Whether you're a believer in making official New Year's resolutions, there's no denying that the start of a New Year is a great time to re-evaluate your habits and, if necessary, make changes. Sure, that applies to diet and exercise, but you might also want to take a look at your beauty habits.

We're not talking about learning to apply liquid eyeliner or getting your brows shaped (although, if those are things you'd like to do, more power to you!). We're talking about good habits that will help your natural beauty shine.

Change out of sweaty clothes quickly. How many times have you come home from a long, tough workout, your clothes drenched in sweat, and instead of stripping off your wet workout gear, you sit down to do some extra stretching or have a glass of water. And before you know it, the sweat is dry and you're earned yourself a couple of new zits on your back, chest or arms.

"If you're prone to body acne, remember to shower as soon as possible after exercising or perspiring excessively (even if you feel like you can't move a muscle!)," recommended Dr. Leslie Baumann of Skin Type Solutions. "While you're working out -- and even in your other everyday pursuits -- be sure to wear natural fabrics and breathable clothes to minimize the likelihood of irritating your skin and clogging your pores."

Always wash your face before bed. We've all been guilty of it. You're out late, maybe have a cocktail or two, and by the time you get home, the idea of taking off all that makeup is just too much. Well, suck it up, honey -- failing to remove your makeup can lead to breakouts and styes. If you really have a hard time with a multistep cleanser, try some makeup-removing moisturizing wipes.

Remember, sunscreen can clog pores, too, said Baumann, so not wearing a full face of makeup is no excuse to skip this routine.

Don't wash your hair every day. Your hair doesn't need to be shampooed daily -- honest. Instead of lathering up after every workout, try putting just a touch of conditioner on the ends of your hair after rinsing out the sweat. If your locks seem a little limp or oily, a dry shampoo will solve the problem without drying out or damaging your hair.

Figure out what your skin type is and learn what exactly it needs. If you keep applying moisturizers and acne treatments and aren't seeing results, maybe you need to take a moment to figure out whether you're using the right kinds of products. Baumann's site offers a free questionnaire to help you determine your skin type -- from there, you can figure out how to best care for it. For example, dry skin types need to moisturize daily, but oily skin types do not.

Make an appointment with your dermatologist. Don't put it off and don't make excuses, especially if you spend time exercising outdoors. Keep track of any moles or unusual freckles or other concerns and bring them up at your appointment -- fit beauties know that a little scar from getting something suspicious removed is a small price to pay for your health!

By. Synonyms And Synonyms