Moisturizing Your Way Through Fall in Maine
Moisturizing is to your skin what carbs are to a drunk person: absolutely necessary.Moisturizing as the temperature drops? Even more crucial. Living in Maine (or any cold-weather locale!) can be a skin-care nightmare. Anyone who has lived through an 8 month winter is familiar with the itching, flaking, dryness and cracking that cold weather can wreak on your skin. As the self-appointed queen of moisturizing (think: dealing with eczema in places you didn’t know eczema could go), I am going to walk you through how to flawlessly transition your skin from summer to fall.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, we all have to do some soul searching. Who are you? What is your skin type? In my mind, both questions have equal importance. If you don’t know your skin types, look it up; that’s not my job. Once you figure it out, come back and remember that you have to think critically about what products are going to work well with your skin based off what you’ve tried in the past. Now we can get into it.
Step 1. Assessing Here and Now
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s still summer in Maine, believe it or not. There is no reason to be doing a full-body Aquaphor slather just yet. Make sure you are using a light facial moisturizer and medium-weight body cream now to prevent a buildup of excess oils. I recommend the Boscia Super-Charge Overnight Moisture ($36) for face and CeraVe Moisturizing Cream ($15.99) or Aveeno Sheer Hydration Daily Body Lotion ($6.99) for full body. Don’t mess around when it comes to body lotion: nothing that could cause an itchy situation should come in contact with your beautiful body. It’s dermatologist approved or it’s in the trash.
Step 2: Prepare Your Moisture Arsenals
Over the next few weeks it’s going to start getting chilly. That means upping your moisturizer game. Consider swapping out your facial moisturizer for something a little more hardcore. After trying every rich face cream from La Mer to Glossier, I fully endorse bareMinerals Butter Drench Restorative Rich Cream ($38). This creamy goodness won’t leave you feeling sticky: it’s formulated for dry skin, making it an absolute life-saver in the winter.
Achieving ultimate full-body moisture is going to require more than just one product. I recommend Vanicream ($16.50) for all-over hydration (and I mean ALL over: you MUST lotion up from head to toe after every shower). For ankles and elbows and anywhere else that need a little love, massage in some Alba Un-Petroleum Jelly ($3.99) or Nivea Cream ($7.79). For when you get overwhelmed by how many different moisturizers you need, go buy Aveeno Stress Relief Moisturizing Lotion ($8.50). Who doesn’t love lavender?
Step 3: Exfoliation & Further Treatment
Don’t think that just because you’re all bundled up you’re getting out of the exfoliator game. You aren’t going to achieve smooth-skin nirvana without sloughing off some dead skin cells beforehand. I suggest the creamy purity of the Tony Moly Banana Peeling Cream. ($16.50) The banana scent will make you think of happier, warmer times, and the results will leave you with smooth, taut skin.
Follow with some concentrated hydration, like Origins Drink Up Intensive Night Mask ($27), to soothe overnight and provide solace for body and soul in cold times.
How does one know when to start the skincare transition? When you know, you know. I would suggest going for it after the first night that requires an extra blanket in bed. Or the first day you break out your fall boots. Or after 80s! You do you. Just remember, your skin is like a baby: it needs a whole lot of attention and love.