Well, do you?
I'm not here to sell you new things just because the seasons are changing.
Only you can know if there's something that isn't currently working in your skincare routine.
When I first started making and sharing my skincare products with you back in 2015, my intention was to create one simple set of products that would holistically balance and heal every skin type, no matter the season.
This intention hasn't changed.
In fact, any changes I've made to my skincare collection in recent years have been an effort to get even closer to my original goal of offering the most simple, sustainable routine with a basic set of products that work for everyone.
My skincare advice never changes.
No matter the season.
No matter your skin type.
No matter your individual skin concerns.
I will always tell you to cleanse, tone, and moisturize daily using natural, skin-barrier supportive products, which can all be found in the Starter Skincare Set.
Literally, every single person who comes to me for advice gets the exact same response.
Start there, be consistent with it, and report back in a couple of weeks.
I'm not giving you general advice because I'm a mean person who doesn't care about your special needs, I'm giving you all the same advice because it REALLY IS THAT SIMPLE, despite how complicated other brands try to make it seem.
For more information about how these products support your skin barrier no matter your skin "type," I recommend reading the following article:
What is Microbiome Friendly Skincare?
If you are already following my advice, you probably don't need to change a thing for fall. These products are good year round.
So, how's your routine going?
If it works for you, if your skin feels balanced and moisturized with minimal breakouts, great. Carry on!
But if your skin is having issues, now might be a good time to make a few tweaks to your routine.
So let's talk about the most common issue that comes up as we transition into colder months - dryness.
Combating dry skin in the fall
There's less moisture in the air during the colder months, so naturally, it becomes more difficult for your skin to retain moisture during the fall and winter.
The obvious solution is to moisturize so you can enjoy the season like Mariah here, but I'll get to that in a bit -
because the first and most important thing you can to to combat dry skin is to mind how you wash your face.
Washing your face in the fall
Washing your face with soap, or any kind of foaming, sudsing cleanser - actually, I'll take it a step further and include ANY kind of liquid cleanser that doesn't specifically say it's pH balanced for the face - will weaken your skin barrier.
These kinds of cleansers are too alkaline for your facial skin. They essentially wipe out all of the protective oil that your skin produces naturally, which makes your skin prone to transepidermal water loss, aka dryness, which it then tries to make up for with an over-production of oil. They also destroy all of the good microbes and bacteria that live in your skin barrier layer to fight off acne, consume dead skin cells, and keep everything in balance.
So they're no good for dry or oily/acne prone skin, but they're especially bad for dry skin in the colder months.
Choosing a pH neutral cleanser, such as a powder or oil based cleanser, is the best thing you can do to balance your skin, no matter your skin type or the season.
Obviously, I recommend my powder cleanser and oil, but if you want to use another liquid - water or cream based cleanser - make sure it's pH balanced to around 4.7-5.75. If it doesn't say, skip it.
While we're on the subject of cleansing, let's talk about exfoliating.
You may need to exfoliate less in the fall
Over-scrubbing is just as bad as using a too-alkaline cleanser.
If you have dry skin it's tempting to scrub off all of the flakes, but too much exfoliation can also damage your skin barrier, leading to more dryness.
Try to stick to exfoliating once a week, or less. Get the exfoliating boost on the side, and stick with the ultra-gentle cleansing base for most nights.
The idea, no matter the season, is to remove dirt and makeup/product build up/dead skin cells from your pores as gently as possible, so that your protective barrier layer remains intact.
This (your intact skin barrier) is how your skin thrives, whether it's 100 degrees or 0, regardless of whether you tend to be dry or oily and acne prone.
Now that we've covered cleansing and exfoliating, let's talk toner.
You should really do that, always.
But if you notice that your skin is drier during the fall and winter,
you may want to add a hydrosol to your routine.
A spritz of alcohol-free rose or lavender hydrosol is a great way to add hydration to your skin. However, there's a catch -
you need to follow it with a moisturizer.
If you simply spritz and go, the evaporation of the liquid will pull more moisture away from your skin, which will make you feel even more parched.
But a mist of hydrosol followed by a few drops of facial oil/and or butter is going to make you feel so juicy and glowy!
It sounds like such a silly little extra thing, but it really does make a difference.
If your skin is dry, it's definitely something to consider adding to your routine this fall.
Now, let's talk moisturizing.
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
It seems so obvious, and yet so many of you still don't do it. Why?!
I'm kidding - I get it. You slacked on moisturizing over the summer because you could get away with less in the humidity, you're trying to save money, you're worried about clogging your pores...
But it's time to start moisturizing regularly now, before the temperatures drop.
There are so many options for facial moisturizers in the world, but I recommend starting with oil.
A plant based facial oil will not only replenish your skin's natural oil to help it retain moisture, but it also contains antioxidants, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals to repair your skin and strengthen your skin barrier.
Again, a strong skin barrier = happy, supple, naturally moisturized skin.
If you've never moisturized with oil before, it may feel like too much at first, but after a week or two your skin will come into balance and start soaking it up!
And if you're worried about putting oil on your face, I recommend testing the waters with a lightweight carrier oil - hemp, grapeseed, rosehip, or jojoba are all great options for beginners.
Then, you can add a richer moisturizer on top!
Yes, you can.
Even you, with the oily and acne prone skin.
The shea butter in Butter, and the shea + mango butters + candelilla wax in Filter Balm are non-pore clogging, and they work to form a protective barrier layer to lock in all of the skin-repairing goodness from your hydrosol and facial oil.
I know what you're probably thinking...
No, I'm not!
It may seem like a fancy extra in the summer, but I promise that it's not extra in the fall and winter when the air is much more dry. This time of year, it's a necessity.
For your body too! Over the years I've learned that lots of people never moisturize their bodies, and then they come to me wondering what to do about their dry, itchy arms and legs once the weather turns cold. Well, your body wants to be moisturized too. Start now, and you'll stay comfy!
Finally, be sure to
protect your lips in the fall.
Your lips don't produce oil or have their own barrier layer, so it's important to keep them well moisturized in the fall and winter.
A simple swipe of Balm as you head out into the cold air, then another at bedtime is probably all you need,
but if you forget and end up with chapped lips, exfoliating them often is perfectly appropriate!
Lip Scrub combined with my roll-on blueberry Lip Oil is a great duo for keeping your lips in shape, but you could also gently rub your lips with a damp washcloth if you want to keep it simple.
Just be sure to immediately follow any scrub with more moisturizer.
Lip Oil, Butter and Balm are all great for repairing chapped lips after exfoliating. I recommend experimenting with a mix of all three to find what works for you.
And that's it!
I hope you've picked up a few new tips to keep in mind as we head into fall.
Cheers to another season of balanced skin!
Stefanie
