Cultivating a responsible beauty routine is a lot like nurturing a healthy relationship. There are things you need to check in on every day, and things that only need your attention once in a while. Here, the five tasks that should be a part of your everyday beauty routine, and what you can get away with addressing just once a week. The result: a head-to-toe gorgeous glow.
YOUR SKIN
Every day: Moisturize (with SPF 30 or higher!)
You know all of those fancy night creams, eye creams, and treatment masks whose lump-sum price rivals your mortgage? Well, you wouldn’t have to use them if you just worked that sunscreen a little harder. You won’t reverse skin damage, but there is no better way to prevent it. Another little-known fact? Sunscreen is moisturizer, so no need to fork over your paycheck for an expensive hydrator plus SPF; opt for an affordable, broad-spectrum block like Neutrogena Age Shield Sunblock, SPF 30. ($11; drugstore.com)
Once a week: Exfoliate
Ridding your skin of its dead cells is the quickest path to a lit-from-within complexion. Give your face a mild scrub at night so it’s not vulnerable during the day to UV rays or environmental particles. We like Origins Never a Dull Moment face polisher. It’s infused with papaya and mango seeds, whose alpha hydroxy powers work miracles, even on sensitive skin. ($23.50; origins.com)
YOUR HAIR
Every day: Use products that enhance shine
No matter what your hair texture, a touch of polish instantly revives your whole look. Ojon Daily Intensive Shine Treatment seals the deal (not to mention your hair’s cuticles) with vitamins A and E, plus plant botanicals. ($24; sephora.com)
Once a week: Apply an overnight treatment
Now’s the time of year when hair becomes drier than British wit. Inject it with a little moisture (and a bit of sheen) by giving it some overnight TLC. Ted Gibson Overnight Repair is a protein-infused treatment that contains a cocktail of vitamins and plant extracts to restore thirsty hair back to its healthy, radiant state. (Bonus: It smells amazing—like a fabulous bouquet of flowers in a French park. Ooh la la!) ($200; blissworld.com)
YOUR NAILS
Every day: Use cuticle oil
We swear by Creative Nail Design’s Solar Balm. A hybrid of vitamin E, jojoba oils, and sweet almond oil, this teensy tin contains a miracle salve that instantly transforms dishpan hands into supersmooth skin. Try it on dry elbows, too! (Around $10; visit creativedesign.com for retailers.)
Once a week: Give your nails some protein
A healthy body needs a protein-rich diet, and your nails need this important nutrient too. One of the best ways to get it is with Barielle’s Nail Rebuilding Protein, a clear polish fortified with vitamin E that’ll bring weak, brittle nails back to good form. It’s particularly perfect for those of you weaning yourselves off acrylics or wraps. ($17.50; barielle.com)
YOUR FEET
Every day: Use a foot scrub
Your pedicure will stay fresh longer (and your wallet will enjoy a boost) if you exfoliate daily with a good foot scrub. One to try: Art Deco Express Pedicure. Massage a dollop of this scrub—made with Himalayan crystal salt and apricot seed oil—into your calves and feet. In minutes, you’ll have spa-quality skin, right in your own shower! ($25; europeanbeautycollection.com)
Once a week: Moisturize
The geniuses at Curel claim that their Targeted Therapy Foot Cream takes two nights to see results, but we were blown away with the silkiness of our normally callous feet after just one use. Slather on the cream— made with shea butter and coconut—before bedtime, throw on a pair of socks, and wake up the next day with rejuvenated skin. ($7; drugstore.com)
