11 TIPS TO BOOST YOUR FALL SKINCARE ROUTINE
Goodbye Summer!
Close the pool and pack away the bikinis.
Time for bulky knits and pumpkin spice lattes.
Autumn is a time for change. With weather changes should also come changes in your skincare routine. It is a time when you should prepare your face to transition from hot, humid climate to cold and dry. We have some skincare tips for maintaining that beautiful glow this fall season!
Come cooler months, skin behaves in a different way. It has a more difficult time maintaining its moisture, which is paramount for protecting its barrier. The drastic drop in temperature and humidity can leave skin feeling raw, dry and dull. Heaters are running full-tilt inside which can also affect skin’s moisture levels.
The amount of moisture in the air affects the moisture in your skin. When skin becomes dry it can be susceptible to breakouts, redness and irritation. If you have any hormonal imbalance or skin conditions, like eczema or psoriasis, your skin will likely be super-sensitive during the transition of seasons.
It is important to be aware of what you put on your skin. For some people this could mean you need to change your daily regimen.
FALL SKINCARE ROUTINE 101
Now What?
No need for professional intervention! Keeping skin happy is a breeze with some simple fall boosting tips. Here’s our top 10… with one added bonus tip!
- Rich Moisturizers
Depending on your skin, you may need to tweak your skincare routine a bit come fall season. If you live in a cool, windy or drier climate you may need to introduce a thicker moisturizer into your regimen to replenish hydration. Your skin naturally produces less oils in the colder months and needs a boost.
If you have oily skin, your current moisturizer might be perfect for days but you might still need to add a richer moisturizer at night to keep skin from developing dry patches.
- Use targeted treatments, like serums and eye creams
Serums
Serums are one of the best ways to ramp up your skincare regimen, not just in the cold months. But as temperatures cool down it is especially important to reach for a hydrating serum that targets and corrects dryness. Lean for natural oils and rich ingredients that do not clog pores or leave skin shiny.
Look for serums that contain powerful humectants, such as hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid draws moisture to skin for deep, long-lasting hydration. Our favourite hyaluronic acid serum is paired with aloe vera for ultimate hydration.
Serums have a smaller molecular structure to penetrate deeper into layers of skin instead of sitting on the surface. They provide skin with a multitude of antiaging and moisturizing benefits. Their high concentrations target many skin conditions, including dry skin.
Pro Tip: Apply serums before your moisturizer to protect from the harsh elements before heading outside.
Eye Creams
Using an eye cream matters! The delicate skin under your eyes is very different from the rest of your face and needs its own TLC. It is thinner, more sensitive, fragile and contains fewer oil glands.
Eye creams often contain similar ingredients as moisturizers but are gently formulated to deliver smaller doses to the delicate area. This is mainly to avoid irritation or a reaction.
Look for eye creams that do not have strong perfumes and chemicals; ingredients that you certainly do not want around your eye area! A quality eye cream can moisturize stressed skin around the eye, target fine lines, puffiness and dark circles while protecting it from harsh weather conditions. Make sure to read ingredients on the back of all skin care labels, including eye creams.
EYE Rescue contains our beauty secret ingredient, marshmallow root, which is an anti-inflammatory emollient that speeds up cell regeneration. Marshmallow targets fine lines and wrinkles while also reducing puffiness.
- Hydrate skin with aloe or collagen
Coating skin with potent serums and moisturizers are imperative to nourishing burning or sensitive skin. Products that are infused with aloe vera or collagen will help in the skin’s recovery process. Collagen intensely stimulates skin cells’ function, helping them repair and protect the skin’s barrier. Aloe vera has humectant properties and is a natural soothe. It’s the perfect relief for irritated, flaky or sensitive skin.
Check out BBBlog post about all of the incredible benefits of Aloe Vera.
- Vitamin C.
An antioxidant serum, mainly Vitamin C, is a crucial part of your all-year-round skin routine, but especially as seasons change and skin can become prone to developing irritation.
A potent Vitamin C serum brightens skin by targeting dark pigmentation and any lingering sun damage. Vitamin C stimulates collagen health, evens skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles while protecting skin from the environment’s harsh elements.
Pro Tip: Apply your vitamin C serum after cleansing, before your other serums and moisturizer.
- Invest in a humidifier
A dip in outside temperatures comes a dip in humidity levels. Heating units pumping warm, dry air into the house or office can cause skin to become flakey, cracked or itchy.
Adding a humidifier to your room can not only help with keeping your skin moisturized but can also help with allergies and breathing. Humidifiers release moisture into the environment to increase the air hydration levels. Hydrated skin is the key to youthful skin!
- Bubbles belong in your champagne, not your cleanser.
