Fall Skincare 101

You might have been using the same skincare routine all summer long in order to deal with the effects of hot temperatures and humid air. The changing season means it’s time to switch up your skincare routine to protect your skin from the effects of autumn weather. Cooler temperatures and less outdoor humidity during fall can affect your skin. The following tips can help you adjust your skincare routine as needed. 

Choose a Gentle Cleanser

Summer skincare products are often made to prevent oily skin from causing breakouts and other skin problems. However, skin tends to be less oily as outdoor temperatures and humidity become lower. If you’ve been using deep-cleaning foaming or gel cleansers for oily skin, switch to one that is gentler on your skin. Cream-based cleansers or cleansers that don’t contain sulfates are usually gentle enough to use on less oily skin during fall.

Switch to a Stronger Moisturizer

During summer, lighter moisturizers often work well enough to keep skin hydrated, especially for those with oily skin. As the air becomes dryer and less humid in autumn, though, you might need a stronger moisturizer to make sure your skin stays hydrated. Without enough moisturizer, your skin can easily become dry and irritated during fall. Lotion moisturizers rather than gel moisturizers, for example, should provide better hydration in cooler weather. Apply your moisturizer once in the morning and again in the evening or more often if needed.

Increase Hydration

With autumn bringing lower humidity and dryer air, it’s important to make sure you keep your skin hydrated. Applying toner as part of your daily skincare routine in the fall can help increase hydration. When choosing a toner for autumn, look for one that does not contain alcohol, since this can dry out your skin. Apply toner to your skin after you cleanse it, then add moisturizer to maintain hydration throughout the day. Keeping your skin hydrated during fall helps reduce your risk of dry, flaky skin and other skin problems.

Use SPF Products

Don’t put away your skincare products that contain SPF yet. Your skin still needs protection from the sun’s damaging UV rays during autumn just as it did in summer. When you’re going to be outside this season, apply sunscreen and skincare products with SPF, such as lip balm, before heading out the door. Keep in mind that you should apply sunscreen and other SPF products every couple of hours as long as you’re outside. This helps protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays, which can cause sunburns, skin cancer, and other kinds of skin damage.

Exfoliate Your Skin

If you cut back on exfoliating during summer due to higher sensitivity in summer, it’s time to add it into your skincare routine again. During autumn, you should exfoliate to remove damaged or dead skin cells and keep your skin looking healthy rather than dull. Exfoliating also helps lower your risk of breakouts by preventing oil from clogging your pores. You should avoid exfoliating too much, though, since this can irritate your skin. If you’ve been exfoliating a couple of times a week in summer, try exfoliating once a week or less often during autumn.

Use a Different Face Mask

If you use a face mask as part of your skincare routine during summer, consider changing the kind you use in autumn. Instead of using gel masks, for example, switch to cream masks to relieve and prevent dryness. Gel masks and other water-based face masks typically work better in summer for those with oily skin. Cream face masks provide plenty of hydration in fall for healthier skin.

Protect Your Lips and Eyes

Your lips and the skin around your eyes might have a harder time adjusting to the change in humidity levels, so it’s important to protect these areas. Use to keep your lips hydrated as the weather gets cooler. You should also use eye creams to boost hydration in these sensitive areas as the air becomes dryer. Apply these lip and eye products on a regular basis during autumn as part of your skincare regimen.

These autumn skincare tips can help your skin look radiant all season long. Making changes to your skincare routine during fall also helps prepare your skin for the upcoming winter months, when the air is even colder and dryer.