How I'm Going Easy On My Skin in the New Year

I’ve partnered with the Dove team to share with all of you how I'm going easy on my skin in the New Year.

Those of you who have been reading here for a while know that I am not normally a fan of New Year's resolutions for myself. It's interesting, because my personality screams "New Year's Resolution Lover!" I enjoy a good challenge (a few weeks ago I completed a 100 day fitness challenge), I am naturally a planner (even though I try to be spontaneous to pretend I'm cool), and I truly love to set goals that help me to be the best version of myself. But there is something about the pressure of coming up with a resolution at the start of every new year that leaves me feeling incredibly anxious, and if I do set a resolution and it doesn't pan out, I end up feeling disappointed. I decided years ago that New Year's resolutions just aren't for me.

That said, this year I vowed to approach the new year a little differently. Since I tend to be naturally hard on myself, and I have a strong feeling that's the main reason New Year's resolutions create anxiety for me, I thought to myself, "what if your resolution is to be easier on yourself?" It's the simplest concept really, but I think sometimes it can be difficult to grasp. So I came up with a list of ways I'm going easy on myself - from practicing self-compassion to allowing myself a lot more breaks - and I'll share more about all of that with you soon. I also decided to go easy on myself beyond the abstract, with my physical self as well - starting with my skin. I'm excited to be partnering with Dove to share how I'm doing just that.

Despite the advice of every dermatologist and aesthetician I've ever seen, I've always been rough on my skin. It doesn't matter how many times I repeat "gentle is better," I constantly find myself using products that harshly exfoliate, dry my skin out, and, ultimately, cause damage. So in my efforts to go easy on my skin as part of my 2019 resolution, I decided I needed to be gentle with my microbiome. Never heard of your microbiome? I hadn't either, but it turns out it's pretty important. The microbiome is the skin's living protective layer and a balanced diverse skin microbiome serves an important role in keeping skin healthy, moisturized, and resilient. It turns out that I've been as harsh on my microbiome as I've been on myself.

To maintain a balanced skin microbiome, you need to be gentle on your skin. I knew that meant I needed to change the harsh products I was using to wash and exfoliate my skin. Dove Body Wash microbiome gentle, so it made perfect sense to give it a try. And guys, I am so glad I did. I picked up a bottle of Dove Gentle Exfoliating Body Wash, and after just one wash my skin felt smooth and soft. I love that the scent is refreshing but mild, and that the exfoliating beads are effective without feeling like I'm sand blasting my skin. My skin feels nurtured, instead of abused, and I understand why: Dove is the #1 dermatologist recommended body wash, made with 100% gentle cleansers, free of sulfates and pH balanced. It works with my skin, instead of against it. No body wash is gentler to skin than Dove.

Honestly, the softness and smoothness of my skin after going easy on it with Dove Body Wash is almost like a metaphor for how I feel - body, mind, and spirit - now that I'm going easy on myself in general. Instead of entering the new year feeling and looking stressed, it's like a weight has been lifted in many ways. And that's pretty great. I love my Dove Gentle Exfoliating Body Wash, but I'm also looking forward to trying out Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash and Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash. If you're looking to go easy on your skin and cleanse without stripping away its healthy, nourished qualities, give one of these body washes a try. You'll be glad you did! Dove Body Wash is sold at mass, food and drug retailers nationwide with a suggested retail price of $5.99/22 fl. oz.

Will you be going easy on yourself this year? Do you have any New Year's resolutions?

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