The Pre-Resolution Resolution: Why Wait Until New Year's to Get Your Skin in Shape?
Every January 1st, millions of people make the same promise: "This is the year I finally fix my skin."
They buy new products. They commit to 10-step routines. They follow influencer advice. And by January 15th? Most of them have given up.
Here's what nobody tells you: Your skin doesn't care about calendars.
If you want to start the new year with healthier skin, you need to start before the new year. And I'm going to show you exactly how.
Why Starting Now Actually Matters
There's something magical about January 1st. It feels like a clean slate, a fresh start, the perfect moment to become the person you've always wanted to be.
But here's the problem with waiting: skin changes take time.
When you start a new skincare routine on January 1st, you're not going to wake up on January 2nd with perfect skin. In fact, you might experience purging, adjustment periods, or even temporary irritation as your skin adapts to new products.
By the time you see real results? It's late January or early February. By then, motivation has worn off, the routine feels like a chore, and you're back to square one.
But if you start NOW—in these quiet days between Christmas and New Year's—you get a 2-week head start.
By January 1st, you'll already:
- Have a routine that feels automatic, not forced
- See early signs of progress (which keeps you motivated)
- Know what's working and what isn't
- Avoid the "change everything at once" overwhelm
You're not starting from scratch on the most high-pressure day of the year. You're already in motion.
The Small Changes That Actually Matter
Here's where most people go wrong: they try to overhaul everything at once.
They buy a cleanser, a toner, three serums, two moisturizers, a retinol, and a face mask. They commit to a 45-minute morning routine and an hour-long evening routine. They follow 17 different skincare accounts on Instagram and try to do everything everyone recommends.
It lasts about three days.
Real change doesn't come from perfection. It comes from consistency with the basics.
Over the next two weeks, I want you to focus on just one thing. Not ten things. One.
Pick whichever feels most doable for you:
If you're inconsistent with cleansing: Commit to washing your face every single night before bed—even when you're exhausted, even when you "didn't wear makeup," even when it's 2am and you just got home. Just cleanse. That's it.
If you skip SPF: Apply sunscreen every single morning. Period. No excuses, no "but I'm just staying inside," no "it's winter." Every morning. Make it automatic.
If you're using products that irritate your skin: Strip everything back. Use only a gentle cleanser, a simple moisturizer, and SPF. Give your skin a break. Let your barrier recover.
If you have a routine but it's not working: Stop adding more. Instead, take inventory. What's actually helping? What's making things worse? What's just... there, doing nothing?
You don't need more products. You need the right products used consistently.
How to Use These Next 2 Weeks
I've created a Pre-Resolution Skin Reset Kit to help you make the most of this time. It's free, it's printable, and it includes three simple worksheets:
1. A 2-Week Skin Tracker
Track your daily habits (cleansing, SPF, water intake) and how your skin feels each day. This isn't about perfection—it's about noticing patterns. Did you skip cleansing three nights in a row? What happened to your skin? Did you drink more water and notice your skin looked plumper? Write it down.
You'll also take progress photos on Day 1, Day 7, and Day 14. Not for Instagram. Just for you. Because sometimes you can't see progress until you compare.
2. A Product Inventory Worksheet
List every product you're currently using. Mark what's working, what's not, and what you're unsure about. Be honest. If something stings, makes you break out, or just sits on your bathroom counter unused—write it down.
Then make decisions. Keep what works. Stop what doesn't. Give the "maybes" two more weeks and reassess.
3. A Simple Routine Builder
Plan your ideal morning and evening routines. But keep it simple: 3-4 products per routine, maximum. If you can't stick to it, it doesn't matter how good the products are.
Download the Pre-Resolution Skin Reset Kit
Week 1: Build Your Baseline
Your only job this week is consistency. Don't add new products. Don't try to fix everything. Just do your routine every single day and track it.
Use the tracker. Take your Day 1 photo. Notice how your skin responds.
At the end of Week 1, take your Day 7 photo and reflect: What was easy? What was hard? What do you want to adjust for Week 2?
Week 2: Make Small Adjustments
Now that you have a baseline, you can make informed changes.
If your cleanser is stripping your skin, try a gentler one. If your moisturizer isn't enough, add an extra layer at night. If you're breaking out from a new serum, stop using it.
Small tweaks. Not an overhaul.
By Day 14, you'll have a routine that works for your skin—not Instagram's idea of what your routine should be.
What Happens on January 1st?
Here's the beautiful part: nothing dramatic needs to happen.
You won't wake up with a long list of resolutions you're already anxious about. You won't be starting from scratch, overwhelmed and unsure.
You'll just... continue. Because you've already been doing it for two weeks.
The habit is built. The routine is automatic. The results are starting to show.
And while everyone else is buying new products and making promises they won't keep, you'll be two weeks ahead—with progress photos to prove it.
If You're Feeling Stuck
Look, I get it. Sometimes you know you need to change something, but you don't know what to change. You've tried so many products, followed so much advice, and nothing seems to work.
That's where personalized guidance makes all the difference.
As a pharmacy technician and certified skincare coach, I help people figure out what their skin actually needs—not what they think it needs based on trends or marketing.
I offer three levels of skincare coaching, all done via email so you can respond on your own time:
- Starter Assessment ($35): A simple, personalized routine based on your skin type and concerns
- Comprehensive Skin Ritual ($75): An in-depth analysis with product recommendations and a custom plan
- 90-Day Guided Program ($175): Ongoing support with check-ins as your skin changes
If you're tired of guessing, learn more about coaching here.
The Bottom Line
You don't need to wait until January 1st to start caring for your skin. You don't need a perfect 10-step routine. You don't need expensive products or influencer recommendations.
You just need to start. Today. With one small, consistent habit.
Download the Pre-Resolution Skin Reset Kit. Pick your focus. Track your progress for two weeks.
By the time everyone else is making resolutions, you'll already be seeing results.
Small rituals. Powerful results.
Ready to start?
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Have questions about your skin? Drop them in the comments below or email me at hello@ritualscript.com. I read and respond to every message.