As the weather cools down with the arrival of fall, you might start to notice several changes in the texture and appearance of your skin. Thankfully, a few changes in your skincare routine can remedy any fall time dryness. Keep reading to find out how you can keep your skin dewy and radiant this autumn.
In this article, you will learn:
- What Kind of Changes You’ll See in Your Skin This Fall
- How to Optimize Your Fall Skincare Routine
What Kind of Changes Do We See in Our Skin in the Fall Time Climate?
As we say goodbye to summertime activities and swap our short sleeves for cozy knit sweaters, it’s common to notice changes in the appearance and feel of your skin.
The post summer, cooler falltime climate doesn’t just impact your choice in outfits, but your skincare needs as well. “The colder air generally has lower moisture content and tends to dry out the skin,” shares leading dermatologist Dr. Ahmad Chaudhry M.D. When your skin is low on hydration, its defenses are also lower. This is because moisture is crucial to maintaining its protective hydrolipidic barrier, a fatty layer over the skin which consists of sebum, lipids, and water. Without proper hydration, this barrier is compromised, leading to skin concerns like irritation, redness, and acne, among others.
“As the cooler weather moves in during the fall and into the winter, our skin can start to feel much drier. [For that reason], it’s even common for people to develop more acne,” adds board-certified dermatologist Dr. Erum N. Ilyas, MD, FAAD.
5 Changes You Should Be Making to Your Skincare Routine This Fall, According to Dermatoligists
During the fall months, “the skin begins to produce less sebum. While this may keep the skin from getting as oily as it does in the summer, it also loses moisture much faster and tends to look dry, dull, and even cracked if not taken care of properly,” explains Dr. Chaudhry. So what can we do about it? Simply said, “With the changing weather, changes need to be made in our skin-care routines as well.”
1. Increase the Hydration
If your skin is feeling dry despite keeping up your skincare routine, it might be time to add in or swap a step for extra hydration. “The moisturizer you've been using through summer might not help as much anymore. Those with particularly dry skin, especially, will need to shift to a moisturizer with higher lipid content,” says Dr. Chaudhry.
“Keeping our skin well hydrated with a non-comedogenic moisturizer is key,” adds Dr. Ilyas. “It helps to use a moisturizer twice a day, morning and night. It also helps to switch from lotions to creams in the fall [since] creams are a bit thicker and can moisturize more effectively.”
The Circcell Choice: Just adding a few drops of Nancy’s Blend to your cream for a rich dose of hydrating botanical oils might be all you need to keep your skin feeling deeply moisturized and dewy. This silky and lightweight oil harnesses fermentation technology to help it penetrate more deeply into skin and deliver a maximum amount of hydration to parched skin, which is ideal for your fall skincare needs.
Shop the nourishing botanical oil here.
Bonus tip: Add the excess cream onto the tops of your hands to prevent them from becoming dry or cracked.
2. Opt for Gentle Cleansers
Here’s a simple rule of thumb: when the weather is dry, avoid the use of stripping cleansers. “Overwashing your face is not a good idea in any season, but particularly needs to be avoided in fall and winter as it strips the moisture away from the skin,” warns Dr. Chaudhry. “Using a gentle cleanser [is key] as you transition to fall and winter. This will help avoid over-drying the skin with harsh irritating ingredients,” adds Dr. Ilyas.
The Circcell Choice: We recommend ditching your stripping foaming cleansers with a creamy textured option that creates a rich lather with the help of nourishing oils. Circcell’s Mandarin Cleansing Milk is a nonstripping, luxuriously creamy cleanser that works to fades age spots and under-eye circles as it rebalances the skin and protects from environmental stress.
Shop the creamy cleansing milk here.
Bonus tip: When washing your skin, whether it’s at the sink or in the shower, avoid the temptation of using hot water. “As the temperatures start to cool, try to avoid hot showers. The hotter the shower, the more your skin will dry out,” warns Dr. Ilyas. “Try keeping a bottle of moisturizer in the shower and applying it as soon as your shower is over. You may be more likely to use it and it will be more effective to trap the moisture from the shower on your skin.” - Dr. Ilyas
3. Keep Exfoliation to a Minimum
When our skin is dry and flaky, you may feel the need to exfoliate more to try to remove the flaky skin. “I recommend attempting to hydrate your skin instead,” advises Dr. Ilyas. “Exfoliating occasionally is perfectly ok to do, however, if you do this too much, your skin will start to feel raw and sensitive.”
The Circcell Choice: Once a week, apply a brightening exfoliating mask like the Fruition Brightening and Exfoliating Mask. This will work to instantly revive your skin and gently remove dead skin cells so it can better accept hydration from your moisturizers.
4. Don’t Skip the UV Protection
You may not find yourself outside as often, but that’s no reason to ditch your sun protection. “The sun may seem calmer and the days may appear darker [in the fall], but the UV rays are there, just the same,” advises Dr. Chaudhry. In other words, excessive exposure to UV radiation can harm the skin and damage its appearance at any time of year. “Sunscreen should remain an essential part of your daily skin-care routine, not to be skipped under any circumstance.”
5. Use a Humidifier
To combat the effects of the dry autumn air on your skin, you may want to consider a humidifier. “If your skin is particularly prone to dryness, it helps to use a humidifier. As we turn the heat up indoors, the air can start to feel drier. A humidifier is a great way to add moisture back to the air,” recommends Dr. Ilyas.