THE JOURNAL

Illustration by Mr Marcos Montiel
Haven’t gotten around to setting your New Year’s resolutions? Not to worry. We come bearing no less than 33 that will help you unlock your best self in 2024. Whether you’re hoping to look a little more perky, radiate good health or get a tad more ripped, or all of the above, we’ve tapped a few of our favourite pros to share their best advice – and thrown in a few style tips of our own for good measure. All that’s left for you to do is actually, well, do them.
01. Get tested
The starting point for looking and feeling like your best self in the New Year? Knowing what you need to work on. “I make it an absolute must to get a full health check as early in the year as possible,” says personal trainer Mr Warren Whitely. “This includes blood tests, urine samples, a report on my cholesterol, my iron levels, vitamin and mineral levels, organ function and more. Have a better understanding of [your] body’s overall condition and the information [you] need to address any problems or deficiencies.”
02. Make the investment
“When people invest in their skin, it does show,” says facialist Ms Mariam Abbas of The Clinic Holland Park, whose most committed clients book in for weekly Byonik laser. “People who have really lovely skin will always have a routine at home, they’ll have read up on serums, moisturisers. They’ll use SPF. And they book the next treatment before they leave because they know that it’s a journey and they want to see long-term visible results.”
03. Stay hydrated
“As we age, our skin loses moisture,” says Ms Scarlet Costello, the nutritional therapist at dermatology and aesthetics clinic Eudelo. “Hydrating with good fluids can help to minimise loss of elasticity, and support nutrient delivery and waste removal via blood flow to the skin. I recommend drinking a large glass of water upon waking, adding in herbal teas throughout the day and trying to include high water-content fruits and vegetables such as cucumber, celery and watermelon.”
04. Move more
“It’s all the small things that add up to achieving your best body in the New Year,” says personal trainer Mr Oliver Black. “Changes like walking or cycling instead of taking the bus or Tube make a huge difference. [Also], taking the stairs instead of elevators, and [incorporating] active breaks where you walk – or ‘exercise snacks’. Various studies show how three or four short bouts of one to two minutes vigorous exercise throughout the day can significantly impact cardiovascular fitness.”
05. Wear more jewellery
For many men, jewellery is an untapped style well. If you’ve been avoiding it because you don’t know how to shop for jewellery, or you simply never considered it, this is the year to get a grip and invest in some pieces. A well-placed chain, after all, can make a heartthrob (just ask Mr Paul Mescal). An elegant ring can last a lifetime and beyond. Little accessories demonstrate that you’ve moved up a style echelon, which is what we all want, right?
06. Elevate your basics
While T-shirts, tanks and other such essentials might be the pieces you’re less likely to sink a lot of investment into, trading in for more luxe alternatives (think cashmere over cotton) will instantly make your everyday outfits read more expensive. Pieces that were made with sustainability and durability in mind will be – you guessed it – more sustainable and durable over time.
07. Upgrade your underwear
Think of your underwear as the foundation of your outfit. And while it might, for the most part, go unseen, investing in a few great-quality pairs and wearing them every day will help you walk a little taller and feel more put-together. Hanro makes gloriously soft cotton shorts and briefs that will truly change your underwear game and Sunspel’s boxers will make you feel like every single part of your wardrobe is considered (which it will be).
08. Dress for your body type
In the past, we have delved into how to dress for your body type whether you’re ripped, short or large. Why have we done this? Because sometimes it’s hard to figure out how to dress when you want to follow specific trends or styles. But one of the main themes we always come back to is finding confidence to be stylish no matter your build. As Mr Derek Guy (aka @dieworkwear) put it: “Not only is size not a barrier, sometimes it is an asset.”
09. Take your clothes to a tailor
There is perhaps no better advice we can give, whether it’s 2024 or 2584, than to take your clothes to a tailor. Trousers, jackets, denim – these are all things that will benefit from a nip and a tuck by someone who knows what they’re doing. It just makes logical sense, unless you serve as a fit model for a specific brand, how could they possibly make an item that fits you perfectly? And fit is everything. Find a good tailor in 2024.
10. Damage to repair
One of the best ways to boost your natural collagen, which depletes rapidly as we age, is by “wounding” the skin to stimulate new cell growth with microneedling treatments. Want drastic results? Dr David Jack, a London-based aesthetic doctor, is a fan of Morpheus8, which combines microneedling with radiofrequency and will do “deeper tightening” that works wonders on older patients.
