Fall is officially here! Summer has a reputation for leaving skin dealing with residual effects of sun, heat and humidity exposure leaving it with discoloration, dullness and uneven texture. This doesn’t mean you need a totally new routine, it just means you need to reset a bit!
Fall is a great time for a skincare reset for a few reasons. We naturally tend to become more consistent with our schedules during this time, summer can be one of the rougher seasons on our skin, so some of its effects may be more noticeable, and the weather (at least here in Minnesota!) is a little more forgiving than the extremes of summer and winter.
Solar exposure is generally lower in the fall than in summer, and humidity and dew point are typically higher than they are during our cold, dry Minnesota winters.
What does it mean to reset in the skincare world?
To me, a fall reset means:
Evaluate
Simplify
Address what needs to change, both at home and professionally
Get back to consistency
Evaluate
To evaluate your skin, start with freshly cleansed skin. Take a close look - and don’t be afraid to use your hand (clean, of course!) and touch it.
Look and feel for:
Uneven pigmentation or dark spots
More congestion (blackheads) or rougher texture
Dullness or tightness/dryness
Redness or inflammation
Any breakouts
Fine lines and wrinkles that seem more noticeable than before
Simplify
Seeing one or more of these things doesn’t necessarily mean your at-home routine needs more steps - or that you need all new products.
In fact, fewer steps and the right products can often make it easier to stay consistent.
And consistency is key in skincare. Skincare ingredients work through repeated, appropriate use over time. Adding more products isn’t always the answer.
Many of these concerns overlap, and some can contribute to others. To address most everyday skincare concerns at home, a simple routine of cleansing, treating, hydrating and protecting - with exfoliation when appropriate - is a great place to start.
If your skin is experiencing redness, irritation, dryness or tightness, I would address those concerns first and before adding more aggressive actives. These can be signs that your skin barrier needs some extra support.
Supporting the barrier with gentle products, soothing ingredients and ingredients such as ceramides can help the skin become more resilient and better able to tolerate active ingredients.
Active breakouts may be the next concern to address. Depending on your skin and what is causing the breakouts, ingredients such as AHAs, BHAs and retinoids may be helpful.
Some of my favorite ingredients include mandelic acid, azelaic acid and niacinamide.
Uneven pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles can then be addressed - or they may be the first priority if your skin is otherwise healthy, balanced and comfortable.
Many of the same ingredients used to address breakouts can also help with pigmentation and signs of aging. I personally like glycolic acid for fine lines and wrinkles if your skin can tolerate it. It’s smaller molecular size allows it to penetrate the skin effectively, but that can also mean a greater potential for irritation and dryness.
Non-Topical Things You Should Consider
Because the systems in our body are interconnected, taking inventory of your stress, sleep and nutrition can also be helpful when thinking about your skin.
Stress and poor sleep can influence inflammatory pathways and the skin barrier, while overall dietary patterns can also play a role in skin health. That doesn't mean you need to overhaul your entire lifestyle to have healthy skin - but small changes can add up.
Improving your sleep habits, finding ways to manage stress, and limiting highly processed foods, added sugar and alcohol may support your overall health - and your skin along with it.
Sometimes the biggest skincare wins aren't found in products alone.
Professional Treatments
Professional treatments can help support and accelerate progress toward your skincare goals.
I made (well, AI made!) a chart to give you an idea of which services may be helpful for different skin concerns.
Keep in mind that this is very general advice. Your skin may need something completely different depending on its current condition, your goals and what you're already doing at home.
And as always, I'm here to help if you need guidance.
Thanks for reading!
Aliza xo
