During the summer months, the air is more humid, keeping moisture in your skin and protecting it from damage.
But during the colder fall and winter months, the air is much drier, both outside, and especially inside our homes when heaters and furnaces are being used. And because of this, our skin becomes prone to losing its moisture.
Below, we’ll go over 10 proven tips to help you transition your skincare routine for the cold months ahead!
#1 - Start Using A Facial Oil
Facial oils can be used year-round, but as the temperature starts to drop, using one can be extra beneficial to your skin.
A facial oil such as our Bakuchiol Day Serum works best when worn under a moisturizer.
The air gets drier during the transition into the colder months. So we need to make up for this dryness by adding more moisture to our skin. Especially on our faces, which are almost always exposed to the air.
Using a facial oil, such as our Restorative Facial Oil, ensures the skin on your face will be hydrated and protected from the cold air.
One of the best things about using facial oils is that they work for all skin types.
So whether you have dry skin, oily skin, or a combination skin type, you can use facial oils to re-balance your skin and restore a naturally healthy complexion.
#2 - Boost Your Skin's Collagen and Elastin Production With Natural Foods
Our skin is made up of two essential proteins: collagen and elastin, which are responsible for keeping our skin firm and full-looking.
However, as we age, these natural proteins are gradually depleted.
This reduction in collagen and elastin levels often leads to dry skin, wrinkles, and sagginess.
Fortunately, we can help boost our skin’s collagen and elastin levels by consuming a variety of healthy, protein-rich foods such as:
- Beans and lentils
- Dark green veggies
- Fish such as salmon (omega-3 fatty acid)
- Shellfish
- Fermented soy products
- Nuts and seeds
- Eggs
By adding these skin-healthy foods to our diets, we'll be keeping ourselves healthy, while also improving our skin.
#3 - Avoid Retinoids And Reduce The Use Of Harsh Exfoliants
Dermatologists recommend avoiding retinoids and decreasing the use of exfoliants as we make our way into the autumn and winter months.
During the more humid months of the year, the air's natural moisture helps buffer the irritation caused by retinoids and exfoliant products. Therefore, using these products is less harsh during the warmer months because our skin tends to be oilier, making it less prone to dryness and sensitivity.
On the other hand, drier, colder air doesn't mix so well with products containing retinoids and harsh exfoliants.
After all, during fall and winter, your skin is already fighting to stay hydrated and healthy.
So when you start applying products that are known to irritate and dry out your skin, you're only making it harder to keep it looking happy and healthy.
Our Green Tea & Neem Facial Scrub provides a gentle exfoliation that is safe to use year-round. During warmer months, I use it weekly, however, when the weather starts getting cold, I decrease to every other week.
#4 - Consider Taking A Vitamin C Supplement
I bet you've heard that Vitamin C is great for fighting off colds.
But did you know that it can also work wonders as a skincare supplement during the colder months of the year?
Not only does this immune-boosting vitamin help fight off viruses and bacteria, but Vitamin C is known to help even out skin coloration by boosting collagen production, in turn, resulting in a brighter, healthier complexion.
#5 - Don't Forget The Sunscreen.
Since there's less daylight during the colder months, we often forgo applying sunscreen during this time of year.
However, even though UV radiation is significantly reduced during the autumn and winter months, it's still present and can damage skin if precautions are taken.
Wearing sunscreen year round helps decrease UV exposure, which is known to accelerate and increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Dermatologists recommended using an SPF of at least 30.
#6 - Use Lip Balms And Eye Creams
If our next two items aren't already part of your daily natural skincare routine, they should be, especially during the colder months.
Just like the skin on the rest of our bodies, our lips and eyes need a bit of extra care around this time of year.
Therefore, I recommend using lip balms and eye creams, like our Revitalizing Eye Cream, to help keep your skin healthy and looking its best when it starts getting cold outside.
#7 - Use A Humidifier
Along with staying on top of your regular skincare routine, it's also a good idea to invest in a humidifier during the colder months.
By adding moisture into the air, humidifiers make the environment inside our homes much more skin-friendly. After all, the more moisture there is in the air, the more moisture there is for our skin.
If you burn wood, add a kettle full of water on top of your stove to help with humidity. Same goes for electrical baseboard heaters - adding a jar full of water helps. Remember to refill regularly.
#8 - Replace Your Mass-Produced Body Wash
One of the simplest but most important ways to elevate your fall skincare is to replace mass-produced body wash with a body wash or soap that uses natural ingredients.
Not only are these mass-produced products full of harmful ingredients, but they also don’t offer as many health benefits for our skin as natural products do.
In fact, many mass-produced body washes and soaps contain hidden toxic ingredients, such as parabens, phthalates and petrochemicals.
