which increases your chances of break-outs and irritation.

Plus, let’s face it, a good set of make-brushes sets you back a fair amount of dosh, so learning how to clean them properly is one of the best ways to protect your investment.

Instead, make a vow to regularly clean your brushes at least once a week to rid them of lingering bacteria.

Stop using face wipes

While it can be tempting to reach for a quick-fix face wipe at the end of a long day, they really don’t do much for your complexion, so switch them out for a comprehensive cleansing routine and your skin will thank you in the long run.

The cornerstone of every good skincare routine, cleansing is essential when removing every last trace of makeup, sunscreen, and pollutants at the end of the day. And, while using a gel, oil or cream will suffice; if you want to go all out, give the double cleanse a go.

The trick here is to follow your first cleanse using something oily with a milk, gel or clay-based formula to eliminate residue without leaving skin feeling parched.

Repair your hair

After weeks of daily styling, washing, drying, tonging and straightening during party season, January is the perfect time to overhaul your locks and give them some serious TLC.

Here, your best bet is to cut back on heat-styling tools, and, when you do use them, opt for something with protective technology like GHD’s Platinum collection.

Likewise, using a nourishing hair mask regularly will help keep your tresses in good health in a matter of minutes – and from the comfort of your own home.

Step out of your comfort zone

As creatures of habit, it can be easy to fall into a monotonous make-up routine, but sometimes it pays to push the boundaries.

While it might seem like a daunting venture at first, daring yourself to try one new thing each month in 2018 – be it an audacious make-up trend, a different scent or getting the chop with a blunt bob – will make you step out of your comfort zone. You might even discover a new favourite product.

Don’t forget SPF

We all know that we should be wearing sunscreen, but it’s often a step that gets overlooked in our beauty routines.

If offering protection against skin cancer – including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma – isn’t enough to persuade you to take it up, perhaps knowing it’s the best and most effective anti-ager when it comes to preventing premature wrinkles just might.

A product that should be used year-round, luckily, the formulas have come a long way since the greasy, pore-blocking creams of your childhood too, and in some instances even double as a flawless make-up base.