Sally Foran: Here are the beauty resolutions everyone should make this year

From the skincare benefits of Dry January to adding your neck to your facial routine, Sally Foran shares her words of wisdom

Dry January could also benefit skin health.

Consider Dry January

Alcohol has a major negative impact on the skin. It has been shown to contribute to fine lines, dullness, enlarged pores, inflammation, sagging, dark spots, puffiness and redness.

It depletes essential nutrients such as vitamins A, C, D, E, zinc, magnesium and selenium, and it’s a diuretic, which contributes to that dehydrated, creased look the morning after drinking. It also increases histamine, triggering flushing and sensitivity, particularly with red wine, while the yeast in beer can worsen seborrheic eczema.
Cocktails, due to their high sugar content, can speed up collagen breakdown and increase inflammation. Clear spirits like vodka, gin and tequila are generally gentler on the skin, but if you are considering Dry January for health reasons, know it may have some wonderful side effects for your skin too!

Double cleanse, always

Cleansing is the foundation of any effective skincare routine. Without proper cleansing, serums and moisturisers cannot penetrate fully, leading to blocked pores, rough texture and dullness. Double cleansing ensures makeup, SPF, sweat, oil and pollution are thoroughly removed.

The first cleanse breaks down surface buildup, while the second actually cleans the skin. Even if you don’t wear makeup, SPF and daily pollution still require a double cleanse at night. You can use the same cleanser twice, though balms and oils are best followed by a cream, milk or gel to avoid residue that may cause breakouts. In the morning, a single cleanse is enough (those with very sensitive skin can just use water).

Don’t neglect your neck

This is often one of the first areas to show ageing because the skin is thinner, more delicate and has fewer oil glands. This makes it prone to dryness, crepiness and sagging.Constant phone use has also led to “tech neck,” where looking down repeatedly forms horizontal lines.

Sally Foran for the Irish Examiner. Picture: Nina Val

Extending your skincare routine to your neck is crucial. Moisturiser and SPF are safe to use daily. Patch test before adding stronger actives like retinol, vitamin C and exfoliating acids. Dedicated neck creams can be beneficial if you need additional support.

Exercise regularly

Regular exercise offers amazing benefits for the skin because physical activity slows cellular ageing.
Research shows that people who exercise consistently have longer telomeres, which are linked to longevity.

Exercise boosts circulation, delivering oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the skin, enhancing radiance.

One study from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, even found that frequent exercisers over 40 had skin that was microscopically comparable to that of people in their 20s and 30s!

The human growth hormone, which supports youthful skin, declines between ages 30 and 50, but even short bursts of exercise help stimulate it. Brisk walking is especially beneficial, offering many of the benefits of running without negatives such as the joint strain or facial fat loss.

If you smoke, quit

Quitting smoking is one of the best steps you can take to improve your skin. After UV exposure, smoking is the biggest environmental cause of premature ageing. Cigarette smoke contains free radicals that speed up ageing and trigger enzymes that break down collagen, leading to sagging and lines. Nicotine narrows blood vessels, reducing oxygen and nutrient delivery to the skin, resulting in a dull, grey complexion.

Smoking also depletes vitamin C, vital for radiance, collagen production and healing. It disrupts estradiol, a form of oestrogen essential for firm, hydrated skin, causing dryness and thinning. Repeated smoking motions like lip pursing and eye squinting create deep wrinkles. Smoking can also worsen conditions such as psoriasis.

Never skip SPF

SPF is the most important daily skincare product. UV rays are responsible for up to 90 percent of premature ageing.

Most UV rays penetrate clouds, so protection is needed all year round. UV rays can also pass through glass, so SPF is necessary even when driving or sitting by windows.

Without sunscreen, the benefits of the rest of your skincare routine are reduced. Daily SPF helps prevent redness, hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, dehydration, enlarged pores and barrier damage.

A broad spectrum formula is essential and should be reapplied every two hours when outdoors. With so many affordable options now available, there’s no reason not to wear it.

Never sleep in your makeup

Sleeping in makeup is so bad for skin. It can clog pores, leading to breakouts, it interferes with natural exfoliation, causing dullness and roughness, and it can contribute to dryness and chapped lips.

Leaving eye makeup on can make lashes brittle and increase the risk of styes. Eyeshadow residue may irritate the eyelids and cause dermatitis.

Makeup can also trap free radicals (environmental pollutants and oxidized makeup ingredients), which may contribute to oxidative stress — a factor linked with collagen breakdown and skin aging. Bottom line, don’t skip your evening cleanse.

Commit to a nightime skincare routine

Our skin becomes more receptive to topical ingredients and repair activity at night. Research on circadian rhythms shows transepidermal water loss increases during the night, so ingredients can penetrate more easily, and increased blood flow can support better delivery of nutrients and actives. With that in mind, prioritise making time for your skincare routine at night (and give it some time before you hit the hay – you want your products fully absorbed into your skin, not the pillow!) Adequate sleep is also essential, as a lack of it increases inflammation and raises cortisol, which breaks down collagen, and reduces melatonin, which protects against fine lines and age spots.