These chemicals are often not well-understood and could cause lasting damage to our health, without even knowing about it until it’s too late!
When replacing body wash or soap, look for labels with natural, easy-to-read ingredients, such as our Colloidal Oatmeal and Nettle Soap. Avoid any harsh chemicals and prioritize natural ingredients over those with fragrances.
#9 - Start Moisturizing Daily
Moisturizing daily with a quality product is of the utmost importance, especially around this time of year.
As the air dries out in the fall season, our entire bodies are at risk of losing natural moisture and becoming sensitive. By incorporating a thorough daily moisturizing routine, we can stop the risk of dry skin in its tracks.
When applying moisturizers to key areas such as face, hands, body, and legs, we not only protect ourselves from dryness and irritation, but we also prevent the signs of early-ageing so we can feel better about ourselves overall.
In addition to other healthy fall skincare habits, selecting a quality moisturizer with clean, natural ingredients will also help balance our complexion.
Certain body butters and lotions can help you take the next step in soothing skin, setting it up for year-round health.
#10: Get Some Rest
We can use all of the highest quality products that are offered, but without proper rest, our skin won’t look or feel its best.
It may seem unrelated to our skin care routine, but getting adequate rest and relaxation actually has a direct impact on our skin.
Be sure to get adequate, good-quality sleep as much as possible to ensure your skin functions well and retains its natural moisture.
Additionally, a lack of sleep can prevent our skin from looking its best due to puffiness, redness and irritation, resulting in an unbalanced complexion.
So make sure that as the seasons change, we take the time to get enough sleep, which is the secret ingredient to our best-looking skin this fall and winter!
Frequently Asked Questions About Fall Skin Care - F.A.Q.
Should I exfoliate during the fall/winter?
As the seasons change and the weather cools down, dermatologists recommend that you exfoliate less. In particular, you should avoid harsh exfoliants and retinoids in your skincare routine during this time of the year.
The loss of your skin’s natural oils during the colder months reduces the buffer that usually protects it from harsh exfoliants. Additionally, because the air is dryer around this time of year, you’re already prone to experiencing sensitivity, irritation, and redness.
However, some gentle exfoliation is not out of the question, especially if this is a key part of your routine.
Gentle products, like our Green Tea & Neem Facial Scrub are excellent for use during all seasons and offer a gentle, refreshing touch to your fall and winter skincare routine.
Do facial oils worsen acne?
Facial oils are safe for use on all skin types and do not worsen acne.
Formulated with non-comedogenic oils, they are designed to bring balance to your skin’s natural biome and can work with your existing products to improve your complexion.
And once again, as the winter season draws nearer, the dry air can decrease the natural moisture in your skin. So by using a natural facial oil to restore this healthy moisture, you reduce your risk of acne, and stay protected from the elements, naturally!
Lastly, depending on the types of facial oils you use, you can reduce your skin’s level of pore-clogging sebum that some moisturizers cause.
Therefore, when facial oils are used that contain natural, healthy ingredients like our Restorative Facial Oil or our Bakuchiol Day Serum, they can eliminate acne-causing bacteria and help remove dead skin cells for a clean, clear, and naturally gorgeous complexion!
What Type of SPF should I use?
When selecting a sunscreen, make sure you adhere to the recommendations of dermatologists.
Your sunscreen should have at least SPF 30 to protect your skin from sun damage and the resulting risks.
When putting sunscreen on your face, be sure to select a product that is designed for facial skin. This can prevent irritation and clogged pores from products that are meant only to be used on your body.
Be aware that even though you are wearing sunscreen, you’re never 100% protected from the sun’s UVB rays. Of course, higher SPF options offer better protection, but you will want to exercise caution and limit direct exposure to the sun.
What type of ingredients should I avoid in my skincare products?
In the fall, dermatologists suggest that you stay away from retinoids in your skincare products because they only worsen skin conditions brought on by the cold and dry air this time of year brings.
Although many rely on retinol creams and products to help with their acne, incorporating other elements, such as a natural facial oil, can be a better choice for your skin.
Retinols and other harsh products can enhance the sensitivity of your skin this time of year.
Fall And Winter Skincare Tips
There's plenty to love about fall and winter.
But the changing air temperature and lack of humidity aren't always so kind to our skin.
That’s why it’s important to take some time to re-think your natural skincare routine, to ensure that your skin is ready for the winter months to come!
For yet another natural way to moisturize and keep your skin looking it's best, try our Healing Body Butter. Not only do our all-natural products help keep your skin moisturized, they’re also chemical-free, so you can feel good about using them!
Want to learn more about natural skincare?
Download my Complete Guide to Natural Skin Care, and learn all there is to know about keeping your skin happy and healthy naturally.