11. Get your daily greens
“Green leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach are packed full of skin-loving nutrients such as vitamin C, required for collagen production, and beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A in the body and helps to rejuvenate skin cells,” says Ms Yvonne Wake, a nutritional therapist at The Clinic Holland Park. “I always say to avoid boiling vegetables as large amounts of water-soluble vitamins will be lost. Instead opt for steaming or baking.”
12. Drink antioxidant smoothies
“Not everyone eats an abundance of plant-based foods, so a good way to get those nutrients in is to make smoothies, containing at least six or seven different ingredients,” Wake says. She’s fan of a “red smoothie” packed full of antioxidant rich berries, which will help combat the effects of UV damage and pollution.
13. Prioritise your eight hours
By now, we’re all well aware of the countless benefits of getting a good night’s sleep: faster muscle recovery, brighter eyes, slower ageing, reduced puffiness and so on. To achieve those nightly eight hours in 2024, Wake has three solid tips. “Unplug devices, make the room [as dark as possible] and don’t eat for at least three hours before your head hits the pillow.”
14. Give HArmonyCa a go
Among the more cutting-edge treatments that promise to deliver tauter, more expensive-looking skin (without betraying your efforts) is HArmonyCa. “It’s a little bit of filler mixed in with calcium hydroxyapatite that sits under your skin,” says Dr Daniel Hunt, an aesthetic doctor at Ouronyx. “The calcium attracts something called fibroblasts, which make collagen, and what this treatment does is thicken up your skin and lifts things and makes your skin healthier and thicker.”
15. Exfoliate from top to toe
If you’re not already doing so, incorporating exfoliation into your skin care regimen can be a game-changer for looking more, well, polished. “Augustinus Bader Exfoliating Toner [which uses exfoliating acids rather than beads] is a great product and really helps to buff the skin of dead skin cells,” says hairstylist and groomer Ms Natalie Shafii. She’s also a fan of lip scrubs, especially the one by La Mer, while body exfoliators, such as Aesop’s Geranium Leaf Body Scrub, will help slough away rough skin elsewhere.
16. Drain your lymphatic system
The secret to reducing puffiness and looking more chiselled might just lie in getting your lymphatic system going. Abbas is a big fan of lymphatic drainage treatments, which work to move excess fluid to the lymph nodes, and incorporates the practice into all her facials, while Shafii recommends at-home tools such as dry brushes for the body and facial massagers.
17. Feed your gut
Gut health has been a buzzword in wellness circles for good reason, with your digestive system intimately linked to everything from your skin to your immune system. To give yours a boost, Costello recommends packing in more pre- and probiotics. “Probiotic foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, kefir and live yoghurt contain the strains of beneficial gut bacteria, while prebiotic foods such as garlic, leek and onion help to feed them.”
18. Fatten up
Don’t fear fat. “Healthy fats, such as avocados, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and hemp seeds, are essential in maintaining our skins natural oil barrier, which is vital to keeping skin supple,” Costello says. “I sprinkle seeds on everything, and I always recommend cooking with olive oil, which is rich in skin-repairing vitamin E.”
19. Invest in the skincare trifecta
While in-clinic treatments will always work wonders, great skin begins at home. Aesthetics doctor and oculoplastic surgeon Dr Jennifer Doyle of The Clinic Holland Park recommends investing your efforts in three key anti-ageing building blocks: vitamin C, vitamin A (or retinol) and SPF. “It’s not gonna be overnight – like anything, it takes commitment,” Doyle says. “If you went for a stronger retinol or vitamin C, you’re going to have a reactive period for six to eight weeks, but after that, you should see [noticeable results].”
20. Get lasered
One of the biggest investments you can make in your skin (without needles) is laser treatments. “You can really notice the difference between people who have had laser treatments or IPL over many years – their skin quality is so much better,” Doyle says. Her laser of choice? “Especially in winter, we got loads of men coming in for combination BBL/Moxi. You get noticeable results with minimal downtime”
21. Try skin boosters
Not too keen on Botox or fillers? Enter skin boosters, which promise to give you better quality skin without changing facial structures. Doyle is a fan of Ameela, a polynucleotide treatment that helps regenerate tissue and is great for the undereye area. Or give exosomes a go – “they’re basically stem-cell derived packets of growth factors that you spread on the skin to help boost collagen production,” Dr David Jack says.
