Fall is synonymous with change, and for some of us, nowhere is this more evident than on the skin. Plummeting temperatures, central heating, and a distinct lack of vitamin D can make your face freak out. To combat that dry, flaky skin and repair from summer sun damage, it is of the utmost importance to keep the skin barrier as healthy as possible. Here are a few products and techniques to take on this fall and beyond.
One step that most robust skincare routines don’t skip is double cleansing in the evening. A first cleanse to melt and dislodge makeup, sunscreen, and daily grime. A second, scrubbier cleanse to ensure deeper penetration of pores. For especially dry skin, the reverse double cleanse is much more effective. Go in first with a gel cleanser for a clean slate, then use an oil cleanser to moisturize and build up the skin barrier overnight. For acne-prone or oily skin, switch the oil for a non-pore-clogging cream version like The Ordinary’s Glycolipid Cream Cleanser available at Sephora.
Personally, I’m a big advocate of serums, especially vitamin C serums like Pacifica’s Sea & C Love Vitamin Serum, which has been effective at boosting collagen and protecting against environmental aggressors like pollution. However, the strength of straight vitamin C may irritate sensitive skin. In order to benefit from vitamin C without negatively affecting the texture of your skin, look for vitamin C derivatives in your skincare. For both sensitive and acne-prone skin, check out The Inkey List’s C-50 Blemish Night Treatment available at Ulta.
As we all know, colder weather calls for products with ingredients that are going to keep the skin barrier moisturized. Creams with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides, in combination with astaxanthin, work as a more souped-up moisturizer. So, consider switching out your less intense summertime moisturizer for a formula with an astaxanthin ingredient like Kopari’s Bright as Day Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50. This will give you a moisture boost and work as a sunblock. For a bigger boost, check out Drunk Elephant’s Bora Barrier Rich Repair Cream with 6-Butterlipid Complex. This one is a bit more costly upfront, with a first-time purchase of the jar; however, refill pods for subsequent orders are more affordable.
Going back to hyaluronic acid, in the past beauty experts advised applying hyaluronic acid serums and creams to damp skin to maximize the hydrating benefits. However, recent research suggests that the hydration levels are more or less the same when applied to wet or dry skin. So, if you’ve been struggling post-shower with racing to get on various products before you’re fully dry, no fear here. Go ahead and utilize a hyaluronic acid serum like CeraVe’s Hydrating HA Serum on your own timeline, but be sure to follow up with a moisturizer.
Another product to rethink this fall is niacinamide, aka vitamin B3. While this ingredient can reduce excess oil, minimize the appearance of large pores, and prevent dry skin, too high a concentration can be aggravating. If you want to keep using products with vitamin B3 this season but your skin is on the dry side, then scale down the percentage and look for a product with 2% or less, like The Ordinary’s Soothing & Barrier Support Serum for Sensitive Skin Hydration.
Lastly, consider switching up your exfoliation routine for the season. Glycolic acid is the most popular chemical exfoliator as it’s excellent for unclogging pores and fading hyperpigmentation, and it is often quite necessary in the hotter and sweater months. As the air turns cold and dry, switch out your warm-weather chemical-based exfoliant for one based on fruit enzymes, which provide similar results but in a gentler way. I recently discovered Josie Maran’s Pineapple Enzyme Exfoliating + Brightening Gel Cleanser that I’m considering swapping in for my harsher scrub from the summer months.
Above all, whether you have a multi-step skincare routine or are a wash-and-go type of person, the best thing everyone can do for their skin in the fall and winter is moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.
