I hear from many patients that they have difficulty settling into a consistent skincare routine. This can be frustrating, especially after spending large amounts of money on products that end up sitting on a shelf until they eventually make their way to the trash can.
I believe there are many reasons we fail to follow through on plans to maintain a daily routine, whether it involves skincare or other personal goals. Habits can be difficult to establish, and there is no single perfect strategy for building lasting routines. I encourage my patients to first determine what is realistic when setting these goals. While it may be ideal to cleanse your face morning and night, cleansing at least once a day is far better than not doing it at all.
Starting small with a cleanser and a good moisturizer is a great way to ease into a skincare regimen because the time commitment is minimal. As the habit becomes established, you can gradually add other products based on your individual skincare goals, such as a retinol or vitamin C product.
One of the most effective techniques I have seen for establishing habits is visualization. Before going to bed, imagine yourself waking up the next morning and completing your skincare routine. Be as specific as possible. Will you wash your face immediately after getting out of bed, or after your shower? Imagine how the warm water will feel and how refreshed your skin will look afterward.
As simple as this may sound, visualization can help reinforce behavior patterns and make new habits feel more familiar and achievable. This relates to a concept called neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt and create new connections throughout life. When we repeatedly think about or practice a behavior, the neural pathways associated with that activity become stronger and more efficient. Over time, these pathways help the behavior feel more natural and automatic. This technique can be useful for nearly any habit you would like to develop.
As I sat down to write this column, I planned to focus on specific skincare products and routines. The more I thought about it, though, the more I realized that skincare is rarely that simple. What works beautifully for one person may do very little for another. Skin type, age, lifestyle, and personal goals all play a role in determining the right approach. That is why general advice can only go so far, and why individualized recommendations are often the most effective.
When choosing a skincare routine, remember that expensive products are not always better, and what you see on social media is rarely as miraculous as it appears. Working with a licensed aesthetician who can evaluate your skin and recommend products based on your individual needs and goals is often the best approach.
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