It is one month into 2020. You know what that means: most of us have let our new year’s resolutions slide!
We came into the year bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with the best of intentions, hoping to do daily 5:00AM yoga and eat six servings of vegetables per day. If you’ve managed to do that, you deserve a legit gold medal.
If you’re like the rest of us mere mortals, you’re probably looking for ways to get your year back on track in a healthy (but manageable) way. As we look on the horizon of 2020, we are super excited about the direction of the health and wellness space.
Here are a few predictable wellness trends of 2020:
1. Microneedling
Micro-WHAT?!
It sounds super scary and invasive, but we promise it is not! Microneedling is a pain-free procedure performed by a licensed esthetician or an MD. Think of microneedling like a high-tech facial with extra skin-perfecting benefits. The procedure DOES involve needles, but you won’t feel them much.
The esthetician will move the microneedling device over your skin, creating tiny punctures, which spur your skin to heal, stimulating the production of collagen and elastin. The result? Glowing, smooth skin. You should also see a noticeable reduction in acne, dark spots and scarring.
If spending a pretty penny on microneedling isn’t in your cards, there are safe, at-home alternatives that will produce mild results, though not nearly as effective as a professional microneedling procedure.
Dermarollers are a cost-effective, painless variation of micro-needling that you can perform at home. When we say it’s painless, we mean it. Dermarolling is increasing in popularity and works similarly to in-office micro-needling by creating micro-injuries on the surface of your skin. The needles on a derma roller are much shorter than those used in your dermatologist’s office for safety precautions. You can increase efficacy of this treatment by applying targeted skincare solutions right after your dermaroll. The teeny-tiny punctures in your skin help your face to absorb product quicker and more efficiently.
A great product to use post-dermaroll is CRAM SESSION® Blue Light Blocking Moisturizer. CRAM SESSION® contains Vitamin C and Vitamin E, antioxidants that fight free radicals and boost collagen synthesis, along with Retinyl Palmitate, which improves wrinkles and pigmentation. This powerhouse combination is a winner for overall skin health.
2. Anti-Inflammation
These days, it seems like you every street in Los Angeles has a cafe serving turmeric lattes touting anti-inflammatory properties. Fighting inflammation is a trend that’s about to sweep the nation.
It may sound like a fad diet, but the benefits of fighting chronic inflammation are pretty clear: many diseases have been linked to inflammation, including skin conditions like acne, dermatitis, rosacea, and more.
There are a handful of dietary philosophies that address inflammation in the body. The Mediterranean diet, which has a high concentration of fish, vegetables and healthy fats, is a healthy option to reduce inflammation in the body. Gluten is often associated with inflammation in the body and can potentially interfere with the proper functioning of your digestive system, which promotes an inflammatory response in the body; gluten free diets are becoming more and more popular in the United States.
Common culprits that trigger inflammation are: fried foods, simple sugars, excess carbohydrates, alcohol and processed meats. A reduction of these foods in your diet will help your overall health and wellness.
We also recommend stocking up on these popular foods that reduce inflammation in the body:
- Berries
- Kale, spinach and collared greens
- Whole grains (oats, brown rice)
- Dark chocolate (splurge!)
- Turmeric
- Nuts and seeds (walnuts, almonds, flax, chia)
- Green and ginger teas
- Oily fish
The key tips to reduce inflammation in the body are simple and do not require a massive overhaul of your lifestyle: choose organic as often as possible, wash your fruits and vegetables and watch your intake of omega-6 fats and processed sugars. You got this!
3. Face Rollers
January is the month for puffy faces. Fact.
You’re rolling out of winter break and suddenly you must be back on a normal person schedule, waking up in the actual morning instead of rolling out of bed past noon. Add on too much wine, a lot of sugar and now your whole face is puffy.
Enter the facial roller.
Face rollers are aesthetically pleasing and super cute tools that are usually made from pink quartz or jade, but any material that holds a cold temperature will do. The idea is to move the tool over your face for a few minutes, making sure to massage towards the lymph nodes. This motion, combined with the cold texture of the roller, will help to drain the extra fluid from your face.
Hot tip: Throw your facial roller in the fridge or freezer for ultimate de-puffing and major results.
4. Preventative Skincare
It used to be that women would address anti-aging once the crow’s feet, fine lines and wrinkles settled in. Nowadays, more and more women are looking to prevent or delay the onset of skin aging before they see symptoms.
The biggest player in the prevention game? Sunscreen. If you want to keep fine lines at bay, you need sunscreen with at least 30 SPF. HIGHER EDUCATION SPRING BREAK® Oil-Free Sunscreen SPF 30 is a good option for UVA and UVB protection and should be applied every day, rain or shine. For more information on sunscreen and UV rays, you can read our blog The 4-1-1 on UVA & UVB Radiation.
Preventative skincare is highly effective since it is much easier to keep your skin smooth than try to erase existing lines. Of course, aging is a natural process and we can’t all be young forever. I, for one, am embracing a fine line here or there but using sunscreen and daily, preventative tactics religiously!
5. Sebacia
Sebacia is a brand-new type of laser facial that’s about to change the way we think about acne treatment. Approved by the FDA in 2018, Sebacia is becoming more widely available at many dermatologists starting this year.
In three sessions, your dermatologist will massage gold microparticles into your skin followed by passing over your face with a laser. Studies show that this procedure has effects like Accutane without the unfortunate side effects, which is a pretty amazing.
If you’re more like me and not looking to leap over lasers quite yet, there are many tried-and-true acne-fighting skincare products that will curb that pimple brewing on your chin. I always choose a product that contains the BHA salicylic acid, which can penetrate through oil and break down the gunk living deep within your pores. An exfoliating wipe like RUSH® Salicylic Acid Complexion Pads, that contains 2% salicylic acid is ideal. The 2% formulation is strong enough to do the job well without over-irritating the skin.
Go forth and embrace 2020 with glowing skin and maybe a few strange goop worthy wellness trends? So long, friends!
