5 Common Sense Skincare Tips to Help You Transition to Fall
I’ve been living in Miami for the better part of my adult years. In terms of the seasons, we have only two temperatures here: hot and hotter. I do remember, however, when I lived in New York, how the change of weather from summer to fall would wreak havoc on my skin. I remember one particular time when I felt so dry and itchy that I exclaimed to my husband, “I think I’m allergic to the cold!” To which he laughed and told me I was being overly dramatic. That was until I took off my clothes to shower and he saw the red welts all over my body. He responded with, “Oh my God, I think you really are allergic to the cold!” (Insert eye roll here.)
In addition to switching up your skincare routine, if you’re looking for new fall makeup finds, be sure to read this post for some fresh ideas!
Fall Skincare Tips
As summer’s steamy and humid temps slowly turn into earlier sunsets and cooler, drier air, the change in weather has a larger impact on our skin than you might think. When the seasons change, your skin is one of the first organs to feel the effects. Like my own experience, skin becomes drier, flakier, and itchier. It’s a subtle dance between summer and fall. One day it’s toasty enough for a tank top and the next day you’re reaching for a moto jacket. So, if you think about it, it really is important to change up your skincare routine. It can mean the difference for maintaining healthy, happy skin year-round. Here are 5 common sense skincare tips to help you transition to fall.
Do you have any favorite fall skincare tips? Please share in the comments below! Don’t forget you can sign up for the newsletter to take advantage of some amazing resources here including a PDF with 20+ beauty tips to look younger! Thanks for reading!
#1) Cut Back on Exfoliants
As the weather gets colder, it’s best to cut back on harsher ingredients, like retinoids and glycolic acid. Exfoliation, in general, is a tricky subject because it’s very easy to overdo it, even in warmer weather. Over-exfoliation can create tiny cracks in the skin barrier that lead to even more loss of hydration and inflammation. You’ll know if you’re going too hard on exfoliation if your skin is irritated, itchy, and red. To avoid that, use gentle exfoliants or masks no more than once a week. Cut back your topical retinoid use to three or four times per week. I’m loving the Kjaer Weis The Beautiful Night Potion right now, but here are some additional gentle recommendations to try.
During the dog days of summer, a light lotion or tinted cream may be enough to keep skin supple. But as soon as the temperature begins to drop, all bets are off. Keeping skin hydrated in the cooler months is the golden rule of wintertime skincare. To build a defense against dry skin, choose a rich, creamy moisturizer with humectants to draw water into the skin and seal hydration. One of my favorite splurges this year is the La Prairie Pure Gold Radiance Cream… it feels like heaven! Other favorites on my vanity are Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream and Clinique. To really amp up the skin’s absorption, use a technique that dermatologists call the “soak and smear.” Apply your serum or moisturizer after cleansing your face and patting dry, but while the skin is still damp.
During cooler months, it’s important to choose a sunscreen labeled “broad spectrum,” since the SPF rating refers only to protection against UVB and not UVA light. Unless you’re outside all day long on a bright autumn day, there’s not much need for a sunscreen that’s SPF 50 or higher, since UVB rays are at a minimum. On the flip side, UVA rays—the long wavelengths of sunlight that break down collagen and elastin, and contribute to sun spots and wrinkling—dominate the winter months. What’s trickier is that because of the cooler temps, it’s harder to feel the sun’s effects on your skin. That can lead to serious sun damage without even noticing. Women of color and Hispanics should be aware of hyperpigmentation and must apply SPF throughout the winter months. So bottom line—don’t skip out on sunscreen! These are tried-and-true faves I use year-round.
If you think a swipe of your favorite lip gloss or tinted lip balm will save your lips from getting chapped or cracked, think again. To maintain hydrated lips this fall (and into winter) look for a balm with healing ointments, essential oils or glycerin, like APTO’s Orange Blossom Lip Balm. Stay away from lip balms containing camphor, eucalyptus and menthol. These ingredients initially feel soothing, but actually dry out your lips and make the problem worse. As a self-proclaimed lip balm junkie, these are all in my collection!
When summer humidity ends, your face is not the only skin you have to take care of. Your body may start to feel dry and itchy, much the way mine did in my story above. The easiest way to stop the itch? Loading up on hydration from head to toe. I’ve recommended Kopari’s Body Butter in previous blog posts, and that’s because it’s that good! For drier skin types, heavier creams like Nécessaire The Body Lotion and Brazilian Bum Bum Body Cream really quench and heal the skin.
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