How To Transition Your Skincare Routine For Fall

As the season transitions from sunny summer to the cooling temperatures of fall, so should our skincare routine. To adjust to these environmental changes, a few adjustments should be made to keep your skin healthy and glowing. With temperatures and humidity levels dropping, our skin can be left feeling dry and dehydrated which can lead to skin sensitivity. In some cases, due to extremes of temperature, you may also notice dulling, redness, blotchy, and irritated skin. So, when we venture out this fall, just as we take extra steps to protect our bodies from the cold, we should add extra layers to our skincare! With experience that spans more than 20 years in the luxury skincare industry, our expert Jill Baxter-Smelley dished on tips to keep your skin healthy this fall.

OPT FOR A GENTLE NOURISHING CLEANSER

Cleansing each day keeps the skin issues at bay. This applies to all seasons. But, in the fall, opt for a more nourishing and gentle cleanser.

"As our skin becomes drier, your skin needs a non-drying, sulfate-free cleanser that will ensure the skin barrier is protected and not stripped of its natural oils which causes more dryness," said Baxter-Smelley. A favorite is ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm which also doubles as a nourishing mask for a boost of hydration. The nine active aromas paired with the luxurious balm texture have earned it the name of ‘spa in a jar’ by beauty insiders and industry experts. Make sure to cleanse daily morning and evening and mask at least twice each week!

KEEP YOUR SKIN’S PH BALANCED

Why is this important? Baxter-Smelley explained, “By balancing your skin’s pH levels you are helping to prevent it from drying out. This is crucial especially during the fall and winter seasons in which your skin is already exposed to elements that can dry it out.”
To balance the pH levels daily, she suggests using a non-alcohol-based toner such as ELEMIS Apricot Toner which leaves the skin soothed and calmed. Simply spritz it onto your skin and leave it on for extra hydration or apply it to a cotton ball and wipe it gently over your face.

LATHER ON CREAM EXFOLIATORS

During each season, exfoliating your skin helps remove dry or dead skin cells and unclog pores, revealing glowing skin underneath. By skipping this step in your weekly skincare routine, you could be preventing certain products from properly penetrating your skin - including your moisturizer.

“Stick to exfoliating 2 to 3 times per week but use a cream exfoliator. This helps prevent irritation during fall or winter - seasons in which our skin can become more sensitive or irritated due to extremes in temperature,” said Baxter-Smelley.

A fan favorite is the ELEMIS Papaya Enzyme Peel. Simply apply a thin layer to the skin and let the magic happen. Natural papaya and pineapple enzymes gently dissolve dead skin cells – revealing a brighter, healthier complexion.

REINFORCE YOUR SKIN’S BARRIER

During winter you may have heard many times to protect the skin barrier. But, what is the skin barrier?

“This is the outermost layer of your skin that consists of cells and lipids (fat). This barrier serves as a protective shield against environmental aggressors. If your barrier is healthy your skin is healthy. Why? Because a healthy barrier prevents dehydration and slows down trans-epidermal water loss. When exposed to the daily atmosphere, this barrier can become impaired causing blotchy skin, breakouts, rashes, dry flaky skin,” explained Baxter-Smelley.

To add an extra layer of protection and strengthen your skin’s barrier each day, she suggests incorporating serums or nutritive oils into your fall/winter skincare routine. Serums can be used under your moisturizer to give an extra layer of hydration and protection as your skin learns to cope with the changing environment while nutritive oils protect your skin by penetrating deeper, trapping moisture, and infusing your skin with powerful ingredients. With this in mind, take a look at a few suggestions below.

ELEMIS Hydra Boost Serum:
This delicate serum offers instant hydration. Consider it a glass of water for the skin. Hyaluronic Acid replenishes lost moisture and increases the water content in the skin while protecting the natural moisture barrier. Apply 2-3 pumps on to your palms of your hands and massage this delicate serum on to the face and neck.

ELEMIS Superfood Facial Oil:
This highly concentrated superfood oil deeply nourishes and hydrates the skin. Its lightweight, non-greasy texture easily absorbs into the skin leaving it balanced, hydrated, and protected with ingredients such as broccoli, flaxseed, daikon radish, and cucumber oils. Apply 3-4 drops to your hands. Inhale the gentle aroma then apply to the face and neck morning and evening. This can be used alone or under your night treatment.

BOOST MOISTURE A.M. & P.M.

When choosing moisturizers for fall, opt for those that provide an extra boost of moisture but also have added benefits like wrinkle-reducing ingredients to ensure any damage caused to your skin during the previous summer months is also being treated and repaired. Also, make sure your fall and winter moisturizers have SPF included.

“Never underestimate the power of UV rays in the fall and winter. They are there. SPF should be a year-round commitment,” said Baxter-Smelley.

We suggest opting for the award-winning ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30 which is clinically proven to increase hydration by 177% in 1 hour and helps reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles in 14 days. And don’t forget your night cream!

“In the evening, skin hydration decreases, and it goes into repair mode working hard to repair damage from our daily lifestyle. Therefore, choosing the most effective moisturizer is almost as important as getting your 8 hours of beauty sleep,” said Baxter-Smelley.

Whether you have oily, dry, sensitive, or combination skin, your skincare needs change with each season. For more personalized advice, talk to our complimentary VIP Concierge.