Bidding adieu to the old year and welcoming the new calls for new resolutions and habits. Whatever New Year’s resolutions an individual has made for themselves, it is never too late to ease into an ultramodern skincare routine. However, in order to build the ultimate skincare regimen, it is important to know what products would benefit a respective skin type, and which techniques would prove to be beneficial. 

   CeraVe and Cetaphil are two of the most widely available, dermatologist approved skincare brands. Both of these brands are also affordable and offer promising results according to innumerable amounts of people who use these brands as a part of their daily routine. The latter brand, Cetaphil, prides itself on being more readily available to those who have sensitive skin. Cetaphil has Texan roots, and has been on the market for over 75 years. Over time, they have developed and perfected countless products, like their Gentle Skin Cleanser, which has earned them the reputation of “the #1 doctor recommended sensitive skincare brand in the US and other countries around the world,”the Cetaphil website stated. 

   On the other hand, CeraVe has the objective to limit their labeling towards a specific skin type to allow for bulk usage. CeraVe introduced their skincare line in 2005 after, “experts noticed that many skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis and dry skin all had one thing in common: a compromised skin barrier,”  the CeraVe website explains. 

  In order to restore and strengthen the skin’s natural barrier, all of CeraVe’s products include three essential ceramides, which are lipids that compose the natural skin barrier. Regardless of the skin issue a person is attempting to resolve, CeraVe prides themselves on being the skincare brand that anyone could look to for assistance in their skincare journey. 

   Other skincare brands like La Roche-Posay and Neutrogena have likewise been available to customers for a considerable amount of time. La Roche-Posay is a French skincare company that has been selling top-tier products since the late 1900’s. La Roche-Posay has a massive celebrity following with fans like Kelly Ripa, Nina Dobrev, Anne Hathaway, and Sarah Jessica Parker, who all are strong promoters of their brand. Products like their Toleriane Fluide Soothing Protective Moisturizer and Anthelios Cooling Water Sunscreen Lotion have earned La Roche-Posay their immense fan base.

   “The brand is cosmetically elegant, feels lightweight, and [it is at] an acceptable price point,”  Dr. Rachel Nazarian, M.D stated. 

    While most can agree that La Roche-Posay products are certainly an investment, they will also most certainly say that despite the price, the products and results are worth it. 

   Neutrogena is another trusted skincare brand whose reputation precedes them. They began their production journey in 1930 with founder, Emanuel Stolaroff, who later discovered a clear soap formula that was highly effective and rinsed off the skin surface easily. From there, they have developed makeup and hair care products along with their monumentally popular skincare line. Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost product series and Rapid Wrinkle Repair products are immensely popular among customers of all ages. Nevermind the fact that they also promise their allegiance to create, “products that deliver results while improving the beautiful world around us,” the Neutrogena website discloses. Neutrogena assures their customers that they will stay committed to their health, welfare, and the planet by carefully selecting the ingredients they use and using recycled post consumer plastic for their packaging. 

   Aforementioned, skincare brands like Cetaphil, CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, and Neutrogena have been a part of countless peoples skincare regimens for quite some time now. Despite these resilient tried-and-true brands, there are some new players stepping out onto the scene. 

   In 2016, another skincare based brand called The Ordinary was released, and since its debut, it has made a massive comeback. The Ordinary has a multitude of cleansers and moisturizers to offer, but their most in-demand products are their minimal ingredient toners, oils, and acid formulas. One of the most attractive factors of this brand is the price point of their products. With most of their products falling under the price of $10, this brand is considered one of the most affordable skincare brands available in the United States. Their Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is one of their most popular products, along with their Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 formula. Each formula that The Ordinary creates targets specific skin concerns, making it easy for someone to find the right product they need – after a bit of research. 

   Drunk Elephant is quite a peculiar name for a skincare brand – or any brand at that – but their unique brand name helps identify their products that are loved by thousands. Each one of Drunk Elephants cleansers, moisturizers, serums, facial masks are 100 percent fragrance free and contain no silicone additives. Silicone is a bittersweet product that many companies put in their skincare and makeup products. While silicone is highly effective in eliminating fine lines and facial scarring, it also acts as an adherent, gummy layer on top of the skin. This gummy layer above the outer skin traps dirt, oil, bacteria, and sebum between the two surfaces, causing irritated skin and breakouts. Two of the most popular Drunk Elephant products currently are the T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial – which eliminates dead skin cells causing the skin to look and feel “baby” soft – and the Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser. Aside from their customer-validated products, Drunk Elephant has introduced the new phenomenon of creating a skincare “smoothie.”  

 The main idea of the skincare smoothie is to, “mix any [of our] serums, creams, or oils together in the palm of your hand and apply them all at the same time,” the Drunk Elephant website encourages. This new application method is a huge leap from the traditional layering method where each product is applied one at a time, which some people find confusing and time-consuming. On the Drunk Elephant website, they even go as far to provide skincare smoothie recipes to provide their customers with a head start. 

   Certified cruelty-free skincare brands are considered rare in this day and age, but Sunday Riley has made it their mission since their launch in 2009 to never engage in animal testing. They also pride themselves in the fact that almost all of their products are vegan, with the exception of a select few that contain beeswax or honey. Sunday Riley’s C.E.O. Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Gel Cream is an exceptionally rated product of theirs, and was even voted as one of Popsugar’s 2022 Must-Have skincare items.

  One of the most attractive aspects about the Sunday Riley brand is that they are a female-owned brand who are dedicated to supporting, “diversity in the workplace, flexible hours, unlimited PTO, work from home, and volunteer time off,” the Sunday Riley website explains. 

   To follow along with these emerging skincare products, beauty editors and acupressure experts love to pair the art of Gua Sha along with a well-built skincare regimen. Gua Sha is the ancient practice that loosely translates to the phrase, “to scrape sand.” 

 While the Gua Sha has the capacity to sculpt the face and change someone’s appearance, it also is used for, “lymphatic drainage, addressing stagnant energy, promoting blood flow, soothing headaches, reducing inflammation, shortening acute illnesses like colds and flus, as well as releasing tension from head to toe,” the cofounder of Pink Moon – a lifestyle and gua sha brand, Lin Chen, expressed.

  This simple technique is a noteworthy method to destress after a hectic day, or for just a little bit of self-care – which is always a good idea!    All things considered, a good skincare routine means next to nothing if a person does not actively complete their regimen on a regular basis. Most dermatologists would also venture to say that in an individual’s middle-ages, the work – or lack thereof – that someone put into their skincare begins to show. Proactive prevention is the practice of using products that contain anti-aging ingredients to prevent the skin from showing signs of aging when the time comes. Retinol is among the most popular anti-aging ingredients; its composition alters the collagen formation of the skin which makes the epidermis – or outer layer of skin – more thick and durable. This process reduces and eliminates existing fine lines and wrinkles, giving the skin a smooth, silky finish. Antioxidants like vitamin C and E are also vital in a preventative skincare routine as well, and they can be found in countless serums and face masks. However, arguably the two most important elements of a long-lasting flawless skin complexion are the following: sunscreen and drinking lots of water! 

For more information about the ancient practice of Gua Sha, please visit https://www.vogue.com/article/best-gua-sha-tools.