Tips To Transition Your Skin From Summer To Fall
Cooler air, cozy blankets, sweet ciders, and the changing colors of the leaves are tell-tale signs that summer is officially over. Wherever you may live, the weather and the leaves aren’t the only things that are changing. Your skin is changing too! Our skin, our biggest organ, protects us from the environment and so it adapts with the changes. Here’s a few things we’ve learned about our skin and tips to help your skin stay healthy and glowing as our season transitions from summer to fall.
Summers are brutal to the skin even with the best SPF. From ultraviolet rays and pollution to chlorinated pools and saltwater, our skin is constantly being exposed. The transition from summer to fall allows our skin the time it needs to recover and prepare for the colder months ahead. But before our skin can effectively absorb heavier creams, it has to restore itself from summer and here’s how you can help your skin do its job for effectively.
Towards the end of summer, we may have a few dark spots, our skin may feel a bit rough and look a bit dull. It’s totally normal and it’s nothing to fear. Here’s where you come in. Repairing your skin is important because keeping your skin healthy and in return it will prevent breakouts and dry skin spells as the weather gets cooler and the air gets dryer. Adding antioxidants will help speed up the recovery process. Antioxidants are amazing for your body and skin. Not only do they scavenge free radicals to promote a brighter, more even complexion, they’re also the superstars at minimizing fine lines and keeping your skin looking rejuvenated.
One of our favorite antioxidants from Japan is green tea. Green tea contains a powerful antioxidant called EGCG that fights DNA damage from UV rays to prevent skin cancer and to rejuvenate dying skin cells. Green tea also contain vitamin B-2, which helps maintain collagen levels to keep your skin looking more youthful. In addition to its an antioxidant property, it also has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties as well, which soothe irritation and acne.
Tip: Look for green tea in your cleanser and exfoliator to repair your summer skin damages. Just as important as using products with antioxidants, it’s also important to include them in your diet. (Stay tune, we’ll teach you how to make a super yummy drink that’s good for your skin and you!).
In mid to late October, you may start to notice flaky and sometimes irritated red spots on your skin. Less humidity is a big contributor to this and as it gets colder, it’s going to get dryer. When there’s not as much moisture in the air, it means there’s less moisture for your skin. Cooler air and lower humidity during the fall can rob your skin of hydration by drawing out moisture and causes a breakdown in the skin barrier. To add to the change in weather, we use central heating to keep us warm inside. This air is usually hot and dry which contributes to your skin feels tight, dry, and more sensitive than normal.
Tip: You can help minimize the effects the cold weather and low humidity with proper hydration. First, if you haven’t been drinking the recommended amount of water, this is the time to start and make it a healthy habit for your body and skin. Next, swap for a hydrating toner and moisturizer with ingredients like Glycerin, Ceramides, and Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid). These ingredients are especially hydrating and nourishing and helps to replenish lost moisture, which will plump up your skin for a more rejuvenated appearance.
Starting in November, you may start to notice your skin breaking out or you may notice a few pimples here and there. You may be tempted to start wash your face more often, but before you start doing more skincare, look at what you're putting into our body. Interestingly, most people fail to realize the effects of diet associated with skin health. What you put in your body is just, if not more important than what you apply on to your body. With the holiday parties and sweater weather, we tend to eat more of the foods we would probably try to limit during the spring and summer months, such as refined carbohydrates and dairy. Refined carbohydrates include bread, pasta, rice, desserts and sweeteners like cane sugar or agave.
Tip: We love food! It’s hard to resist the heavy carbs, sweet drinks, and let’s not forget, the dessert table at a holiday party. Good skin health doesn’t mean you can’t have it, you can, but in moderation. We like to balance the good with the bad by incorporating skin supporting food, like tofu and seaweed.
Transitioning your skin from summer to fall doesn’t mean a whole new routine, just a few changes to what you apply on and what you put in will do. It first starts with repairing summer skin damages by adding antioxidants, swapping for a hydrating toner and moisturizer with Glycerin, Ceramides, or Hyaluronic Acid, and having a balance diet. There you have it, healthy glowing skin, no matter the season!