It’s that time of year again: The sun is starting to set earlier, the air is a bit cooler, and pumpkin spice is back on the menu. As the seasons change, you may start to notice your skin changing too. During the summer, we often battle humidity and heat, leading to oil, sweat and extra moisture in the skin. In the fall, with cooler drier air, your skin will most likely respond differently due to the loss of moisture in the air and lower temperatures. You may find your skin feeling tighter and feeling dry. For clear and hydrated skin all year long, here are our top tips:
1. Always cleanse your face before bed. The most important rule when it comes to maintaining clear skin is to cleanse your face at the end of the day. Just as your hands get dirty, your face does as well. Cleansing your face at the end of the night will remove any makeup you may be wearing, as well as oils, dead skin cells and pollutants that have built up during the day. As we transition into autumn, we recommend incorporating a hydrating cleanser, perhaps a creamier formula or a cleansing oil, to accommodate for the lack of moisture in the air and maintain hydrated skin.
2. Exfoliate Responsibly. You may notice that your skin has lost some of that summer glow due to the water loss in the skin and the excess skin cells not being able to properly shed as the weather transitions. To get back some of that luster, add in a weekly exfoliating treatment; however, be sure to do so responsibly. With skin being drier and more sensitive during these months, you will want to avoid harsh formulas that are too aggressive and will strip the skin, leaving the skin feeling drier. Stick to a once-a-week routine, using exfoliators with gentler ingredients that meet your skin’s needs. Be sure to follow up with your moisturizer to ensure clear and hydrated skin.
3. Moisturize. Moisturize. Moisturize. As mentioned, when temperatures change, the air becomes devoid of the humidity, in comparison to summer months. The skin responds to the changes; the lack of moisture in the air leads to a lack of moisture in skin, often leaving skin feeling more chapped in the cold weather. During this time, it’s important to remember to moisturize to maintain hydration levels in the skin. In addition, consider incorporating a higher level of hydration or oil formula into your skincare routine to make up for the hydration. Look for formulas with ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid: these attract moisture to the top layers of the skin.
4. Drink your water. We know it’s important to drink plenty of water everyday: the recommended amount is 8 glasses. Water helps flush out toxins from the body and helps replenish the body as it loses hydration. While there aren’t scientific statements correlating clear skin and water, many people report clearer, more hydrated skin after adding in extra glasses of water throughout the day. If celebrities such as Beyonce and Jennifer Aniston swear their secret to glowing and clear skin is hydration, who are we to argue?
Who says you can’t preserve that summer glow all year long? Simple changes to your existing skin care routine can help protect from dull and dry skin that can occur in the fall months. Pay attention to the needs of your skin as the weather changes and don’t be afraid of using creamier formulas to preserve and restore moisture in the skin. During the next few months, water should be your number one priority.