While it may not rank up there with “lose 10 pounds” and “get organized,” lots of us share the goal of doing better by our skin in 2025. And for anyone who added the pricey LYMA laser or Dr. Dennis Gross LED face mask to her holiday wish list, doubling down on complexion care—and netting real results—is even more key.
To help with all that, we asked leading estheticians for “Great-Skin Resolutions” they’d love to see spa clients make. With insight from these pros and a little self-discipline, the path to a clearer, brighter, and more vibrant complexion is at hand.
1. Start with a Clean Slate
After a night of gallivanting, the last thing merrymakers want to do is carefully whisk away all that gold glitter eyeshadow and bold crimson lippie. Even makeup minimalists long to just hit the hay after a glass of Champs or two, tinted moisturizer be damned.
Push yourself to come clean, urges Samantha Susca, master esthetician at The Spa at Casa Cipriani in New York. “The best New Year’s skin resolution is always proper cleansing,” says Susca. “It’s the time of year of more parties and festive dinners, which makes it easier to skip out on skincare after a late night. I always remind my clients to double-cleanse before bed, even if it’s the only thing they do.”
2. Venture Out of Your Treatment Comfort Zone
Stuck in a classic facial rut? Bust out this year.
The Express Facial area at The Spa at The Joule
Allison Bevan, director for The Spa at The Joule hotel in Dallas, recommends Environ Cool Peels as a way for clients to get glowing—particularly if they commit to a series. “A resolution to ‘schedule a facial every six weeks’ is one of the best investments in your skin’s health,” Bevan says. “A series of peels can be a game-changer for tackling really any concern, from lack of elasticity and fine lines to uneven tone and blemishes.”
For an innovative skin fix with minimal downtime, master esthetician Josie Bisetti, owner of NYC-based Skin Peace by Josie B, recommends Ionix OxyLight. A multi-benefit modality that exfoliates, tones, tightens, brightens, and hydrates, it weaves together LED, ultrasound, microcurrent and ionized oxygen, and is a celebrity and client favorite.
“It’s the perfect customizable facial—great for all skin concerns,” Bisetti says of Ionix OxyLight. “And the results are lasting.”
Susca says she has found client resistance to two of her favorite modalities—microcurrent and microneedling—and would love to set the record straight regarding safety and efficacy. “Microcurrent is a staple in my treatment room, and I often find clients are under the impression it will make their face ‘hollow,’” Susca notes. “Microcurrent technology doesn’t do anything to hollow the face. That’s something to be more wary of with aggressive forms of radio frequency.”
Describing microcurrent as a heatless way to define facial contours, Susca points out that “the sculpt” is a result of lymphatic drainage and muscle stimulation.
The “other micro,” aka needling, also gets an unwarranted bad rap. “When it’s done properly, the downtime is very minimal and the results are dramatic,” adds Susca. “My clients are always pleasantly surprised, even when I don’t go aggressively deep. Most of the time, topical numbing isn’t even needed.”
3. Strike a Balance Between Trending & Classic Ingredients
While TikTok churns out dodgy ingredient fads almost daily (we’re looking at you, beef tallow), not all newness is bad. Still, it’s important to separate fact from fiction. And that’s where the pros come in.
Bisetti leans on effective natural ingredients informed by a childhood spent in Peru, particularly camu camu, a potent form of plant-based vitamin C. “It helps protect us from the sun, it’s anti-inflammatory, and it has remarkable anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties,” Bisetti notes. “It also helps replenish lipids.”
While TikTok churns out dodgy ingredient fads almost daily (we’re looking at you, beef tallow), not all newness is bad.
Third-generation esthetician Rachel Liverman, founder and CEO of the fast-growing Glowbar facial empire, swears by tried-and-true retinol. “It isn’t new,” she concedes, “but it’s a trusted ingredient that everyone should be using.”
For her part, Bevan is keen on peptides, which she considers great for all ages. “They’re little proteins that work to strengthen the skin and boost collagen production,” she notes. “They help younger skin stay firm and resilient and improve elasticity in mature skin.”
4. Splash Out on a Take-Home Tool
As the market heats up for DIY skincare devices designed to replicate in-spa facial treatments, the results they deliver is also on the rise. Liverman is keen on the new NuFace Trinity+ Complete, which was named one of Time magazine’s “200 best inventions of 2024” and pairs microcurrent with red light therapy for the first time. Crafted to increase cellular adenosine triphosphate, the $595 tool gets high marks for addressing surface wrinkles and slack jowls.
Both Bisetti and Bevan give the $230, 24k-gold-plated Omni Hiraya Ginto gua sha high marks. “There are so many gua shas out there, but this one really is the best,” says Bevan. “It has a built-in solar panel that uses natural light to emit a microcurrent to help tone and firm your face and really create that sculpted look. The design is so luxurious and it’s perfect for the face shape, allowing it to sculpt and massage the muscles.”
Esthetician Margarita Copeland, Founder, Nabaya Beauty
Not that every tool purchase needs to break the bank. Mill Valley, California-based esthetician Margarita Copeland, founder of peptide-fueled Nabaya Beauty skincare, swears by inexpensive ultrasonic skin scrubbers. “They’re excellent for exfoliating, toning, and smoothing the skin,” says Copeland, “and you can find many good options on Amazon.”
5. Make a Plan & Stay the Course
Of course, a pricey tool only works its magic if you use it consistently. Ditto for all those cleansers, toners, and anti-aging serums you bought on your esthetician’s recommendation or nabbed in the retail area of that posh hotel spa you visited on your last vacation.
“I’d love to see guests commit to consistency in their at-home regimens,” shares Bevan. “It’s less about using every trending product—which I know is a hard one, at least for me—and more about developing a daily routine that focuses on skincare goals.”
Dana Wood
Dana Wood is the Contributing Beauty Editor at InsidersGuidetoSpas.com. She has been writing about beauty and wellness for decades, and no matter how many times she taps the words “hyaluronic acid” or “healing modalities” into her keyboard, it never gets old. Dana spent a total of 20 years at Condé Nast, serving as Beauty Director for W, Cookie, and Brides. A transplanted New Yorker, Dana now lives in St. Petersburg, Florida. Her peak spa experience? Dana says it’s impossible to decide between the Coco-Mango Body Buff at the Driftwood Spa at Jakes in Treasure Beach, Jamaica, The Land of Beautiful Waters Anti-Aging Facial at Four Seasons Nevis, and the 80-minute 5 Senses massage at the Spa by JW in Marco Island, Florida.