A big big thank you!
Before we get into a few tips for the new year, we’d like to say Thank You to our loyal customers! As we said in a previous blog, we couldn’t have had such a great year without you. Thank you for your continued support, we can’t wait to hear from you in the new year!
New year’s is all about new beginnings. For many of us, we are inspired to make changes that will only make us better. Many homes will be buzzing about new year’s resolutions, and plans to execute them. Among the most popular new year resolutions are physical fitness and eating healthier. These are tried and true, and these two are on my list for a healthier new year. But I'm adding one more goal to my list: taking care of my skin. If I truly want to be healthy, I shouldn't forget to take care of my body's largest organ.
There’s so many sites that will tell you it’s never too early to start a skincare regimen. I have to agree fully. I'm twenty-four years old and I wish I started taking care of my skin earlier. I love to be out in the sun, go to the beach, and play lots of tennis. In high school, my tan was on point. Now that I am just a little older, I can see sun spots, and wrinkles on my face caused by too much tanning and lack of sunscreen. Currently, I use Honey Girl Organics’ line, but only here and there. When I used their Mom and Baby Butter for my stretch marks, I saw a dramatic change in them, but that was because I used it everyday as recommended. Skin care is like anything in life, if you only do it once you won’t see much of a change. Say you ate a salad one time, and the rest of your meals were junk food. Would you expect your body to be healthier suddenly? It takes time and patience.
That’s what new year’s represents: the beginning of a journey. On any journey, you should start off with a guide. You may be thinking, “ok, I want better skin, but where do I start?” This is exactly how I felt when I first decided to start an actual routine. The key to keeping a new year’s resolution is all in the planning. Here are some tips to help you better plan your new skincare regimen:
Step 1: Figure out your Skin Type
Figuring out your skin type will help you in what products you should buy. If you have oily skin, a Facial Toner could help bring balance. If you have dry skin, an olive oil based moisturizer could hydrate it. Not only will knowing your skin type help you buy the right product, you also won’t have to waste money on products that don’t match your skin.
There are five skin types: normal, dry, oily, sensitive, and combination. If you already know your type, great. If not, try the blank skin test:
Clean your face thoroughly with a mild cleanser and gently pat dry. Leave skin bare (do not apply anything at all). After 30 minutes, examine your cheeks, chin, nose and forehead for any shine. After another 30 minutes, evaluate whether your skin feels parched, especially if you smile or make any other facial expressions. If your skin feels tight, your skin is likely dry. If there is noticeable shine on your nose and forehead, your skin is mostly likely normal/combination. If there is shine on your cheeks in addition to your forehead and nose, you most likely have oily skin. (ref: tatcha.com)
No one knows your skin better than you (except your dermatologist). I know I have oily skin because after taking this test, I can feel oil forming on my cheeks, forehead, and chin. I am also prone to acne where my skin is the oiliest.
It is important to note that skin conditions do not equal skin types. For example, I have oily skin generally, but I do have dandruff on my scalp. Eczema, psoriasis, and acne, are among the most common skin conditions, but do not necessarily reflect your skin type. If you do have a skin condition, it is important to purchase products that soothe these issues.
Step 2: Define your Goals
Before you start your skincare regimen, define what your exact goal is. Here are some common skincare goals:
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Minimize wrinkles and sun damage
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Hydrate skin for smoother look
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Get rid of/prevent stretch marks
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Get rid of/prevent acne
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Soothe skin conditions such as eczema
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Feel healthier
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Look healthier
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Reduce the appearance of scars
Everyone’s goals will be different. Once you define what you want to do, it will be much easier to start a skincare routine. For many, it will be a combination of goals. Your goals, combined with knowing your skin type, will lead you to the product(s) that will better your skin. For instance, say I have dry skin, but also acne issues. I wouldn’t run out and purchase just any moisturizer. While it may help my dry skin, it could increase my acne issues. I’d go for something that could hydrate without making my skin too oily, like Honey Girl’s HoneyGlo. It contains all the good stuff of beeswax and olive oil, but infused with rose hydrosol which increases hydration while steering clear of clogging pores.
If you get confused on which products to purchase, let Honey Girl work for you. Give them a call and our experts would gladly give you some recommendations.
Step 3: Don’t Quit
(And if you quit, start again)
After a few days of sunscreen and moisturizers, you may get disappointed that you don’t see results right away. After I had my first child, I had stretch marks on my hips (the only place I didn’t use Mom and Baby Butter during pregnancy). They were red and frankly, not appealing. I decided to keep up with the moisturizer on my sides, even though I did feel like it was too late. Soon enough it became a nighttime routine: after I showered, apply some Mom and Baby Butter to my sides before bedtime. I didn’t notice any change until I got dressed while looking in the mirror about two months later, and I realized my marks were practically gone. I’ll be honest, they are still there, but lightly. They definitely don’t look like red claw marks on my sides anymore.
Once the first week of January goes by, keep going.
Once the first month of 2019 passes, keep going.
Once half the year of 2019 goes by, keep going (even if you might’ve stopped somewhere along the line).
Good things take time. Even if you only use one product the whole year, your skin will be all the better for it. Let 2019 be the year for fresh, revitalized skin. The perfect thing to wear to 2020’s new year’s party.
