10 Beauty Resolutions to Keep

Tips to Keep Your Skin Color Beautiful All Year

1. Drink Water

It’s not a new idea, and has been a tip for years, but many of us do not drink enough water. If you frequently drink beverages that contain caffeine (coffee, tea and soda) or alcohol, you may think you're quenching your thirst, but these fluids can actually deplete the body of essential water. Water helps rid the body of toxins, pollutants and waste that can make the body look and feel sluggish.

2. Wash Your Face at Night

And the reason is not just to remove makeup, which can clog pores and leave potentially harmful chemicals on the skin overnight. Dirt, environmental pollutants, germs, bacteria and excessive oil accumulates on the skin during the day and should be cleansed away so that the skin can breathe and be rejuvenated.

3. Use Sunscreen

People of color have a built-in sun protection factor, but it's not enough to completely protect us against harmful UV rays that can cause skin cancer, premature aging and contribute to age spots, melasma and other skin discolorations prevalent in skin of color. It's important to use sunscreen year-round, whenever you will be exposed to sunlight, especially if you are being treated for hyper-pigmentation, acne and other conditions that might require the use of products that can make the skin more sensitive to the sun.

4. Stop Smoking

Like sun damage, smoking is a major factor in the wrinkling of the skin. Nicotine in cigarette smoke causes blood vessels and capillaries to constrict, decreasing the circulation of oxygen within the skin, which is necessary for the health, maintenance and growth of skin cells.

5. Proceed With Caution

Using products that can discolor skin of color, such as bleaching creams, acne treatments, and products with harmful chemicals, and doing certain procedures such as harsh dermabrasion or chemical peels, can cause skin damage, scars and keloids. Always do research and consult a professional about the potential side effects of products and procedures.

6. Use Products for Your Skin Type

Products that are not formulated for your skin type can cause problems. For example, products made for oily skin can further dry out dry skin. Oily or rich moisturizing formulations that are perfect for dry skin can make oily skin shiny or can clog the pores, causing breakouts. Whether your skin is normal, oily, dry, combination, sensitive or mature, seek out products meant for your special skin.

7. Consume Beautiful Food

What you put inside your skin is as important as what you put on it. If you're eating a diet full of fatty, processed, fried, and fast foods and are using too much sugar and salt, you are negatively impacting your skin's health--and no beauty product will be able to solve that problem! Instead consumed a diet with the right amount of vitamins and minerals, found in abundance in fruits and vegetables.

8. Get Enough Sleep

Sleep deprivation can cause under eye circles and puffiness, dull-looking skin, and it also contributes to stress, which aggravates skin conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis.

9. Respect Your Skin Tone

There is a reason why certain foundations, eye shadow shades and lip stick colors look better on you than others. Skin tone, as well as skin undertones, really do have an impact on what makeup you should use. A foundation that is too light or too dark can make you look like you're wearing a mask. Certain makeup colors might make your skin look muddy or sallow, while others will give skin a gorgeous glow. And makeup is not made to change your natural appearance. The perfect makeup enhances your beauty..

10. Follow What's Good For You, Not Trends

Trendy makeup looks can be fun, but just make sure that they suit you. There's nothing worse than following a popular trend that looks horrible or clownish on you. Not everything should be tried. And be careful of beauty fads like "beauty vitamins," "secret" beauty ingredients or the new magic anti-aging device with loads of promises but little science behind them.