5 Skincare Habits We’re Ditching in 2026
(and how to make new habits stick)
We’ve all heard the phrase “New year, new me.”
A new year is a convenient marker for goals, resolutions, and getting rid of bad habits; but new habits, especially habits related to your health, have been shown to require 2–5 months to develop… and stick.
The stereotypical new years resolutions are usually health related, whether it’s going to the gym, or trying a new diet, or participating in “dry January”. The problem with most of these goals is that they’re based on temporary motivation, based on your mood and feelings about yourself on any specific day. Many of these attempts at new habits are well-intentioned, but because these habit changes are not structured or consistent, most people go back to the narrative they’ve been telling themselves their whole lives.
“I can never consistently go to the gym”
“I’m not a morning person”
“I don’t run”
“I don’t like to cook”
“I kill all the houseplants I receive”
“I can’t stick with meditation”
“I’m not a social person”
… all of us have said at least one of these or a similar variation at some point in our lives.
The thing is, our thoughts are POWERFUL; they shape our beliefs about ourselves and the world.
Most of the time, our bodies actually resist change because they crave what’s familiar– even if what’s familiar is bad for us.
It is possible to change our behavior, but you need to believe it’s possible first.
Before we get into the skincare advice portion of this blog post, I want to introduce you to two habit change-related books that have helped me with reflecting on my current habits, and making new ones stick.
Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Both of these books get into the science of mindset and habit change, and will inspire you to become your ideal self! So whether or not your habit changes involve skincare, these books are worth adding to your collection!
Five Skincare Habits We’re Leaving in 2025
Habit #1: Popping pimples
We’ve all been told that we shouldn’t pop our pimples, but most of us still do.For some folks, it’s just so enticing. For others, it’s gross, but still tempting because it’s so gross, and you want to get rid of that gross feeling!
Solution: You’ve probably heard of pimple patches, and probably only think of them for aesthetic purposes (covering up your zit). But did you know there are also pimple patches on the market that actually help heal your pimple, while protecting your pimple from environmental pollution and bacteria? The ultimate pimple solution!
You can do a quick Google search of “pimple patches that help heal your blemishes”, or just read this NBC article I found that consulted 3 board-certified dermatologists to make a list of 15 awesome pimple patch options.
^But please, for the sake of the Earth and fighting evil billionaires, don’t buy them on Amazon!
Habit #2: Not washing or changing your pillowcase enough
There is debate on exactly how frequently an acne-prone person should change their pillowcase, but most articles you find will tell you anywhere between everyday and once a week.
Your pillowcase collects dirt, sweat, oils, and even hair product residue; together this is a recipe for acne causing bacteria! If you can’t remember the last time you changed your pillowcase…yikes!
Solution: I know laundry is no one’s favorite thing to do; so the esthetician pro-tip here is to have 7 pillowcases to rotate between, so you don’t have to change how often you do laundry. Pillowcases can be expensive, but they don’t have to be; you can find some affordable options at the thrift or through Facebook Marketplace.
If you do have the option to splurge, silk and satin pillowcases are naturally less absorbent and are less likely to harbor bacteria!
Habit #3: Skipping your skin routine 2 days in a row
Didn’t cleanse or moisturize your face last night? Shit happens. Forgive yourself and make a firm commitment to do your routine the next day!
If you’re a visual person like me, you’ll appreciate this metaphor:
Since habits are built through repetition, think of a new habit like a heavy tire or wheel that you need to push. Once you’ve pushed the heavy wheel one revolution (360 degrees), and then another revolution, it starts to get easier and easier to push because of the momentum the wheel picks up. But if for some reason you take an abrupt stop, you have to start over with all that force and muscle to get it going again. If you can keep the heavy wheel moving forward long enough, it will have picked up enough momentum that it will continue rolling without you needing to put any effort in!
(Just like a skincare routine that has become a habit! It will stop feeling like effort if you do it long enough, and you might even enjoy the self-care ritual!)
Solution: Your goal is to prevent one missed day from turning into a bad habit of missing multiple days in a row, by making sure you always get back on track the day after! Skincare is not about being perfect, it’s about maintaining a consistent pattern over time.
As long as you don’t miss twice, you’re still making progress and building a beautiful habit!
Habit #4: Waiting til right before bed to wash your face… and then not washing your face
Skincare isn’t a perfect science, and your skincare routine doesn’t have to be perfect, either! We have all skipped a night of cleansing our face and moisturizing, probably because by the time we remembered to do it, we were already cozy in bed!
Solution: One of the foundational principles of habit change (according to the Atomic Habits book I referenced above) is to “make it easy”. For example, if you want to start getting out of bed earlier, you’re more likely to change that habit if you start waking up 10 minutes earlier rather than trying to wake up a whole hour earlier. Don’t set yourself up for failure by having super high expectations!
So, in terms of skincare advice, if you get home from work at 5:30pm and that’s the best time to do your nighttime skincare routine, that’s great! It’s better to do the nighttime skincare routine at 5:30pm than to skip it completely. As I explained in Habit #3, being consistent is more important than being perfect.
If you already have a “wind down” routine before bed, make skincare the first step in that wind-down routine! Or do your skincare before you sit on the couch to watch whatever series you’re currently binging, or whatever book you’re currently reading! Just don’t wait til you’re already comfy in your bed. Why would you want to make it so hard on yourself?!
Habit #5: Not applying sunscreen every day (and not reapplying throughout the day)
There are a lot of reasons someone might not be consistent with applying sunscreen daily: not having a sunscreen you actually like, not having clean hands when you need to reapply, or simply not believing you need to because it’s not summer or sunny out. *If you’re curious about how important sunscreen application is, even when it’s cloudy outside, check out my accidental sun exposure blog for more info :)
But with sunscreen, as well as with any habit, the trick is building a consistent habit, not a perfect one. (Alright, there might be an underlying theme to this blog post!)
Solution: My easy solution that will help you apply sunscreen every day is acquiring a sunscreen stick! They’re small enough to fit in a purse or pant pocket (for you to take with you throughout your day) AND you don’t have to worry about having access to a sink and soap to wash your hands prior to applying the sunscreen!
It’s also going to make reapplying sunscreen easier to remember if you have it in your purse/pants/car all day ;)
Check out this CNN article for 20 sunscreen stick options ranked by dermatologists (but again, please don’t buy them on Amazon!) You can also go to your closest grocery store and probably find a sunscreen stick along with all of the other traditional sunscreen options.
I hope this blog helps you make small changes that you can actually stick with, whether it’s skincare related or not! ;)
Share this blog with a friend or family member that has been complaining about feeling stuck in regards to their daily routines, especially if skincare is one of those routines they struggle with!
And if you and your friends want more free, practical skincare advice that doesn’t require you to buy expensive new products, be sure to follow me on Instagram and/or sign up for my emails! (I promise I won’t spam you!)
And as always, if you support a small, queer, woman-owned business in Minneapolis: book a service with me today!
💛 Xo, Sunni
