Should old, bad skin-care habits be forgot and never brought to mind? We resolutely think so and there's no time like the present!

This is the time when many people check in with themselves and see what is working for them and what isn't. In with what brings you joy and out with what causes you distress, we say. From fitness to financial goals, there are dreams aplenty all around and we all want to see them the whole year through. Take the time to invest in yourself this new year too and make self-care part of that new habit.

Make renewing your skin-care routine into a resolution this 2020 for a complexion that's as clear and radiant as your new year! To help get you started, we've come up with a few suggestions to help you reach those skin-care goals.

the morning edit

Bright and early, how you start your morning sets the mood for the rest of your day. And how you go about your days for the rest of the year can determine whether you achieve your other goals! You could say that how you start is almost as important as the destination itself.

Waking up well has become a skill in this trying world that feels like it's testing us every day. Indulging yourself in some necessary self-care through your morning skin-care routines could be the daily dose of morning goodness that your body, mind, and spirit have been looking for.

RESOLUTION #1: deep cleanse

Cleansing is one of the first things in your skin care routine that you learn about. It is the foundation with which your routine is formed so that the rest of your products have a clean, clear base to start off from as it removes impurities, excess sebum, dead skin cells, and more. Cleansing is the simplest step and is arguably the most important part of your whole routine.

To update this step, resolve to try out a deeper cleanse by double cleansing. The art of the double cleanse is deceivingly simple; it isn't just washing your face twice. We talk more about that in a previous article but the short version is this: like attracts like. Cleansing with an oil-based cleanser first helps to remove excess oils from your face. After that, cleanse with your favorite nourishing cleanser.

Here's some of our favorite cleansers at the moment that we recommend to take with you this new year:

RESOLUTION #2: TONE WITH INTENT

After cleansing, the most important next step is to use toner. This is because while cleanser strips your skin of impurities, it also affects the skin's pH balance and acid mantle. When skin has an imbalanced pH levels, it is more susceptible to bacteria and other environmental stressors. The solution to restoring your skin's acid mantle back into balance is to select the right toner just for you, and to make your choice with intention.

A good toner is highly dependent on your skin type, your skin concerns, and it's important to note that a toner is not the same thing as a makeup remover. Many are under the impression that wiping the face with a toner-soaked cotton pad and seeing the pad wipe away with dirt means that their toner usage is effective — it isn't. You might be doing damage by wiping too harshly

This new year, tone with intention. Select your toners based on your skin concerns and use it gently. Apply the toner-soaked pad to your skin in gentle, upward strokes, and don't rub it against your skin forcefully. Nurture your skin and remember that your skin care routine is meditative as well. Take your time!

And for toners, here are some of the ones we like best. The choice is up to you!

resolution #3: never skip the sunscreen

The right time to get into the sunscreen habit is yesterday.

It is so important to protect the skin against the harmful effects of UV rays. More than the potential health hazards that sun damage could cause, other effects on the skin may result in more rapid visible signs of aging, sun spots, hyperpigmentation, worsened acne scars, et cetera. And as the face is not only one of the most exposed parts of the face, it is also one of the most fragile skin surfaces, so it needs that little bit of extra help.

This year, make sun care an absolute, must-have priority that you never, ever skip. For our favorite sunscreens, these are our picks:

THE EVENING EDIT

When things start to wind down and you're about to turn in for the night, it can often get a little tiresome to fulfill your nighttime routine. You might be tempted to just sleep with the makeup or day's pollutants on; what harm could one time do, right?

Answer: a lot.

Make your evening skin care routine just as much as a priority as your morning one, and sleep easy knowing that you've taken good care of yourself. In fact, make it a new resolution to never skip this one either.

resolution #4: from the neck down

When you think about skin care, you might only have your mind set on the products for your face. Did you know that it is just as important to think of the skin below it?

Sweat, pollutants, makeup, and more—these are all stressors that interact with the skin from the neck down, which can cause skin issues such as acne and dry patches. Your neck and décolletage need care and nourishment too.

As a new year's resolution, when you're cleansing your face, bring it down to your neck and décolletage. Better yet, use products that are formulated specifically for parts of the body that are from the neck down. That way, the radiance of your complexion is more well-rounded and even all throughout.

The following are only some of our favorite cleansers that work for this part of the skin.

RESOLUTION #5: THE ESSENCE OF THE THING

Throughout the day, your skin is exposed to numerous stressors such as the sun and free radicals. While a simple skin-care routine—cleanser, toner, and moisturizer—can get the job done, it takes a specialist to up your game.

An essence is different from a toner or serum in that its primary ingredient is water and its other active ingredients. Its primary job is to keep your face hydrated and nourished, which is extremely important just before you sleep as this is the time when your skin is working overtime to fix the day's daily damage. An essence keeps your skin soothed, calm, and moisturized so you wake up glowing, youthful, and with your skin looking well-rested.

For your skin-care resolution, go the extra mile. Whatever extra step you decide, it's in the essence of the thing to treat yourself a little bit better by investing even just a fraction of a bit more time and effort back into yourself.

To help get your started, here are some of our favorite essences:

resolution #6: KEEP IT CONCENTRATED

When it comes to skin-care concerns, everybody's got something and everybody's different in their own respective ways. That's why a one-size-fits-all skin care routine is not going to cut it.

This is where serums come in.

Your routine is not something you can condense into a 3-in-1 product. Depending on what your specific skin care concern is, there's a serum that works precisely for that concern. There are all kinds of combinations and formulas that serums come in. Think of them like highly concentrated little miracles because when you apply them to your skin, based on the issue you're addressing, you should see almost instant results. Especially when you use them at night, because that's the optimal time that your skin can revive and renew itself.

When you apply your serums, remember that they're highly concentrated formulas that you ought to treat as the potent products that they are. Apply them onto yourself as you would when you're at your facialist: let the product warm up in your fingers for even distribution, softly tap the product onto your face, and then gently rub it all over in upward, circular motions. Make every treatment feel like a spa day!

As a new year's resolution, focus and keep things concentrated. What are the skin issues that you're dealing with? Once you figure that out, zero in on them and choose a serum that works for you. Here's a selection of some of our most popular picks:

resolution #7: treat yourself

At the end of a long day—and most days, don't they all feel long?—remember to treat yourself.

A daily extravagance can go a long way into improving not just your complexion but also your emotional health. Doesn't it feel so much better to end every day on a luxurious note and to deal with any day that comes, knowing that a treat like this is awaiting you at the end of it? This is a kind of nurturing that's from the outside looking in. And you might be surprised at how much better you feel at the end of the year knowing that you're treating yourself in the way you deserve to be treated—only with the absolute finest.

For our last new year's resolution, don't hesitate when it comes to caring for yourself. And what better way to do it than with this luxurious selection of skin care products that are worth every penny:

Whatever you decide to bring with you in this new year, may you take more than just a cup of kindness yet.

What are your new year's resolutions for 2020?

Photographer: Oliver Tam
Art Directors: Kevin Dexter Magno and Jonnah Dayuta
Producers: Jonnah Dayuta, Trina Domingo, and Patty Mendoza
Production Coordinator: Elaine Contreras
Makeup: Tot Tangco
Hair: Alrea Cruz
Model: Mika Melitante of PMAP