Using a soap-free, non-foaming cleanser is the best pick for skin all year round, but is a must once temperatures cool. Your skin is producing less oil so it is more prone to dryness and irritation.
Yes, we know there comes ultimate satisfaction from the foamy lather and the squeaky-clean face. However, there are misconceptions that only these types of cleansers can leave skin fresh and clean. In fact, foaming cleansers that are sulfate-based are harmful to skin long-term. They irritate skin and can leave skin feeling tight and dry.
Invest in a quality cleanser, preferably cream, milk or oil. If you are stuck on foaming cleansers, make sure to read the ingredients to ensure the foaming agent is not sulfate-based.
Cream or oil cleansers are more pH appropriate for the skin & reduce stripping.
Cream cleansers have moisture built in and are gentle for skin that is already sensitive or dry. Soap-free cleansers have a neutral pH, which do not strip your skin’s naturally acidic mantle, like foaming cleansers do.
Easy test to make sure your cleanser isn’t harming skin: Make sure after cleansing your face doesn’t feel tight and dry.
- Pure mineral mist
A mineral face mist is the ultimate multi-tasker for skin. Not only do they suit every skin type, they are great for instantly infusing water into the skin, setting makeup, and refreshing skin. It is also a quick remedy when skin is feeling tired and dry throughout the day.
Face mists support skin’s natural moisture, restoring skin’s hydration and suppleness throughout the cold months.
Pro Tip: Applying serum or moisturizer immediately after using a face mist can help deliver the active ingredients and lock in hydration.
We recommend our ultra-fine mineral mist, containing dead sea salts and organic seaweed, to infuse skin with instant hydration and restore skin’s equilibrium.
- Indulge in skin-friendly foods
Fall and winter are the perfect time to load up on seasonal superfoods. Keeping your body and immune health strong will keep skin nourished and radiant.
Load up on seasonal superfoods that are packed with antioxidants. Your skin, hair and nails will thank you! Superfoods include kale, citrus, beets, brussel sprouts, pomegranates, peaches, berries, pumpkin, broccoli and winter squashes.
Eating antioxidant-rich foods help fight free radical damage that tend to speed up the aging process. They nourish your body from within, giving your skin a healthy glow. Keep skin glowing with foods like avocados, olive oil, carrots, green tea and leafy greens.
“Generally, a food is promoted to superfood star status when it delivers ample amounts of vitamins and minerals with antioxidant power, is linked to the prevention of a disease, or is thought to offer several health benefits,” registered dietitian Amy Shapiro, MS, CDN, and founder of Real Nutrition tells Eat This, Not That.” (1)
- Protect with SPF
Wearing sun protection all year is a must! It’s a big misconception that it isn’t needed once summer ends. Did you know that a tremendous amount of ultraviolet damage occurs during the fall season? UVB rays are just as strong in the fall as they are during the summer. Even come winter, ultraviolet rays can be of higher risk for skin damage from reflections off the surface of snow. Ultraviolet rays contribute to skin damage and can cause skin cancer.
Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays
- absorbed at deeper, dermal layer of skin
- cause wrinkles and premature aging
Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays
- absorbed at epidermal layer/outer most layers of skin
- the culprits for sunburns
UVB intensity fluctuates. The sun’s rays are strongest and pose the highest risk late-morning to mid-afternoon from spring to fall in temperate climates and UVB rays can damage your skin year-round, especially at high altitudes or on reflective surfaces like snow or ice. – skincancer.org (2)
- Exfoliate
Even the more cautious sun lover can come out of summer with unwanted pigment and dark spots on skin. Stress on skin builds from sun’s damaging rays, heat and pool chemicals.
It might seem counterintuitive but exfoliation is essential for keeping dry skin looking plump and healthy. It helps by removing dull, lifeless skin cells. Regular exfoliation can repair and brighten your complexion and help rid of environmental damage and discoloured skin cells. It is also key for oily skin to reduce acne flare-ups.
Using AHAs and BHAs, both which exfoliate and moisturize skin, can leave skin looking plump and youthful.
How often you want to exfoliate and with what ingredients will depend on your skin’s sensitivity.
Listen to your Skin!
Special bonus tip! Last but certainly not least important. Listen to your skin, regardless of the season. Skin’s health and tolerance is continuously changing so you need to be attentive to what it needs.
You might need to increase or decrease steps or ingredients in your skincare routine, according to how your skin is telling you.
Awesome ingredients to look for in your skincare products this fall:
Shea Butter
Vitamin C
Hyaluronic Acid
AHAs & BHAs
Green Tea
Aloe Vera
Jojoba Oil
Ceramides
Glycerin
Plant-derived oils
Resources
(1) 17 Winter Superfoods That Should Be On Your Grocery List Now
(2) UV Radiation & Your Skin. The Facts. The Risks. How They Affect You.