Given the last run of holiday soirees, all the excess sugar and alcohol can wreak havoc on our skin and with the New Year in full swing, here are five simple skincare resolutions to make in 2016. Trust us, your skin will thank you!

Photo via Byrdie

Take Off Your Makeup At Night:

We all have late nights and make the mistake of getting into bed without properly washing our faces (or even at all), but makeup mixed with oil causes clogged pores which lead to breakouts (not so pretty). To avoid the situation entirely, keep a packet of makeup wipes at your bedside table – if you don’t have enough time at the sink, at least you will be removing the majority of the nights makeup in one swoop. Clear and glowing skin will thank you!

*We love Say Yes To Carrots wipes!

Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate:

It’s all we talk about here at GFMD as Dr. G is a HUGE advocate of exfoliating. Regular exfoliation (2-3 times per week) helps to remove the outer layer of dead skin cells, dirt and excess makeup/oils allowing for fresh and young skin cells to be exposed. As we enter adulthood, some of our skin cells hold on for 40, 50, even 60 days causing the skin to appear dull and lackluster. Regular exfoliation also helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and hyper pigmentation and allows for all treatment products applied onto the skin afterwards to penetrate deeper, increasing overall treatment for up to 40%. Game changer.Get scrubbing!

If you’re a pro at peels, feel free to jump right back to your favorite at-home product (just don’t overdo it—stick to only using it once or twice a week at first). If you’re a peel newbie, now is the perfect time to introduce a gentle peel into your routine. Try something with fruit acids, like Goldfaden MD’s Fresh A Peel

Clean your makeup brushes: 

Makeup and skin oils build up causing a bacteria-filled breeding ground that leads to breakouts. Aim to clean your brushes twice monthly with a lightweight (even baby) soap thoroughly and let air dry. Practicing this safe practice limits the chances of breakouts and clogged pores.

Don’t Touch!: 

It’s so tempting to pick, smudge and smear, but not only do your fingers carry tons of breakout prone bacteria, but picking can also lead to long-term scarring that is not reversible. Keep makeup wipes, blotting paper (our favorite is Tacha + adds a bit a glamour to your bag too) and keep a stress ball handy for all those moments when you think about touching your face!

Put down the sugar: 

Eating sugar causes aging. It’s as simple as that. Elle Magazine broke it down for us so easily by stating the facts “The science is this: When you have sugar molecules in your system, they bombard the body’s cells like a meteor ­shower—glomming onto fats and proteins in a process known as glycation. This forms advanced glycation end products (commonly shortened, appropriately, to AGEs), which cause protein fibers to become stiff and malformed. Much of what is known about glycation’s ill effects comes from diabetes research: The connective-tissue damage and chronic inflammation resulting from diabetics’ sustained high blood sugar can lead to debilitating conditions, such as cataracts, Alzheimer’s, vascular tightening, and diseases of the pancreas and liver.”.