22. Amp up your moisturiser
One step up from a slathering on a miracle moisturiser is having it injected by way of Profhilo, which Jack swears by for boosting hydration and glow. It’s a hyaluronic acid treatment – not a filler – that lasts up to six months, although regular treatments will help improve skin quality and build up your stores of collagen over time.
23. Reduce inflammation
“All skin concerns and skin issues, stem from inflammation in the body, whether it’s pigmentation, rosacea, acne,” Abbas says. She recommends following an anti-inflammatory diet, which will typically include nutrient-rich whole foods such as oily fish, fruit, vegetables and nuts. Wake also suggests incorporating turmeric root into your diet – “it has long been used in ancient Chinese and Indian cultures as a strong anti-inflammatory.” Meanwhile, Shafii is a fan of Dr. Barbara Sturm’s products, which focus on reducing the skin’s inflammatory responses.
24. Take a vitamin D supplement
If you’re going to take one supplement to help you look and feel better in the New Year, make it vitamin D, Costello says. “It’s critical for so many skin functions, including helping cells to divide and renew, promoting tissue repair, wound healing and supporting hair follicle health and hair growth.”
25. Get monthly medical-grade facials
Both Doyle and Shafii are fans of the much-hyped Hydrafacial, which uses a patented hydro microdermabrasion tool to deeply cleanse, extract impurities and flush the skin with moisture. But likewise, “find someone who will address your particular concerns,” Doyle says. “What you want is a more customised experience. And look for a facialist who works with the more medical-grade brands.”
26. Cut back on sugar
For clearer skin and more stabilised energy levels, try trimming back your sugar intake. “Blood sugar spikes can contribute to acne by increasing hormones that cause oil production, blocked pores and inflammation within the skin,” Costello says. “High levels of sugar in the blood can also lead to a process known as glycation, which is where sugar molecules such as glucose and fructose get stuck to proteins such as collagen, damaging the skin and accelerating signs of ageing.”
27. Warm up and cool off
“I spend a combined 11 minutes on ice baths and 50 minutes in the sauna per week, which, according to research, is the optimum amount,” says personal trainer Mr Oliver Black. “Both are excellent for increasing dopamine levels, reducing muscle soreness, as well as improving sleep performance and recovery.”
28. Lift more
Avid runner or cyclist? While both activities are brilliant for cardiovascular fitness (and toned calves), be sure to incorporate some weights into your workout split. “The more muscle you have, the more capability your body has to burn fat,” PT Warren Whitely says – not to mention greater strength and improved posture, among a host of other benefits. And if you’re already a lifter, Black suggests upping the ante in the New Year. “If you’re just repeating the same thing again and again, your body will plateau. Progressive overload is an important aspect of any training programme, so the weights or reps change in each session.”
29. Pack in the protein
A protein-rich diet isn’t just for body builders. “Protein is the building material of our entire body and is essential for the repair and maintenance of all organs, including our largest organ – the skin,” Wake says. “Aim to consume a variety of high-quality sources – organic chicken, wild fish, eggs, natural yoghurt, tempeh, quinoa – with each meal. Roughly around a quarter of the plate.”
30. Groom your brows
Described by Mr Tom Ford as “the only facial architecture you can change”, eyebrows that are well-groomed can instantly make you look younger, more awake and more polished. “One of my favourite tricks whenever I have anyone sit in my chair is I brush up their eyebrows and then trim their hairs with very fine scissors,” says celebrity groomer Ms Rachel Singer-Clark. “The moment you neaten that line, it [creates] a more manicured, fuller looking brow and you realise just how much more put together they look.”
31. Lather on lotion daily
“A lot of guys don’t like the feeling of body lotion, but I always say the more you hydrate and nourish the skin in the winter months, the better prepped your skin will be in the summer months,” Singer-Clark says. Try Augustinus Bader’s The Body Lotion for a lightweight, quick-absorbing option that’s packed with a bunch of skincare benefits.
32. Be consistent
“The number one reason people don’t reach their health and wellness goals is because they lack consistency or commitment,” Black says. “The best way to stay consistent is to hold yourself accountable for your training by committing to it with a friend, a personal trainer, class-based studios, or by signing up for a race.”
33. Don’t overdo it
“Listen to your body,” Whitely says. “If you’re tired, rest. If you’re hungry, eat. But set the relevant perimeters to do this in the most effective way possible within your goals. Recover and decompress with as much intent as you train or work – you only have one body and one mind.”