To help you achieve the latter, here are five expert-backed habits to start in 2023. While some of these may take a few weeks (or months) to take full effect, patience is a small price to pay for brighter, softer skin in the long run: One easy solution: Practice skin cycling. This term was coined by board-certified dermatologist Whitney Bowe, M.D., FAAD, a few years back. Think of it like a weekly schedule for your skin care products. The basic cycling method calls for this order of operations: As mentioned above, recovery nights are essential for keeping your skin smooth. One way to go about recovery night is to “slug” your skin—aka apply an occlusive moisturizer over your go-to face cream. Some reach for a basic petrolatum jelly, but that’s not your only option. While these gels are safe for your skin, even cosmetic-grade options are not so environmentally friendly, which is enough of a reason to avoid its use: “Mineral oil is petrochemical derived, meaning it’s environmentally irresponsible to use mineral oil when there are vegetable and fruit oils, like coconut oil, that are more sustainable,” says clean cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline about the ingredient. On top of that, balms that swap the petrolatum for other occlusives can make your slugging routine even more effective. Ready to start slugging? Reach for a plant-based balm or one of these mbg-approved face oils for an eco-friendly slug. Keep an eye out for skin-identical ceramides that will directly contribute to the ceramide levels in your skin, whether it be from topical products or supplements and food. To support your natural levels of ceramide production, be sure to commit to a healthy skin care routine, eat a balanced diet packed with skin-loving foods (a few A+ additions here), and protect your skin barrier with moisturizer, SPF, and try your best to avoid over-exfoliation, retinoid reactions, and sunburns. You can also take beauty supplements that have phytoceramides in them to make it even easier—here’s a curated list of our top picks to get you started. Bowe even considers salmon her desert-island food pick, as the bounty of omega-3s “keep the skin supple and hydrated.” You also have natural lipids (like ceramides) and fatty acids on the surface of your skin, which help seal in moisture and keep environmental aggressors out. As board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D., once told mbg: “Natural fats maintain the integrity of the outer skin layer,” and when you have a healthy lipid layer, your skin appears supple and dewy. If fish isn’t your protein of choice, don’t worry—there are plenty of plant-based foods rich in omega-3s; here are a few to get you started. The reason face massage is so essential: Studies show that massage improves circulation in the face1. “Lymphatic drainage can have a significant impact on the appearance of your skin, especially if you are showing signs of lymphatic buildup,” master esthetician Sarah Akram, owner of Sarah Akram Skincare said about lymphatic massage. As you clear that buildup and encourage circulation, those vital nutrients have a much easier time reaching the skin cells—and nourished, happy skin cells appear way more radiant.
