New Year, New You!

By Anne Marie Scanlon

Oh yes, it's traditional to try to reinvent yourself at this time of year. We all do it; we swear off the booze, vow to lose 20 lb by Valentines Day, promise to eat healthily, exercise daily and generally transform ourselves into near saints. If I was being honest I should have entitled this piece New Year Old You - because if most of us are lucky by the end of the month we'll have returned to our pre-Thanksgiving selves, never mind some new and improved version.

Weight gain is the most obvious side effect of more than a month of over-indulgence but your skin definitely suffers from an excess of partying, rich food, alcohol not to mention the lack of sleep. So while you're making your list of resolutions to diet, exercise and get a solid seven hours sleep every night don't forget to add skincare to the list.

Speaking of sleep, most of us are so busy these days it's hard to take care of everything. So I for one was delighted to hear about a number of products that you can use overnight while you sleep. Osmotics Vitamin C Patches ($48 for 12 treatments) can be worn overnight to target wrinkles and fine lines by saturating skin with pure Vitamin C which stimulates collagen and helps prevent and repair sun damage. Comfort Zone Renight Recover Cream ($66) is an anti-oxidant night nourishment cream which is particularly good for people with sensitive skin. The cream contains orange peel wax and phospholipids to reduce irritation and calm skin and blackcurrant seed oil which is rich in vitamins E & F to protect skin. Z. Bigatti Goodnight Cream ($295) is an ultra-rich night cream for all skin types. Goodnight Cream utilizes a unique 24-hour moisturizing technology which mimics skin's natural moisture. It also helps minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, enhances firmness, elasticity and smoothness and protects against free radicals and environmental damage.

Liz Earle's Superbalm Concentrate ($33.25) is an intensive aromatic night time moisturizer which utilizes naturally active ingredients is a light, non-greasy essence for the face and neck. Ingredients include argan oil a skin protecting antioxidant which is rich in Vitamin E, rosehip oil which heals and rejuvenates avocado oil, hazelnut oil, natural source vitamin E and lavender and chamomile essential oils. The Superbalm Concentrate is suitable for all skin types and comes in a rollerball applicator for easy application.

Clinique also have a product designed with busy people in mind. The new Turnaround 15-Minute Facial ($34.50) is a quick but effective exfoliator which is suitable for all skin types. The gel-like cream mask contains natural exfoliants and is designed to help minimize surface imperfections as well as fine lines and pores. The formula also contains Chestnut Extract which enhances the skin's natural enzyme activity as well as Caffeine and Resveratrol (derived from C Chinese bamboo) to help calm skin and prevent redness and irritation. The 15-Minute Facial is gentle enough for weekly use.

There are a couple of brand names that are synonymous with good skincare. Regular readers will know that I'm a great fan of Dermalogica. They have countless products that anyone with post-holiday skin would benefit from. Here are just a few.... Multivitamin Power Concentrate ($50 for 45 capsules) is perfect for anyone who needs good skin care in a hurry. These capsules contain a pre-measured amount of the product which contains

Vitamins A, C, E and F. Pre-measured, no need to think about how much you need as the lovely people at Dermalogica have already done it. The Multivitamin Power Concentrate helps reverse visible signs of aging by diminishing the look of fine lines, wrinkles and age spots. It protects skin from environmental damage and antioxidants. Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque ($39) is a specifically designed anti-inflammatory to help calm irritated hyper-sensitive skin. Apart from soothing skin the formula also works as a moisturizer and contains concentrated Vitamins A, C, E, B5 and F and like the capsules helps reverse the visible signs of aging.

Dermalogica Super Rich Repair ($75) delivers immediate benefits to dry, dehydrated and prematurely aged skin, (which just about covers everyone post-holiday season). This is a heavy cream formula which contains peptides to stimulate collagen production along with a smoothing complex to improve elasticity and tone. If you live in a very cold, dry environment (Winter on the East Coast for example) then this will act as a protective salve to keep your skin supple and smooth no matter what kind of wind blows.

Osmotics are also one of the names I instinctively associate with good skin care. They recently introduced Blue Copper 5 Firming Eye Repair ($75) which features a combination of active copper, peptides and anti-aging proteins. The rich cream-gel peptide formula promotes healthy collagen and helps firm and tone the eye area while reducing the depth of fine lines and wrinkles. Osmotics Blue Copper 5 Face Lifting Serum ($75) uses copper to instantly firm, lift and smooth. It also contains Shiitake mushroom extract which has been clinically proven to enhance the skin's support structure.

I'm one of those people who tend to stick to things I like so it's just as well I have to try out new things as part of my job. Otherwise I wouldn't have discovered Davi Skincare or Z. Bigatti. Davi is luxury line of skincare from the vineyards of Napa Valley, California. Davi Harvest Mist Toner is a super hydrating spray mist for toning and refreshing skin. Ingredients include witch hazel, extracts of Rosemary, Green Tea, Grape and Fermented Wine. Davi Le Grand Cru is a high performance face cream made with exclusive Meritage anti-aging complex to moisturize and rejuvenate skin. Z. Bigatti also have a wine theme with their Champagne Gel Cleanser ($69) which does a lot of things simultaneously - it cleanses, removes makeup, purifies, moisturizes and leaves skin feeling and looking refreshed. Z. Bigatti Silk Toner ($60) exfoliates and refines skin while enhancing the absorbsion of skin treatments.

Speaking of which, if you only make one resolution this New Year then make sure it's to moisturize. If you only do one thing - keep your skin hydrated. One of my favourite moisturizers is Dermalogica's Active Moist ($xx) a lightweight, oil free formula which absorbs quickly and works highly effectively. Sun Sauce recommends 'balanced saturation' as the best way to moisturize your skin. Balanced saturation means directly applying a blend of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and emollients to replenish, maintain and repair the skin's surface. To do this they've created Sun Sauce Facial Recognition ($32) which contains natural ingredients that help rejuvenate your skin on a cellular level.

For a classic moisturizer you can't do better than Clinique Superdefense Triple Action Moisturizer ($39.50) which comes in three formulations - Dry Combination, Combination Oily to Oily and Very Dry to Dry. Murad Cellular Replenishing Serum ($49) is a weightless gel which gives the skin instant moisture. The formula contains ceremides and botanical extracts to improve skin tone, elasticity and tone.

Maybe your New Year resolution is to finally deal with problem skin. If so there is no better way to get started than with the Proactiv Solutions 3-Step System (with bonus Refining Mask) $39.95. The 3-Step System consists of a Renewing Cleanser, Revitalizing Toner and Repairing Lotion. The Renewing Cleanser contains prescription-strength Benzoyl Peroxide to penetrate pores and clear existing blemishes as well as tiny exfoliating beads which remove the dead skin and impurities that block pores. The Revitalizing Toner is alcohol-free and contains a blend of Witch Hazel, Aloe and Chamomile to remove excess surface oil without drying the skin. The Repairing Lotion is a light lotion which contains Benzoyl Peroxide to keep fighting blemishes throughout the day. The Refining Mask is a deep cleansing mask formulated with Sulfur to fight acne and Kaolin to absorb excess oils.

If you fancy giving your skin a New Year makeover Proactiv Solutions have now expanded their line beyond basic acne treatment so treat yourself to their Mild Exfoliating Peel ($20) which gently lifts away dead skin cells. The medicated gel also contains Aloe, Green Tea and Orange and Lemon fruit extracts. Philosophy also has a great skin peel The Microdelivery Peel ($65) which rapidly exfoliating skin while delivering a dose of Vitamin C. In three minutes, yes three minutes, your skin at least will be able to forget some of the excesses of the holiday season.