For so many, the fall is their absolute favorite season. For your skin, maybe not so much. Many tend to see an increase of breakouts and experience overall, dull-looking skin during this gorgeous time of year! Why? The fall is an interesting time for skin care. There are a few reasons why some contract what I call “Fall time Skin Care Syndrome.” For some, their summertime skin care routines start tapering off due to a busier schedule, running out of product, or mistakenly thinking that the same steps aren’t necessary. We know the cooler months is a signal to increase quenching products for the skin but it also means raising awareness to issues that are less than obvious.
See below for some of our best fall skin care tips:

The 1st, Most Important Step of Your Routine

Hydration is usually the instinct that most people tend to go with when the temps change for the cooler, but we must not neglect the most important step in the skin regimen (besides daily SPF coverage)- exfoliation! Firstly, when the wind and cold hits the skin, the moisture basically evaporates. So hence, hydrate, right!? Not so fast! Remember that the cold, “clean” feeling doesn’t negate the fact that we need to continually remove dead skin cells from the skin surface. Exfoliation is the first issue we must tackle, no matter what season it is.

Exfoliators come in many shapes and forms-both chemical (ex: alpha hydroxy acids) and physical (ground oatmeal). So do your research and try out different scrubs, toners, and masks with exfoliating elements in them. Some of the most popular and effective exfoliators include lactic acid, mandelic acid, and asiatic acids. Physical exfoliating formulas can be effective too, but stay away from harsh ingredients like crushed shells or environmentally-dangerous micro beads.

I believe neglecting to exfoliate in the fall and winter months is just one reason many women have a harder time finding a proper fall/winter foundation- a foundation will never look as good as it should if the skin itself isn’t cared and prepped properly. I would look for a gentle exfoliator that has hydrating ingredients in it, so that you are not stripping away the skin’s protective barrier while effectively removing dry, dead skin. You should consider a gentle exfoliation product for the skin every day, unless your dermatologist recommends otherwise.

Vitamin A

These days, retinol is not just for nighttime-use, folks. There a few select brands that have effectively made the gentle fat-form of Vitamin A in topical products. Vitamin A is a necessary skin care ingredient because it nourishes the appearance of the skin and is the only ingredient that has been clinically proved to combat the visible appearance of aging. Look for skin care moisturizers with retinyl palmitate, and make sure to follow up with your favorite SPF formula. Use of a broad-spectrum SPF, meaning protection against both UVA and UVB radiation waves, is just as important in rainy, overcast weather as it is on a bright, sunny day.

Hydrate again!

In the summer months, my routine would skip this extra moisturizing step, and go right into my make-up process, but in the colder months, I insert a step in between my Vitamin A moisturizer and my foundation. Skin oil capsules, oil-mists, and peptide moisturizers are the products you should consider adding to your repertoire during this time of year. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, Vitamins A, C, E, and peptides. You may not even need to use them every day, but a little added moisture in areas around your nose, on your forehead, and around the eye may provide just enough moisture to make your skin forget that it is not summertime.

Remember the Lashes and Eyebrows

Your eyelashes and eyebrows need love and hydration JUST as much as your skin does. The cold can especially impact the look of healthy-appearing lashes and brows. A serum like RapidLash® or RapidBrow® is the perfect investment (or gift!) during the fall and winter months. These two serums contain conditioning ingredients like peptides, panthenol, biotin, amino acids, oils, and other ingredients that work together to combat year-round environmental abuse. With Halloween coming up in a few weeks –where false eyelashes are commonly applied on the lashes – start out a serum NOW to ensure the base of your lashes appear their healthiest and strongest.

The Hydrating Mask

Face masks are typically recommended about once a week, and the type of mask used depends on a number of factors. For any normal, oily, or combination skin, a hydrating masque is a safe bet to try in the cooler months. You should look for a masque with a combination of detoxifying and hydrating elements such as kaolin clay and Vitamin E. Consider splurging on a facial at a local skin spa. Ask for what specials are going on in your area! You deserve it, and your skin will thank you.

Stay quenched, my friends!
Catherine C., Lashing Out