New Year, New Skincare Goals

Skincare Do’s and Don’ts for 2025!

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday. I was in San Diego with my husband’s family and then was back here in Chicago to spend some time with mine. I always get a little sad when the holidays end, however I am excited to get back to my routine and start some of my intentions for 2025!

Every year I have new skincare goals. These involve trying new treatments, refining my skincare routine, and staying in the know about new products and trends so I know what to pursue and what to avoid. I wanted to share some of my findings and thoughts in hopes to inspire you for your skin health in the new year! Here are my skincare 2025 do’s and don’ts!

Do: Invest in Treatments

The new year is always a good time to re-evaluate what skin treatments would be best for your skin (and budget) for the year. While I know aestheticians recommend doing treatments every 4-6 weeks, it’s definitely not always possible with a normal budget! Because of this, my recommendation is to invest in deep, long lasting skincare treatments like chemical peels and microneedling, rather than spend $100-$200 on a normal facial every month. These types of treatments will have long lasting effects for preventing fine lines, brightening, cellular turnover and collagen production.

I did microneedling twice before my wedding (I wrote about it in a previous blog post) and I LOVED it. This year, I have plan on doing chemical peels (I purchased three that I plan on spacing out) for some deeper exfoliation and to help with redness. I am also trying PRX for the first time. PRX is a treatment that helps with hydration, skin texture, and pigmentation. It also requires zero downtime which I am really looking forward to. I am excited to share more about my experience doing these treatments.

Whenever investing in skincare treatments, it’s best to consult with a dermatologist or aesthetician to help you pick the best treatments for you. A lot of trends are shared from social media and influencers, which can be helpful, but that doesn’t always been those treatments work for everyone!

Do: Invest in Products

Find essential products that work for you. These don’t have to be the most expensive products! Look for things that target your skincare concerns and have key ingredients like Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide.

Products that are a DO!

• Gentle, hydrating cleanser
• Vitamin C serum
• Gentle exfoliator (depending on your skin type either a physical, chemical or combo)
• Brightening or hydrating eye cream
• Products with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide or squalane
• Products with salicylic acid if you have acne
• Daytime and nighttime moisturizers
• An anti-aging serum (retinol is the most common but choose what’s best for your skin)
• SPF
• A hydrating sleep mask

I have shared some of my fav skincare products in other posts but I’m not going to here because frankly, I think there has been a bit of product overload. Everyone has their own opinion on what they like based on what works for their skin. My suggestion? Read reviews and look at recommendations from dermatologists and aestheticians. Also, follow the directions on products! Just because you’re using a retinol doesn’t mean you have to use a large amount or every day! A little can go a long way with certain products.

Don’t Fall For…

This should be a given, but I think it’s worth stating just the same: Don’t fall for buzz words. The biggest one I have seen so far is “botox in a bottle.” I have seen some brands use this as a marketing technique and then slap hundreds of dollars on a product. Are there products that help to fight aging? Absolutely. Will they block nerve signals to your muscles like Botox does? No. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a product because it is medical grade or because a famous aesthetician or dermatologist recommended it. There are many products out there that are effective and affordable. The term medical grade can be a bit of a buzz word. When it comes to skincare, there are so many other factors that go into taking care of your skin: effective treatments, diet, hydration, daily SPF, and moderating alcohol use to name a few. And speaking of…

Do not avoid sunscreen! One of the “trends” that drove me batty in 2024 was influencers stating that SPF was bad for you. I got news for everyone, skin cancer is worse. I get a lot of facials, talk to a lot of aestheticians, and listen to a lot of derms and aestheticians on beauty podcasts. Not one of them has said to avoid SPF!

Lastly, you will see a lot of influencers and people on Instagram and Tik Tok show off their skincare routine and tell you their way is the right way. Learn what works for your skin and stick to it! That’s not to say it’s not okay to try a new product. But you don’t need to buy a new moisturizer or serum each month because it seems like the hot product right now. Your skin will improve with consistency. A lot of social media personalities will also show a 10 step routine which is usually not necessary. You don’t need to layer a million things on your face. While morning and evening routines might look a little different, you want your skin to be resilient and not reliant on too many products.

I hope these were helpful tips as we embark on the new year! I am excited to share my skincare discoveries with you. What are your thoughts? Feel free to share with me your skincare and beauty goals for 2025! I always love discovering new products and treatments.

Cheers to a new year and new month! I am excited for 2025 and everything it brings. I love reseting and setting intentions (not resolutions) for the new year. Hopefully this kicks off some inspo for you!