Many of us make resolutions and sadly fall into the trap of not keeping them up after our initial dedication. Perhaps this is the year to not be too hard on ourselves; in 2022, set simple, achievable goals, and don’t feel guilty if on occasion you fall short.

Exfoliation
This is an easy, crucial step in our skincare regimen, even more so during the harsher winter months when our skin is particularly challenged with the weather, central heating, and all the extra layers of clothing that mean our skin doesn’t have the luxury of being exposed to fresh air.

Skin is our largest organ and it pays to look after it. Mechanical or physical exfoliation requires lightly massaging abrasive particles with your finger tips to loosen and remove dead cells and cleanse the skin. Ideally, you should exfoliate once or twice a week, depending on the product instructions.

This essential ritual allows you to uncover soft, smooth and more luminous skin. It unclogs the pores while removing impurities and dead cells, which accumulate on the surface, making your complexion dull.

I recommend gentle exfoliation everywhere on the body, even the chest and preferably when the skin is wet, making the procedure less abrasive. Light scrubbing is important, as the last thing you want to do is cause redness or irritation.

The products you apply after will be absorbed more easily and therefore be much more effective. There is a huge choice of exfoliators on the market so find the one that suits your skin. It’s also important to remember that the products you use on your face will not be the same as what you use on your body.

Solid soaps
Often referred to now as beauty bars, soap bars have come a long way from what many of us might recall as harsh and hard on the skin.
More than ever, consumers are taking their values into account when they shop, and they know that solid products have a smaller environmental footprint because they require less water in manufacturing, and often use an infusion of plants to mix the ingredients, which is beneficial for our skin.

There is far less packaging on solid bars – generally they are packed in recyclable cardboard instead of plastic bottles and jars – and no synthetic preservatives to keep them fresh. They are also more concentrated, saving you money as they last much longer than their liquid counterparts, and the ingredients are just as effective in caring for our skin and hair as liquid formulas.

I was surprised to find L’Occitane offers an incredibly dense lather with a bar that cleans the scalp while leaving the hair wonderfully soft. Sephora offers a deluxe bar, which is compact and lightly exfoliates the face as well as the body (a rare find) to help retain the skin’s moisture.

Solid bars are also great for travel, as there is no risk of spillage and they often weigh less. Transportation of goods requires less energy, so you are doing your bit for the environment as well as spoiling your skin!

It is important to keep these products away from heat to avoid melting. If they are for use in the shower, store them in a soap dish or any container that allows drainage. Each formula is unique, so do read the product instructions, as some require water for activation, whilst others go directly on the skin and melt with contact.

We’re all learning new ways of contributing to a better world; skincare is certainly a good place to start. It might take a little while to change our habits but it’s worth a try; a good and easy resolution to keep!