There’s no need for a new you this new year—we think you’re great just as you are! But turning the page on the calendar offers the opportunity to pare away what’s no longer serving you—whether that’s in your life or your skincare routine. We’ll leave the life part up to you, but when it comes to skincare, we have a few suggestions. Here are 6 steps you can take to build supportive skincare practices this new year.
Simplify Your Routine
Take stock of the skincare products you’re using and consider whether they’re working for you. Do your products contain fragrances or anything else that could cause irritation? Do they have ingredients that could disrupt your skin microbiome? For people with sensitive skin, it can be helpful to seek out minimally formulated products that contain as few ingredients as possible. Consider taking a back-to-basics approach and opt for minimally formulated cleansers and moisturizers with microbiome-friendly ingredients.
Moisturize All Over
Moisturizing isn’t just for your hands and face! Your skin is your largest organ, and your stratum corneum, or skin barrier, protects the body from environmental threats, chemicals, toxins, viruses, and allergens. Dry or compromised skin indicates that your skin barrier may not be functioning optimally. Moisturizing regularly is a critical step in building a stronger skin barrier. You just have to find the right moisturizer for you.
We recommend using a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic moisturizer with supportive ingredients and a texture that feels good on your skin. If you’re interested in a lightweight moisturizer that provides long-lasting hydration, consider Gladskin’s Body Lotion. If you prefer a thicker, highly occlusive moisturizer, try the Barrier Restore Cream. You can use different moisturizers on different areas of the body.
Consider Your Microbiome Health
The skin and gut microbiomes are the communities of bacteria, viruses and fungi that live on the surface of your skin and in your digestive tract. These communities are connected via the gut-skin axis, and clinical studies show that addressing imbalances in the gut can positively impact skin health.
Gut testing can be a helpful way to get to know what’s going on with your gut microbiome. Our friends at Tiny Heath offer gut health tests for adults and children that identify the bacteria, yeast, parasites, archaea, and viruses in the gut, provide a gut health report and diversity score, and offer actionable microbiome health advice.
Interested in restoring bacterial balance to your skin? Check out Gladskin’s Micreobalance®-containing products.
Use a Humidifier This Season
Our skin gets extra dry during the colder months: running heaters reduces the water content of indoor air, which in turn dries out the skin. The good news is that using a humidifier can help with winter dryness. Just be sure to keep your machine clean to prevent mold. The humidifiers made by our friends at Canopy are dishwasher-safe, can hydrate rooms up to 500 square feet, and use sensors to maintain optimal moisture day and night.
Learn About Common Skincare Ingredients
When it comes to skincare, knowledge is power. It can be helpful to learn how the ingredients in the products that you use impact skin health. Increasing your knowledge of skincare ingredients and practices also helps you debunk skincare myths and determine whether current care trends are right for you. We recommend starting your journey with Gladskin’s skincare glossary.
Stay Consistent and Notice What Changes
Building healthy skin takes time. Once you’ve arrived at a routine that works for you, stay consistent and notice how your skin responds. Be sure to pay attention to any triggers, including common irritants and allergens, that could be impacting your skin. See a dermatologist or your primary care provider if you notice any itching, burning, irritation, or other new skin symptoms.
We wish you all the best for the coming year!