Five daily rituals that'll make you feel (and look) good in 2018.

It’s the end of the year. I’ve finished up my last few days or work, and looking forward to a summer full of sunshine, friends and family, books and lazy afternoon naps… don’t forget the naps.

As we hit the New Year, it’s a time when many of us, myself included, are thinking about our resolutions for the year ahead. Your list might include big-ticket items like travelling the world or change careers, but in 2018 I’m opting for smaller steps.

With 2017 being a year of big change that saw me buy my first home, welcome a fur baby into the family and book an overseas trip for the year ahead, I’m looking forward to focusing on some simple beauty and wellness steps that are actually easy to keep. Here are the resolutions I’ll be making in the New Year:

1. Wear sunscreen every day.

I generally try to take good care of my skin but wearing sunscreen on my face is one thing I've neglected massively in 2017. Every piece of beauty advice I've heard and read this year has hailed sunscreen use and it's not hard to understand why. But it's just that one step that I always seems to skip or forget all together. Not in 2018.

And the best part is, adding sunscreen into your skincare routine doesn't have to cost to a bomb, in fact, it'll save you in expensive beauty treatments in the long run. I've been using Mecca Cosmetica's To Save Face SPF 30+ because it has a great consistency that can easily be applied under makeup and doesn't leave you feeling like an oil slick.

2. Clean my teeth and whiten them at the same time.

In 2018, it's going to be my goal to get my teeth looking pearly white and that means no skipping when it comes to brushing my teeth and even brushing between meals. I've recently started using the Colgate Optic White High Impact White toothpaste  as part of my daily routine, not just for event prep or special occasions.

Alone this product makes for an affordable everyday whitening option. According to the packet, the toothpaste leaves your teeth four shades visibly whiter after six weeks of brushing twice daily - I can do that! It leaves your mouth feeling minty fresh - and looking in the mirror after the six-week period I can really notice a difference in my teeth.

3. Drink more water and even add some apple cider vinegar.

As hard as I try, I just can't seem to get a good eight glasses of water into my day. But I've hatched a plan for how I can make it happen in 2018. I've pulled out my Alpha Drink Bottle from Typo that I got as a Christmas gift last year and I'm going to keep it on my desk and refill it throughout the day.

And after drinking a huge amount of apple cider vinegar during sickness this year, I'm also going to add a few tablespoons to my daily drink bottle for the added health benefits. It's supposed to do such magical things as maintaining your pH level, lower blood pressure and improve heart health. The only thing it can't do is clean your kitchen sink... oh wait, you can use it for that too.

4. Get cost-effective with my makeup and skincare routine.

I'm someone who can very quickly go into Mecca looking for one thing and come out with enough makeup and skincare products to supply a small village. Next year I'm going to take all of the many, many products I have in my beauty cupboard and make them work harder for me. That means implementing some nifty tips and cost-saving tricks.

This includes using coconut oil as my makeup remover and moisturiser (yes, this works), making the most of my lip balm by using it on my cuticles to keep them soft, cutting open my products to make sure I get all of the contents out before binning them, and cleaning my makeup brushes regularly so they last longer and I don't have to replace them as often.

5. Take 20 minutes out for myself before bed.

When life is constantly go-go-go and busy all the time, it can be hard to take a step back, breathe and truly appreciate what is going on around you and reflect on yourself. Instead of filling that 20 minutes before bed with Netflix or social media, I'm making a pact to take 20 minutes for myself each day.

Whether it's sitting down and writing my goals for the next day, thinking about all of the things I'm thankful for, taking the time out to breathe and connect with my body or sitting on the floor and having a bit of a stretch, I'm going to carve out this little bit of time in the day that is specifically for me and me only.

When it comes to 2018, your New Year's resolutions can be big, small or anything and everything in between. The important thing is to make sure you're moving into the New Year with the ideas of optimism, hope and self-care in mind. And that's exactly what I'll be doing with my easy and simple beauty and wellness goals.

What are your New Year's resolutions for 2018? Share them in the comments section below.

This content was created with thanks to our brand partner Colgate Optic White®.