As the summer months fade away, it might be a good time to prepare for the cooler weather ahead. Perhaps you get ready by reaching for warmer clothes, hotter drinks, or cozier blankets. When it comes to fall and skincare, you may need to change some of your practices to focus on hydration and healing. Here are five fall skincare tips to keep in mind as you adjust your routines for the season.
Why You Should Consider a Fall Routine
Autumn months tend to bear chillier temperatures, colder winds, and lower humidities. These weather changes are a recipe for drier, more sensitive skin. You can counteract these effects by adapting your skincare routine to focus on moisture retention. Let’s explore these fall skincare tips in a bit more detail.
Stay Moisturized and Hydrated
Maximizing your skin’s hydration is crucial, given that the fall season brings a stark difference in weather compared to the summer months. One way to do this is to drink more water or keep a humidifier in your room.
Changing your skincare routine with serums and moisturizers that have hydrating properties can also avoid dryness. Look for products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which are humectants that attract water to the skin. Depending on your skin type, you may also opt for a heavier moisturizer. However, if you tend to have very oily skin, heavier moisturizers may exacerbate this.
Cooler months may also call for well-balanced cleansers that wash away dirt and dead skin cells without stripping away your skin’s natural oils. Foaming cleansers can dry out your skin, so instead, try cream, water-based, or oil-based cleansers for maximum hydration.
Don’t Forget Your Sunscreen
Just because those warm summer months are gone doesn’t mean the sun has disappeared. UVB and UVA rays are still present in all four seasons, so a daily minimum of SPF 30 can protect your skin from the sun year-round. SPF has many benefits, like smoothing out your complexion, slowing skin aging and lowering the risk of skin cancer. When choosing the right sunscreen, be sure to factor in your skin type, as certain ingredients will likely work better for you than others.
Keep Your Lips Hydrated
Do you notice your lips chapping more frequently as the weather gets colder? The cooler temperatures and lower autumn humidity can lead to dry and cracked lips. Keep a lip balm with SPF handy to lock in moisture all day while protecting your lips from the sun.
Exfoliate Less
Chemical exfoliants and retinoids can be harsh on your skin and increase its sensitivity. The humidity and warm temperatures of summer typically act as a buffer against the irritation caused by exfoliants. During the fall months, however, your skin may face harsher winds, colder temperatures, and drier air, causing more irritation. Due to this heightened sensitivity, try to give your skin a break this autumn by using a gentle exfoliator only once or twice a week.
Try Facial Oils
While facial oils may contribute to greasiness in the summer, the fall can be the perfect time to introduce them into your skincare routine. Products like rosehip oil, hemp seed oil, tea tree oil, and squalane oil have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help lock in moisture, reduce the appearance of blemishes, and restore your complexion.
With these fall skincare tips, your skin will thank you for meeting the demands of a changing season. At the Ottawa Skin Clinic, we offer many options to help you care for your complexion. From various product lines, including Glo Skin Beauty and SkinCeuticals, to in-clinic treatments, we can support your skin’s rejuvenation and hydration for the cold months ahead. Book an appointment today to explore our services.