As we enter the new year in full force, you might be feeling motivated to clean your closet, organize your kitchen and start working on those fitness goals. And another way to tap into your "new year, new me" mantra, without making a major lifestyle overhaul, is giving your beauty routine a little refresh.
That's why Allure Editor-in-Chief Jessica Cruel joined the 3rd hour of TODAY to share tips on what beauty products you should swap in the new year. From the latest skin care trends to buzzy beauty products, Cruel breaks down the benefits of these new additions plus her favorite products for all types of budgets.
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Keep reading to see all four beauty substitutions you should be making in the new year, plus tips on when you should be tossing certain products.
Manual scrubs for a "skin cycling" routine
A popular skin care trend that Cruel suggests trying this year is skin cycling, which she says involves using a chemical exfoliant one night and retinol on another night. To get started, Cruel says you'll want to swap your manual scrubbing exfoliants for a lactic acid AHA exfoliating serum.
Shani Darden Skin Care Lactic Acid AHA Exfoliating Serum
According to the brand, this exfoliating serum contains nine percent lactic acid that will gently remove dead skin cells and improve the appearance of pores and texture of the skin.
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA
You can grab this 10 percent lactic acid formula from The Ordinary for only $8. The brand says you can expect smoother skin and improvement of the skin's texture. Plus, the brand mentions it contains hyaluronic acid for added hydration.
Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 + Peptide Night Moisturizer
This nighttime moisturizer contains vitamin B3 and a retinol formula that's meant to improve fine lines and dark spots, all while being extremely hydrating, says the brand.
Sunscreen cream for sunscreen oil or serum
It's no secret that sunscreen is an essential skin care step. Cruel suggests swapping your cream to an oil or serum; she loves how they layer under makeup without feeling heavy or overly greasy.
Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Face Serum SPF 60+
Not only does this face serum provide broad spectrum SPF 60 coverage, but it also helps maintain the skin's natural moisture barrier, according to the brand. The company also notes that the oil-free formula won't clog your pores and is perfect to wear under your foundation.
Mele No Shade Sunscreen Oil
Cruel loves this product for darker skin tones and the brand confirms this formula is especially designed for melanin-rich skin. According to the company, this SPF 30 oil is lightweight and absorbs quickly into your skin
Supergoop Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Serum
This sunscreen serum is infused with vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, which the brand says is the first of its kind. Containing SPF 40, the serum will protect your skin from the sun while improving the appearance of dark spots, according to Supergoop.
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Full coverage foundation to skin tint
Since the pandemic, Cruel says she's been seeing a lot of attention on skin tints. Even though it provides less coverage, she notes it provides more hydration and other skin-loving benefits.
Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint
This buildable skin tint comes in over 25 different shades so you can expect an impressive match. According to the brand, this product will even out your skin texture while providing a smoothing "blurred" effect.
Kosas Tinted Face Oil Comfy Skin Tint
Containing nourishing oils like avocado, rose hip seed and jojoba, the brand says this skin tint provides lightweight and sheer coverage that will leave your skin feeling extremely moisturized and glowing.
Makeup wipes to cleansing balm
To eliminate waste and effortlessly remove makeup, Cruel likes using cleansing balms over wipes to clear away stubborn makeup.
CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleanser Balm
This non-greasy, fragrance free cleansing balm is packed with ceramides and will melt makeup (including waterproof mascara!) while leaving your face feeling moisturized, says the brand.
Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm
A multi-beauty award winner, this cleansing balm is perfect for removing oil-based products such as sunscreens, makeup and other excess oils from your skin, says the brand.
Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm
With almost 11,000 Amazon ratings, the brand says this three-in-one cleansing balm not only helps remove makeup, but also nourishes your face with it's skin-loving ingredients. It also leaves your skin feeling extremely hydrated after use. The brand also notes that you can use it as a daily cleanser or leave it on as a weekly facial mask.
When to toss out beauty products
Michelle Lee, former editor-in-chief of Allure, previously stopped by TODAY to share the magazine’s best tips for what to ditch and what to add to your beauty routine in the new year.
Start your refresh by trashing the old. “Eye makeup doesn’t last as long as most cosmetics,” Lee said. Anything that’s going around your eyeballs, like mascara or eyeliner, should be replaced every three to six months.
Nail polishes that have separated or changed color are irredeemable. So are lipsticks that have dried out or cracked. Toss them out and replace them with fresh bottles.
“Skin care doesn’t have an endless shelf life,” Lee said. “Check the date on your products like sunscreen, which last for a year or two.” The advice is especially important for any products that require you to dip your fingers into a jar, as it can start to grow dirty.
Makeup sponges can also quickly get gross, even if you’re regularly cleaning them. It’s a good idea to replace those every few months, as well. And finally, go through anything that’s been sitting in your shower. If bottles and jars have been repeatedly exposed to water, there’s a good chance the products may have gone bad.
As an additional tip, Cruel says she likes writing how long the products have until the expiration date, directly onto the product itself.
