Autumn is the season of transition. The leaves become vibrant hues of yellow, red, and orange before gracefully falling to the ground; depending on where you are in the world, the winds can shift and warm the breeze or cool the air to a frost. The slight mildness of the season is an opportunity to address lingering damage from the sun, saltwater, and chlorine of the summer. However, the seasonal switch can take a toll on your skin - but you don’t have to find yourself with dry, tired skin this fall. All it takes is knowledge of the proven secrets to nourish and revitalize your skin, no matter what the weather is like that day.
1. Take a tall drink of water
One integral aspect to hydrating your skin is supplying your body with plenty of water. Hydrating supplements like fish oil provide a natural boost of moisture, from the inside out.
2. Take warm - but not too warm - showers
As the nights get colder, it's common to feel a strong urge to take a steaming, warm shower. However, it’s essential to keep your skin at the forefront of your mind on a chilly autumn night. Hot water can strip your skin of vital layers of moisture. Shower with lukewarm water for five to ten minutes to gently rehydrate your skin and finish off with a cold rinse. A gentle shower gel can help moisturize skin suffering from seasonal dryness. After your shower, apply rich, oil-based lotions to damp skin to lock in moisture. Body moisturizers packed with grape seed oil provide lightweight yet penetrating moisture.
3. Preemptively protect your hands
Your hands encounter the harshness of fall first. It’s important to protect the sensitive skin of your hands as the first line of defense against the drier seasons. Hand creams that balance moisture with lightweight formulas are ideal for active hands. Protective emollients combat everyday wear from the chilling wind while refreshing scents provide a delightful escape from daily pressures. Look for creams that have soothing and healing ingredients like aloe vera and jojoba. Keep a small tube of hand cream at your desk, by your bed, or in your bag.
4. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate!
While it’s vital to moisturize your skin, it’s necessary to strip the damaged, tired skin before you lather up. Use body scrubs to exfoliate with added exfoliants to help remove dead skin twice weekly. The small sugar particles found in many body scrubs are compact topical exfoliants. Sugar particles remove dead cells from the surface to reveal glowing skin underneath. Sugar’s capacity as a natural humectant draws moisture from the environment and infuses it into your skin, as well. Sugar is also a natural source of glycolic acid, which encourages the growth of new cells and treats damaged and aging skin. Sugar possesses the power to exfoliate, cleanse, and replenish every time you cleanse.
5. Add creamier lotions and moisturizers with antioxidants into your routine
Autumn is an opportune time to moisturize your skin and address summer damage and prepare for the harshness of winter. Richer creams supply your skin with much-needed moisture and nutrients anywhere on your body. Oil-and-shea-based body butters and moisturizers help soothe cracked heels, elbows, and knees. The vitamin-rich ingredients help maintain your skin’s elasticity and stimulate the body’s collagen production, thus prepping your skin for winter ahead. And don’t forget to choose a cream that contains a good dose of antioxidants to protect your skin from the environment.
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