Here’s our guide for resolving bad skin care habits with a new beauty routine for 2018

AT this time of year, we commonly make resolutions to get fit or quit cigarettes – but how many of us think about giving our beauty routines a reboot?

All of us fall into bad habits with our hair and make-up, such as using face wipes and blasting our tresses with heat, and this can have more of an impact on our looks than we think.

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So here JENNY FRANCIS offers some resolutions for your daily regime that will leave you with a healthier glow.

I WILL . . . SWAP FACE WIPES FOR WASH

We’re all guilty of giving in to the convenience of face wipes.

But while they might shave 30 seconds off your bedtime routine, they could be adding damage to your face.

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There is not a person alive who is so busy that they cannot take just two minutes to wash their face the usual way.

Wipes should be used for emergencies like when travelling.  Add a face wash to your beauty bag and a flannel to your bathroom cabinet.

Not only will it get rid of much more dirt and dead skin, it will also do so without leaving unwanted chemicals on the skin, and so will help prevent redness and dry patches.

Try: Nivea Daily Essentials Gentle Cleansing Cream Wash, £3.15, Boots.

I WILL . . . WASH MY MAKE-UP BRUSHES

Most of us will say we don’t have time, or don’t know how to, but in reality we just can’t be bothered to wash our make-up brushes.

If we could see what we are brushing on to our faces every day, it might make us change our minds.

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Our brushes pick up and store countless forms of bacteria, meaning we are asking for spots and redness every time we go a week without cleaning them.

Invest in a speedy brush cleaner with antibacterial properties.

Simply spray on to brushes and dirt will fall off on to a paper towel. It also dries instantly.

Try: It Cosmetics’ Brush Love Instant Brush Cleaner is £15 from Selfridges.

I WILL . . . COOL DOWN MY HAIRDRYING

Yes, hot air dries hair quicker, and warms you up when it’s freezing cold in the morning, but blasting your hair with a hot heat daily is ruining your locks.

Adam Reed, global brand ambassador for haircare brand GHD, says: “Leave hair to dry naturally for as long as possible and then use the cool button on your hairdryer to finish off drying your hair.

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“This helps to lock your finished style in place for longer and saves hair from heat destruction, improving its condition.”

Try: GHD air hairdryer, £79, .

I WILL . . . USE SPF ALL YEAR ROUND

SPF is not just for holidays. All top dermatologists say no one should leave home without it.

To make this new resolution simple, swap your moisturiser or foundation for one that has already had it included in its formula.

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This will protect your face from damaging UV rays and save your skin from premature ageing.

Try: BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream, SPF 30, £28, Boots.

I WILL . . . EXFOLIATE REGULARLY

You may already exfoliate your face, but how about the rest of your body?

Giving skin a buffing scrub a few times a week not only leaves skin smoother and removes dead skin, it improves circulation and can help rid you of cellulite.

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Make exfoliation part of your routine instead of something you only do before a holiday.

It is essential before using a fake tan, but make it part of your weekly schedule.

Try: Soap and Glory Sugar Scrub, £8, Boots.

I WILL . . . STOP PICKING MY SPOTS

Or, if we’re being really fussy, stop touching your face at all.

We carry countless bacteria and germs on our hands and when we touch our faces without washing them, we just transfer them straight to our skin, leading to spots and blackheads.

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Picking spots and scratching scabs is also a no-no if you want to avoid spreading germs and causing scars.

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I WILL . . . USE A PADDLE BRUSH

You may not know it, but we all neglect our scalps. If you want to improve your haircare in 2018, swap a comb for a paddle brush.

Brushing your scalp and hair daily can help stimulate growth by improving blood circulation and keeping tresses healthy.

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The brush’s rounded ends prevent any scratching and also help relax you because of their massaging effect on the head.
Try: GHD paddle brush, £20, from John Lewis.