Do you have a New Year’s beauty resolution? If you do, good for you! I give you credit for taking the time to think of your beauty care. My beauty resolution was inspired after reading an article on one’s wellness plan for the coming year.

As I had completed six decades of my interesting life, I decided to do some measures on how to face head-on the more drastic changes about to take place focusing on the beauty issue. I try to live by what I tell my clients–“Mature Beautifully.” I see though, I ‘m now slipping in some aspects, which may also be vital to my health.

As I assessed my needs and practices, I also took into account my daily activities. I asked myself, will I be able to do them with such a tight schedule? Will my energy allow it? In other words, one has to be realistic. What’s the point of having a list, which can just be frustrating to achieve. With this in consideration, the following was thoughtfully conceived:

Avoid food binging in the evening.

For the past years, due to my tight client appointments I am not able to have a regular meal. At the end of the day, my energy gets drained and my craving for food becomes intense. When I get home, which is usually past mealtime, I tend to scamper for food, which is a heavy dinner or unhealthy snack. Such practice I experienced, made me add on pounds easily.

Experts say that when we are fatigued or stressed, eating right before bedtime can make digestion more difficult and may cause more gas bloating and heartburn. It may also disrupt the body’s circadian clock and alter hormones that control appetite and ultimately result in weight gain

Plan of Action: If I feel the hunger pangs at a late time during the evening I will have a bowl of clear soup with veggies or its puréed form instead of a full meal. Another food option will be a glass of fruit or vegetable smoothie. Not only is it easy for the digestive system, it’s nutritious as well. More importantly it’s less in calories, avoiding extra poundage.

Have a regular protein rich breakfast.

Being a night person, I like to sleep in. As I rush to go to work, my first meal of the day suffers. It’s either I eat leftovers, pastry or sometimes completely skip it. This can be detrimental health-wise especially at this age since there’s no proper nourishment to perk me up the rest of the day.

A high protein breakfast gives energy and prevents an untimely food craving for it satisfies one’s appetite. It also enables one to eat healthier all day long. From the participants of a research conducted by the International Journal of Obesity, those who had protein packed breakfast ate 26 percent fewer calories at lunch than those who ate a calorically identical meal with less protein. Our protein needs vary by age, activity level and health. The recommended daily allowance for adults 19 and above — women is 46 grams and men 56 grams. Good source of protein aside from meat, poultry and eggs are beans nuts, seeds and some other grains.

Plan of Action: Prepare my protein breakfast the night before. For example, if I am having a cheese and spinach omelet, I’ll have to already cook, refrigerate and reheat it the following morning.

Join the Zumba class of my fitness center.

Being a member of a gym didn’t assure me of a consistent workout. I realized since I like to dance that having an activity like Zumba will be more motivating. According to Dr. Laskowski MD of Mayo Clinic, Zumba routines incorporate interval training- alternating fast and slow rhythms – and resistance training. It is an aerobic activity that reduces health risks, keeps excess pounds at bay, strengthens your heart and boosts your mood.

As like other workouts, you sweat in the process, so it’s very detoxifying. There’s increased blood circulation as well, creating a healthy glowing complexion.

Plan of Action: Enroll and set aside an appointment to make it a part of my exercise regimen. Start with a once a week schedule for first two weeks and progressing as I am adjusting to the routine.

Avail the services of another esthetician to help maintain my facial skin’s health.

Invasive procedures are out of the picture. I don’t want to subject myself to any cosmetic surgeries unless necessary, or to any dermal fillers.

A beauty professional myself for more than 35 years, I have certain expectations when it comes to another person rendering a facial service. Having very sensitive skin makes me extra cautious of the treatments I am to undergo. Faced with loosened elasticity, the need for another skin care professional is imminent. I will work closely with her to attain the desired beauty goal of slowing down the tendency of skin to go towards the pull of gravity.

Plan of Action: Look for the right skin care practitioner as soon as possible and start a steady schedule of the right maturing skin management.

Discard expired make-up and replace with new ones suitable to my skin condition.

While I advise my clients to throw away old make-up and skin care products, I tend to overlook the ones that I use. Having worked in the cosmetic counter of an upscale department store, I accumulated pretty much a more than good amount of beauty products. Being a highly allergic person, I should be conscientious in what I apply on my face.

Constant reopening of these products and contact with skin can cause bacterial contamination. This may even lead to contact dermatitis and other skin infections. We should always check the smell, consistency and color of what we are using.

Plan of Action: On my day off the first week of January, I will set aside an hour or two of just inspecting the cosmetic products I am applying. From this time on, I will do this on a monthly basis. Marking it with the date of purchase and when I opened it will be helpful in future determinations.

Guided by my Beauty Resolution, I am looking forward to looking fit and better. New eating patterns and fun workouts will help me shed unwanted pounds. A slimmer physique, healthier skin and more trendy make- up will surely encourage aging gracefully.

It may take baby steps to be able to accomplish them but that’s how we all start to get there. As with other beginning of the year resolutions, I always pray to God to give me the steadfastness in bringing my plans to fruition. Our faith and persistence will ease the challenges along the way.

QUESTION: When does one toss used make- up?

Source: www.popsugar.co.uk

ANSWER: Here’s a suggested guide :

Mascara – four months

Foundation- One year

Concealer 12-18 months

Powder 18 months

Blush – 18 months

Cream blush – 12- 18 months

Eyeshadow- 18 months

Eyeliner- 18 months

Liquid Eyeliner- 6 months Lipstick/lipgloss- 18 months