Keep Your Skin Shining This Fall
Keep Your Skin Shining This Fall
By: Madalyn Dudley
As the air becomes crisper and the humidity drifts away, our skin has the difficult task of deciding how to react to the season’s changes. Although there is a lot of excitement that surrounds the transition from summer to fall, its environmental shifts require our skin to transition as well. With the temperature falling, indoor heating systems are beginning to turn on, which ultimately strips our skin of its typical moisture. Though this change is normal, it can also cause dryness, irritation, and sensitivity. Adjust your skincare routine to the fall weather with a few simple tips.
Use a thicker moisturizer
It is time to move away from the lightweight moisturizer you used for a “dewy” look this summer. To compensate for the dry environment, switch to a thicker moisturizer in the evening that allows your skin to recover overnight. When reapplying in the morning, you are not only repairing your barrier, but also applying a layer of protection for whatever your skin may encounter throughout the day. Dermatologists recommend that your fall moisturizer contains ceramides, as your natural production of them is often slowed during cooler seasons. The Cerave Moisturizing Cream is rich in ceramides to help keep your moisture barrier intact. Moisturizers rich in hyaluronic acid such as the Glow Worthy Hyaluronic Acid Cream Moisturizer by Myth/Magick offer extra protection and keep your skin flexible during fall.
Use exfoliants less frequently
Exfoliation is an important part of any skincare routine, no matter the weather, but try to keep it to a minimum during the fall and winter to avoid irritation. The warm air and humidity that comes with summer months typically reduces the effects of harsh exfoliants as your skin produces more natural oils. To avoid stripping these oils, you should try an exfoliant with less destructive ingredients, or use products such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to offset unwanted effects. The MARA Evening Primrose + Green Tea Algae Retinol Oil and the PHA Topical Acid 12% have gentle ingredients for sensitive skin while still cleansing your skin of any dirt and debris that accumulates over the week.
Avoid stripping ingredients
Alcohol and fragrances in skin care leave your skin more susceptible to dryness and irritation. Alcohol in skin care products is meant to make them feel weightless, but it can be very harsh on the skin, particularly when the cool air is already drying out your pores. When shopping for fall skin care products, check the labels to avoid Ethyl Alcohol, Methanol, Ethanol, and Propanol. Most alcohol and fragrance-free products should be labeled as such, but it is still important to view the ingredients label and look up reviews in real time to ensure it will leave your skin better than it found it.
Purchase a humidifier
A humidifier is a simple way to counteract the effects of the cool air during the night. By adding additional moisture to the air in your home, you are actively replenishing your moisture barrier and fighting the dry air present in many indoor heating systems. Small, inexpensive, and aesthetically pleasing humidifiers such as the Hey Dewy Portable Facial Humidifier and the LEVOIT Humidifiers for Bedroom Large Room are available to purchase on Amazon.
Avoid hot water
There is nothing better than coming home from a long fall day and taking a hot shower, but dermatologists say this may not be the best thing for our skin. Hot water dries out your skin, so taking a hot shower after fighting the dry climate will lead to stripping your skin even more. If you must use hot water, try to take quick, efficient showers and pat dry with your towel or washcloth instead of rubbing to prevent further exfoliation. Be sure to use a thick body moisturizer such as First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Cream after to replenish moisture.
For more skin care tips throughout the fall season, keep reading Square Magazine and follow us on Instagram here.
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