6 Tips for Your Fall Skincare Routine
A lot of people love fall with its vibrant colors, crispy cool mornings, cozy coats and scarves, and pumpkin spice flavored everything. Unfortunately, autumn weather isn’t great for your skin (that most likely has already suffered from sun exposure during summer). Here are 6 fall skincare tips that will help keep your skin healthy and radiant during autumn.1. Notice the changes in your skin and tweak your skincare routine accordingly
When summer gives way to fall, some people may notice that their skin type changes with the season. Oily skin might become closer to normal, while normal skin might start feeling a bit dry. If this is your case, you may need to tweak your skincare routine according to the changes in your skin. You probably won’t need to change up the entire regime, but some of your skin products may need to be replaced, at least temporarily.
2. Keep your skin hydrated
A sharp drop in temperature and windy weather can strip your skin off moisture, so you need to put in extra effort to keep it hydrated during fall. First of all, start to avoid any facial cleansers that contain alcohol or harsh surfactants like SLS. After (mild and gentle!) cleansing, apply a moisturizer than you normally use. The choice of moisturizer depends on your skin type. If you have dry skin, try a facial oil or rich cream. If you have oily skin, a gel, serum or light lotion is a better choice.
Finally, you should drink plenty of water because your skin needs hydration from the inside, too. If the air in your apartment is too dry because of the heating, invest in a humidifier to minimize the effect of dry air on your skin.
3. Protect your skin (and your lips)
Although in fall your skin might not need as much protection from the sun as in summer, you still should use skincare products with SPF because UVA rays can penetrate through clouds. And your lips need extra protection from the chill and wind to prevent them from getting dry and chapped. We recommend that you avoid lip balms with petroleum jelly. Although this ingredient does protect the lips, it prevents the skin from breathing and doesn’t hydrate it. Opt for lip products formulated with natural waxes and carrier oils. In addition to protection, they will nourish and repair chapped lips.
4. Exfoliate
Exfoliation will keep your skin from becoming dull and dehydrated during the fall months. It removes dead cells from the surface of the skin, stimulates cellular regeneration, and improves the absorption of moisturizers, serums and other skincare products. If your skin is not too sensitive, you can exfoliate twice a week instead of just once. By the way, fall and winter are considered good seasons for chemical peels because it’s easier to protect your skin from UV exposure.
5. Take care of your hands
One of the most common skin concerns in autumn is getting dry hands, cracked cuticles and hangnails. The skin of your hands doesn’t produce as much sebum (skin oil) as the rest of your body, so you need to pay extra attention to it. Invest in a deeply hydrating hand cream and apply it regularly, start using cuticle oil to prevent dry and cracked cuticles, and wear gloves when outside.
6. Pay attention to your diet
The health of our skin largely depends on what we eat because it needs nutrients just like the rest of our body. For example, vitamins C and E have antioxidant properties and help prevent premature skin ageing, and fatty acids keep our skin hydrated. In summer, we get plenty of vitamins from fresh fruit and vegetables, but in fall many people suffer from vitamin deficiency, and their skin starts looking much worse. So make sure that you receive enough nutrients from your regular meals and consider taking dietary supplements if you’re still not satisfied with how your skin looks (after consulting a physician, of course).