Fall Skin Care: Brighten, Nourish + Hydrate

Summer is over, and with the fall comes cooler drier air. Depending on where you live, you might already be experiencing cold winds and blowing snow and ice. Between turning on the artificial heat in the house, sitting near a fireplace, and spending time outdoors in the windy elements, your skin could be taking quite a beating. The good news is that you can take steps to make your complexion look bright and glowing this time of year. Read on for some tips on revamping your fall skin care routine to make it fitter for the months ahead.

Keep It Clean

You are not getting sweaty like you were in July, but you still need to wash your face twice per day. Many of us suffer from dry skin in the fall, which can feel uncomfortable and tight, so it is essential to keep your skin type in mind when choosing cleansing products.

During the summer, you might have used a cleanser with drying ingredients to help control excess oil at bay. However, if your skin has gone from oily to dry, you will need to choose something else. Cream- or milk-based cleansers can be the ticket to comfortable skin during the colder months. These can be used year-round, but they are perfect when you do not need much oil control.

You might also consider adding a cleansing oil to your fall skin care routine, as this will do a good job removing impurities without stripping the natural oils from your skin. If your skin is dehydrated, consider only using a cleanser at night before bed; in the morning, use lukewarm (never hot!) water to splash your face, then blot dry with a soft towel. This will remove any dirt without stripping oils.

Add Hydration

A serum is a good idea to consider adding to your fall skin care routine, and even all year long. Face serums add hydration to the skin and are a step-in addition to moisturizers. Use your serum right after washing. Hyaluronic acid is a beneficial ingredient to look for. It helps your skin retain moisture, reducing wrinkles and redness. When heat sources and the whipping cold wind pull moisture from your skin, your serum will help put it back, giving you relief from dryness as well as soft, supple skin.

Exfoliate Regularly

Face exfoliators can help remove the dead, dry flakes of skin that the fall weather is notorious for causing. Look between your eyebrows and the spot where your nostrils meet your upper lip. Do you notice any visible dryness or flaking? If so, you should consider adding an exfoliator to your fall skin care routine. But do not grab your nearest rough washcloth and start rubbing!

And using a scrub with relatively large pieces is also not a good plan. These will remove flakes, yes, but they will also tend to irritate your skin. Instead, go for a cream-based exfoliating mask. Or you can make a mask at home using ingredients you have around the house already. Leave it on for the specified amount of time, and then rinse it away.

Pay Attention to Your Eyes and Lips

In the cooler months, when the air gets drier outside, and the heaters start operating inside, the first parts of your face that will feel and look fatigued are your lips and the delicate area around your eyes. Paying particular attention to these areas will help you feel better and look great! If the skin around your eyes is sore, you will feel tired even if you are well-rested. And you know how miserable it can be to have dry, chapped lips.

Today, more and more skincare brands release 2-in-1 products to meet modern consumers’ needs effectively. For your eyes, choose an under-eye product to keep that soft skin supple. It will also help minimize the look of wrinkles. Wearing sunglasses (yes, even in the fall and winter!) will give your eyes additional protection from not only the sun but also the wind and other elements. And, of course, you will not want to skip the sunscreen in this delicate area.

As for your lips, you will want to apply a balm when you are using lipstick. Choosing a healing ointment that does not contain menthol or eucalyptus is always a good option to add to your fall skin care routine. Medicated lip balms tend to dry out your skin, which, in turn, makes you reach for them more often, creating a cycle that ends in flaky, irritated lips. You also might want to look for one with an SPF factor since your lips can burn (as can the rest of your face) at any time of year.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

You already know that you need to use a good face moisturizer at any time of year. During the cool-weather months, the moisturizer you used all summer might not be enough. If you have oily skin, you should still definitely look for a non-comedogenic moisturizer, but you might need something a little heavier than the one you were using at the peak of the summer.

You also might want to apply it more than twice daily if your skin is dehydrated, or you may need to use something heavier at night after you wash off any makeup that you wear. Consider your skin type, but plan on beefing up your moisturizer routine once the mercury starts dipping. Also, look for one with sunscreen included, because you need to continue wearing it in the autumn and winter.

Nourish From the Inside Out

Many of us stay indoors this time of year due to the weather, not getting the exercise we might have accumulated during the summer (especially if gyms are closed in your area), and perhaps overindulging in seasonal delicacies and alcoholic beverages.

Final Takeaway

While these are often normal activities during the holiday season and might be exacerbated by our current situation, it’s important to remember that the better you treat the rest of your body, the better your skin will look. Drink plenty of water, get some exercise, and be sure to get in plenty of fresh fruits and veggies, healthy fats, and lean proteins to keep your skin soft, supple, and looking its best.