It’s the New Year and there’s never a better time to refresh your resolutions after holiday over-indulgence. It’s time to recommit skin, the body’s biggest organ, to better health.  Read on for tips on how to get skin back on track and glowing for 2016.
 
Get your beauty sleep. Your skin repairs itself the most at night and sleep deprivation will hinder the process of skin rejuvenation.Lack of sleep can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and loss of moisture.  Clock in those precious eight hours.
 
Be gentle. Use a cleansing oil to remove makeup and a proper eye makeup remover to get rid of all traces of eyeliner and mascara. Pat eye cream gently to apply.  Skip harsh chemical cleansers.
 
Switch to oils. Contrary to popular belief, using the right oils will not make the skin greasy.  Instead, oils help to re-balance dehydrated skin.  Oils pass though the lipid layer of the skin faster, plump skin, and prevent moisture loss more effectively than water or cream based moisturizers. Look for jojoba, marula, sea buckthorn, argan, and borage seed in facial oils.
 
Take targeted supplements to give skin a nutritional boost from the inside out. Sparkle Collagen Peptide Supplement, which is enriched with clinically-proven VERISOL collagen, helps increase the skin’s natural collagen production therefore reducing fine lines and wrinkles while improving skin elasticity.
 
Don’t neglect your neck. The neck is just as prone to signs of aging as the face. Use a gentle exfoliator 1-2x a week to get rid of dead skin cells and apply serum and moisturizer twice daily.
 
Use sunscreen every day – an oldie, but goodie.  Choose a sunscreen that has both UVA and UVB protection in a lightweight formula that won’t clog pores.  Don’t forget the neck, hands and chest.
 
De-bloat your face. A simple lymphatic drainage facial massage in the morning or night can help get decrease puffiness. While applying a serum or moisturizer, massage skin in small, gentle circles — starting from the forehead, around the eyes, and then working towards the jaw and neck. This helps to draw away the toxins and waste that have built up in your system.
 
Go for regular facials. Facials are like sending your skin for extra fine-tuning.  If you can’t commit to a treatment once or twice a month, aim for one with every seasonal change.
 
Re-assess your skincare products. Toss out skincare products that are older than a year — these tend to harbor. Also, update your skincare regimen — what worked 5-10 years ago may not be optimal now. Consult a skincare professional with concerns and help choose effective products.
 
About the expert
Yu Ming O'Neil is the founder of Sparkle Collagen, an ingestible skin care brand. For more info: www.sparklecollagen.com/