Top 5 New Year Skin Care Resolutions

1. Ditch your lotion and use oil - Don't be afraid of oil, it's the best thing I ever did for my skin. Lotions are filled with toxins like parabens, fragrance, petrochemicals, alcohol, and oil emulsified in water. The only ingredient in lotion that provides any moisture to the skin is the oil. One of the basic principals of chemistry is like dissolves like. If you have oily skin, you should be using oil. Plant oils are excellent for all skin types. They are very similar to the oil our skin naturally produces (sebum) so they are easily absorbed into the skin, don't clog pores and promotes skin cell function. Some of my favorite oils are avocado oil, apricot oil, marula oil, grapeseed oil, argan oil, jojoba oil and rosehip oil. You can use these alone or make your own oil mixture. Just get a glass dropper bottle, choose your plant oil, add some vitamin E oil and add a few drops of essential oil. Lavender, cedarwood, lemon and frankincense are a few . If you don't have the patience to make one, grab one of these Acure Marula Oil, EO Argan Oil, or Dessert Essence Oil. 

2. Wash your face every night - Never go to bed with makeup on. Makeup can trap dirt and environmental pollutants inside the skin which results in premature aging. Sleeping in makeup also clogs your pores which leads to acne. Lastly, it interferes with the natural shedding process of the skin which results in duller, drier complexion. Get a good chemical free face wash like these, Acure Cleansing Stick and Acure Brightening Cleansing Gel

3. Get a chemical free shampoo - a good chemical free shampoo can be life changing. Ingredients in shampoo contain lots of chemicals. These chemicals can cause flaky skin, persistent itching & irritation, asthma, sinusitis, allergies and even cancer. They strip moisture and natural oils from our hair causing rashes, hair loss and dandruff. Invest in a chemical free option like one of these, Babo Botanicals and Avalon Organics

4. Moisturize after showering - keep a body oil right in the shower. Warm water strips our skin of natural oil and we need to replenish. Apply the oil right after you shower while your skin is still damp. Try one of these, EO Body Oil and Shea Moisture Body Oil

5. Make Vitamin C your new best friend - Vitamin C is not only necessary for collagen production and maintenance, but it is also a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals in the skin. Environmental aggressors such as UV rays and pollution create free radicals that cause premature signs of visible aging. Vitamin C creates a brighter complexion, evens out skin tone and diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It improves hydration and keeps your skin looking younger. I use both of these every day Avalon Organics Vitamin C Serum and Avalon Organics Vitamin C Antioxidant Oil.