GET YOUR SKIN READY FOR FALL
As temperatures fall, the risks to your skin increase. Here are steps you can take to optimize the benefits of your fall skincare routine.
Are you ready to transition your skincare routine for fall? The changing weather can truly impact your skin: According to a study in the British Journal of Dermatology, decreased temperatures and humidity can lead to dermatitis, which is particularly common on cheeks and hands. In addition, as the weather cools, your skin typically produces less protective oil, so you might start to experience extra dryness. The shift in seasons can also exacerbate inflammatory skin conditions, like eczema.
Think you can avoid cold-weather problems by staying cooped up indoors? Think again.
“In colder weather, we tend to rely on indoor heating, which can also strip moisture,” explains Board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick. “If there’s not enough moisture in the environment, the skin becomes more dry and flaky.”
Changing Your Regimen
So, how can you change your skincare routine for greater protection as the weather cools? Following these steps can help prevent damaged and dry skin during the fall season:
- Cut back on exfoliation. While you might exfoliate two to three times a week during the summer, it helps to cut down to once a week, switch to a gentler cleanser, and drop alcohol-based toners. Remember, your skin produces less protective oil in colder weather. An added benefit: if you have acne-prone skin, reducing the use of toners and scrubs can keep you from over-exfoliating, which can actually lead to the secretion of too much oil.
- Consider your cleanser. Switch to a creamier cleanser that works to protect and cushion the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Harsh cleansers, often gels and foams, can dry the skin and strip it of natural oils. Read labels and look for cleansers that actively hydrate skin. If you tend toward drier skin, you might not need to wash your face in the morning.
- Amp up the moisture. In the summer, a lightweight moisturizer is best. As with the cleansers, swap the moisturizer out for something with a creamier formulation to hydrate the skin. For example, you may look for a moisturizer that contains squalene and hyaluronic acid, both of which have hydrating properties. Richer, thicker moisturizers help “trap moisture in” and can help keep skin hydrated for longer periods.
- Remember that the sun doesn’t go away. It might be colder out, but you still need to use sunscreen every day. In fact, sunscreen can help fight windburn. Even if you’re indoors, an SPF 30 sunscreen can battle rays from the blue light coming off electronics and sunlight coming in through the windows.
- Humidify. Among the biggest culprits of the degradation of the skin’s natural moisture barrier is the lower humidity caused by colder weather and the dry heat from your home or office. The best way to fight low humidity at home is to invest in a humidifier.
You change your wardrobe in the fall to protect your body, so why not shift your skincare routine to safeguard your skin?
Aeonia: Your Fall Skincare Go-To
The leaves may change colors, but Aeonia is a constant for us all year long. During these cold months, the Age Defying Serum and Eye Refresh are must-haves due to their formulations restoring hydration in your skin.
Shop the Aeonia skincare line here.
References:
- “Changes in Filaggrin Degradation Products and Corneocyte Surface Texture by Season,” British Journal of Dermatology
- How To Transition Your Skincare Routine for Fall,” HuffPost Life
- “5 Skincare Swaps to Make for Fall,” InStyle
- "4 Dermatologist Secrets to Creating the Perfect Fall Skin-Care Routine,” Allure
