New Year, New Skin: How to Get Better Skin in 2025

The new year is the perfect time to revisit your skin care routine and set goals for the year. The best skin is achieved through a personalized skin care routine and consistent use of the right products.
1. Assess Your Skin’s Current State
2. Set Realistic Goals
3. Simplify Your Routine
4. Introduce Targeted Treatments
5. Plan for Seasonal Adjustments
6. Adopt Healthy Habits
7. Track Your Progress
8. Reassess Quarterly
9. Stay Consistent

The new year is the perfect time to revisit your skin care routine and set goals for the year. The best skin is achieved through a personalized skin care routine and consistent use of the right products.

We’re all about consistency so we crafted this step-by-step guide to help you look your best in 2025:

1. Assess Your Skin’s Current State

The foundation of any effective skin care plan starts with understanding your skin’s current condition. Take a moment to look at your freshly cleansed skin in the morning. Try to find a natural light source so you can see the finer details. Scan your skin and answer these questions:

Skin type: Is your skin oily, dry, combination, or sensitive? What have you noticed about the way your skin feels recently?
Concerns: Are you dealing with acne, hyperpigmentation, dryness, fine lines, or dullness? Do you have ideas about why your skin may be changing?
Lifestyle factors: Reflect on your stress, nutrition, exercise, lifestyle, and sleep patterns that might have influenced the current state of your skin. Be honest here as it only helps you pinpoint possibilities and make better choices.

If you're unsure about your skin type or concerns, we can help with a Glow Plan – a personalized skin care routine to help you achieve your best skin.

2. Set Realistic Goals

Identify what you want to achieve with your skin care routine. Goals might include reducing breakouts, improving hydration, or achieving a more even skin tone. “Better skin” could mean different things to different people so be specific and realistic.

For example, your skin care goals might be:

“Reduce the appearance of acne scars by 50%.”
“Improve skin hydration within three months.”
“Minimize fine lines around the eyes by June.”

By setting goals, you can periodically check in on your progress, make changes when necessary, and find the inspiration to stay on track throughout the year.

3. Simplify Your Routine

A common mistake is overloading your routine with too many products. We get it: there are so many new products and interesting brands that it’s hard to stick with a routine! But remember that less can be more when you’re trying to nail down a routine.

First, make sure your basics are covered:

Cleanser: Choose one that matches your skin type and effectively removes dirt, pollutants, and makeup.
Moisturizer: Choose a moisturizer designed for your skin concerns. The moisturizers on the market now can boost other products to help you prevent breakouts, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and keep your skin barrier healthy.
Sunscreen: Find a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher and commit to using it daily.

4. Introduce Targeted Treatments

Once you’ve established the basics, think about which serums and special products will improve your skin.

Some common additions are:

Exfoliation: Use chemical exfoliants like AHAs or BHAs 1-2 times a week to remove dead skin cells and reveal brighter skin.
Serums + Creams: Look for serums with active ingredients like Vitamin C for brightening, niacinamide for calming, or retinol for anti-aging.
Masks: Incorporate hydrating or detoxifying masks as a weekly boost.

5. Plan for Seasonal Adjustments

As the seasons change during the year, your skin may need different things. For some people, the summer brings skin that oilier and may require lighter moisturizers to keep pores clear. You might find that cooler months mean you need a heavier cream that nourishes your skin.

6. Adopt Healthy Habits

Skin care isn’t just about what you put on your face. Supporting your skin from within is equally important so integrate these wellness habits into your 2025 skin care plan:

Hydration: Aim to drink at least 6-8 glasses of water daily.
Diet: Reduce sugar intake, and increase intake of fruits and vegetables. Include foods rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins A, C, and E like wild caught salmon, green leafy vegetables, and green tea..
Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night to support skin repair.
Stress management: Find ways to reduce exposure to stressors, and incorporate practices like meditation, therapy, and journaling to reduce stress-induced skin issues.

And remember to see your doctors for regular check ups. Sometimes a persistent skin issue is an indication of a deeper concern so stay on top of your visits to the doctor for physicals, blood tests, and routine exams.

7. Track Your Progress

Keep a written journal with the date that outlines your skin’s state, any observations about your skin, and how you feel your skin is progressing.

Consider pairing your journal entries with monthly photos taken in good light to monitor improvements and changes in your skin. Note any changes in texture, tone, or clarity, and adjust your routine as needed.

Sometimes it’s hard to see and appreciate progress when we look at our skin every day. By comparing progress photos over time, you may find that you’ve reached your skin care goals without realizing it.

8. Reassess Quarterly

Plan to revisit your routine at least quarterly. Assess your skin’s condition and your progress toward your goals. If you need support, get a personalized skin care plan like Glow Plan to take the guesswork out of finding the right products for the season.

Your quarterly assessment might include:

Rotating in new products to address different concerns.
Revisiting your goals and celebrating milestones.
Seeing an esthetician for a special facial or treatment like microneedling.
Investing in a Glow Plan to get a personalized skin care plan.

9. Stay Consistent

Consistency is the secret ingredient to any successful skin care plan. Develop a routine that fits your lifestyle, so it’s easier to maintain over time. Remember, skin care is a journey, not a sprint. Download Glownote and use it daily to keep you on track. Our skin care routine tracker makes it easy to be consistent.

When you look good, you feel good. Investing in healthy skin is worth your time. You don’t have to suffer through the same nagging problems for another year. Make a plan, get support, and elevate your skin in 2025.