By Caitlin Brown
The dog days of summer are dwindling, and as fall creeps in, it signals an SOS to the fairer sex that it’s time, once again, to change up our skincare routine. Swap out the lightweight summer staples and get into the thick of it. Let’s talk about your skin/epidermis, cause it’s showing.
The cooler climate brings with it a drop in air humidity, which makes for dry air and even dryer skin. On top of that, there’s the dry heat from radiators. All in all, it’s a recipe for disaster when it comes to our skin, and it’s why we suddenly are prone to skin conditions like eczema and the dry itchies.
There’s no time like the present to stock up on a new arsenal to combat the harsher weather. I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: Approach your skincare in tandem with the seasons. As they change, so should your products. Think of skincare products as you do your wardrobe —you change outfits when the weather turns, so why not change what you put on your biggest and most precious organ?
Here are some simple hacks to get your skin on track for fall.
Layer it On!
Adding an extra layer of hydration to your routine is another great way to prevent skin dehydration. Add a hyaluronic-based serum or sheet mask to your skincare routine — vitamin C is always good, too. I’m not big on sheet masks, but l love serums. When shopping for one, keep your skin in mind. Different ingredients address different concerns. Think about what your specific, individual needs are and look for those products that are chocked with helper ingredients to address those issues.
Try a Thicker Moisturizer
It’s time to bulk up with a heftier hydrator. The same general rule above applies here, but ceramides and ingredients like shea butter always protect from the winter chill. Ceramides are essential fatty acids that occur naturally in the skin but need to be replenished during the colder months.
Add a Body Moisturizer
The easiest way to stop the itchies is to load up on hydration from head to toe. Moisturizers provide a protective barrier over the skin, allowing it to retain hydration and draw in hydration to the outer skin layer. If you didn’t do it in the summer months, do it now. Look for ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid (hyaluronic acid is an ingredient that holds hundreds of times it’s weight in water, so it locks in moisture and ceramides are a class of fatty acids called lipids that help restore your skin barrier.)
Be Careful with the Exfoliation
Exfoliation, in general, is a tricky subject because it’s very easy to overdo it, chilly weather or not. Over-exfoliation can create tiny cracks in the skin barrier that lead to more loss of hydration as well as inflammation.
Invest in a Humidifier
The dry heat from your home, apartment, or office poses another threat to your skin barrier. Low humidity levels degrade the skin’s natural moisture barrier, which can lead to flaking, cracking, and peeling.
In a nutshell, step up your hydration game and think of your skin barrier as you would shopping in sweater season. It needs a warm coat!
