We’re kicking off 2025 slow and steady. Casting aside those ‘new year, new me’ resolutions, instead, we’re all just trying to be a bit kinder to ourselves. For some, this could include how you treat your skin. 

After all, between long walks in the blistering cold, finishing off the last of the Quality Street and binge-watching Black Doves, it’s nice to give your skin a bit of TLC. Here, we explain how…

If you have gotten into the habit of staying up past 3am, it could have had an impact on your skin. “When you’ve had fewer than eight hours of sleep, skin can appear as dull and lifeless as you feel,” explains consultant dermatologist Dr. Anjali Mahto. In fact, a U.S. study revealed that sleeping fewer than five hours per night often can slow cell turnover and limit the repair processes that usually happen as you snooze.

In the short-term, skin will look dull but in the long-term this can cause more fine lines and uneven pigmentation. Pep it up with brightening vitamin C or a chemical exfoliant AHA like a glycolic or lactic acid.

“The chemical action removes the layer of dead skin cells that are hiding fresher skin underneath, which is brighter and more evenly toned,” Dr Mahto says. “It instantly brings blood to the surface of the skin making it look pinker and healthier.”

Even if you aren’t wearing much make-up at the moment, moisturiser and the daily grime that comes into contact with your face daily can form a layer over skin.

This can prevent the cell turnover that should be happening as you sleep and clog pores, possibly resulting in acne. What’s more? That investment serum or moisturiser you pat on top won’t be able to cut through the grime and work as hard as it could be – if at all.

“It’s a great idea to swipe a product with prebiotics over skin the following morning to feed your skin’s good bacteria that will get rid of the acne-causing nasties,” explain Dr Marie Drago, a pharmacist, member of the French Society of Cosmetic Science and founder of Gallinée skincare. “They also help to reduce any redness and inflammation that occur if pimples are already brewing.”

“Lactic and acetic acid will also get rid of the dead skin cells that can block pores and lower the skin’s pH to prevent acne bacteria from growing.” 

As well as making you feel like you’ve been hit by a bus the next day, alcohol dehydrates skin. Look for products that contain humectants. They not only inject moisture into skin, they also form an invisible seal on top to keep it there and prevent transepidermal moisture loss. 

The sugar, whether from margaritas or mince pies, can also affect your skin. In a process called glycation, the sweet stuff attaches to proteins in the bloodstream, forming new molecules that damage both collagen and elastin – the skin’s support system that keeps skin looking plump and bouncy. 

To give your skin a boost you can ingest collagen or try an at-home facial massage to stimulate fibroblast cells (that make up collagen) to reverse this. 

Image: Getty