Philly weather has been sporadic over the past few weeks, but there’s no doubt that fall is finally here! As we gear up for endless days of pumpkin spice and cozy sweaters, we can’t forget about our skin. It’s especially difficult to keep our skin happy and healthy when there is a transition from one season to another, but it’s not impossible! Here are some helpful tips and tricks to modify your skincare routine and give your skin some extra TLC during this transitional period.
The biggest change from summer to fall and winter is the difference in humidity. The dreadful humid summer weather is now gone—thank goodness—but it’s also taken all the moisture with it! The cooler fall winds can be very stripping for your skin, even for those with oily, combination skin types. The easiest first step to nourishing your skin is to switch out your moisturizer.
Those with oily skin types are most likely using a lightweight or gel–based moisturizer from their summer skincare routines. As we transition into the colder months, however, even your skin will need a little extra moisture. If you feel like using a different moisturizer twice a day is excessive, you can just use a heavier moisturizer at night and continue to use a lighter one during the day. This one from First Aid Beauty is a great basic that you can use both day and night.
For those with drier skin types, more is more! Now that the weather is getting drier, it’s time to pile on the moisturizer—the thicker the better. Often, thicker moisturizers can be greasy and leave the face looking very shiny. However, this one from Embryolisse is the opposite. It’s a hydrating face cream great for sensitive skin, and it sits very well even under makeup. Quick tip: you can also apply an extra layer of this product before applying makeup, and it acts as a great hydrating primer!
For combination skin types, you can switch out either your nighttime moisturizer or both your day and night moisturizers, depending on whether your skin leans toward a more oily or dry texture. If you find that you’re stuck in a weird in–between because of your combination skin, you can use a more hydrating or dewy moisturizer along with an SPF with some mattifying properties to control the shine. This sunscreen fluid from Hera is a great option!
Another way to tweak your skincare routine for autumn is to incorporate serums or actives, especially to up the hydration.
Serums are a great way to incorporate more concentrated active ingredients into your skin care routine. Hyaluronic acid is a hydrating active ingredient that you can add to your product lineup during drier months. You can apply a hyaluronic acid serum after you clean your face to help lock in the moisture.
Another tip: after you cleanse your face, pat your face dry, and apply a hyaluronic serum while your face is still slightly damp. This is the most effective, as it helps the serum act as a moisture magnet that helps the skin retain existing moisture.
These serums are usually pretty lightweight and can be used by most skin types. This one from Glow Recipe has a very lightweight formula and leaves your skin feeling bouncy and hydrated, and it’s also marked as clean at Sephora!
Lastly, masking is always a great way to hydrate your skin. You can incorporate a hydrating sheet mask or a sleeping mask to your nighttime routine for some intense hydration to recover from windy or especially cold days. Aloe masks are very hydrating, and anything with cica is also soothing. Innisfree has some great sheet masks for all different skin concerns. For drier skin types, sleeping masks might be a great option. You can apply a thick layer of your nighttime moisturizer or a separate sleeping mask as the last step of your routine before bed. This one from Laneige will leave you with healthy, hydrated, and glowing skin the morning after!
These are a few recommendations to help you keep your skin healthy and hydrated! As the seasons change and colder weather creeps up on us, it’s important to take extra care of your skin. And as always, don’t forget to wear SPF, even in the winter! None of the above tips will matter if your skin is sun damaged already.