As the summer starts to wind down, it’s time to think about a new game plan for the fall season because our skin never stands still. It constantly responds or reacts to its environment, either intrinsically with diet, hormones, medications, and illness or extrinsically by pollution, sun exposure and heating.
Post-summer is a great time to focus your efforts on upping your skincare routine, especially after many months outdoors. Even if we are diligent with sunscreen and avoid the strongest sun rays during peak hours, we accumulate some sun damage over the summer season. Therefore, the time right after summer is an ideal time to start the process of damage repair.
Whether you’re dealing with sun-induced damage and pigmentation, dryness and dehydration, or acne, here are the best ways to look after your skin ahead of the fall season.
Vitamin C for hyperpigmentation
After increased time in the sun, you might be suffering from pigmentation. The best way to tackle pigmentation at home is… Vitamin C. Vitamin C is one of the most studied, most evidence-based, and most beneficial molecules in modern active skincare products.
If you want to tackle pigmentation as we move into autumn, include a Vitamin C serum like YONKA Vitamin C20 featuring Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, an all-natural, oil-soluble form of Vitamin C. This powerful blend will dramatically improve radiance and luminosity while delivering an instant moisture surge. Native turmeric and pomegranate cells help intensify the multi-corrective actions of Vitamin C as they combine to help improve skin firmness and unify skin tone by minimizing the appearance of dark spots and illuminating the complexion. Apricot Kernel Oil, rich in phytosterols, helps moisturize and comfort skin.
Mask it up!
When September rolls around, it can be an ideal time to invest more time into your skincare, especially if you are experiencing breakouts or congestion. In the summer, increased heat and heavier products like sunscreens may lead to more follicular blockages and acne breakouts.
FarmHouse Fresh’s Splendid Dirt Mask to the rescue! Illite and U.S.-harvested Bentonite clays have very high absorption capacity that pull impurities, toxins, and excess sebaceous oils from the skin’s surface while purifying and detoxifying. Blood circulation and oxygenation is improved, bringing a radiant glow to skin through rich mineral content including calcium, potassium, magnesium, and silicon among others. Organic Oregon pumpkin puree is high in antioxidants, vitamins A, C & E, and beta carotene, an excellent free radical fighter. Yogurt is full of natural fats and lactic acid which smooth and soften skin.
Up the hydration
If your skin is feeling particularly sun-parched, it’s time to up the ante on hydration. As always, the hero ingredient here is hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a structural molecule found throughout the body that acts as a natural ‘humectant,’ meaning that it draws water to itself. Hyaluronic acid in skincare utilizes this humectant effect to draw water to the skin and act as a moisturizer. Apply a hyaluronic acid-packed serum or moisturizer to your skin morning and night.
We think you’ll absolutely fall in love with our favorite hyaluronic product. Drench your skin in a moisturizing FHF Hyaluronic Booster that contains 4 Forms of Hyaluronic Acid- Vitamin C, B5, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, and Parsley Extract to target multiple layers of skin by forming a matrix that brings hydration and the appearance of plumped, bouncy skin.
Hit Elan Brio Spa for a Facial!
To really get your face feeling soft and glowing, why not treat yourself to a facial? As the season transitions from summer to autumn, the skin needs to be balanced and repaired in readiness for the cooler climate and the lower humidity caused by central heating. This is a great time to visit us for a professional customized facial.
Check out our Seasonal Facials. We create them based on the needs of the time of the year. This fall will focus on repairing sun damage and strengthening underlying tissue. We are also very excited about the addition of Hydrafacial to our aesthetics department. All we can say is WOW – the results have been amazing!
Upgrade your body care regime.
While we often remember to take care of our face, we sometimes neglect the skin on our bodies. After a summer of showing more skin, this is the ideal time to change that. Skin can often become very dry at the end of summer due to swimming pools and outdoor activities like golf, tennis, and more exposure to the elements.
Taking time to moisturize your body every day is very important. Believe it or not your skin is the body’s largest organ. Starting with a fresh canvas is important. Using a body polish or scrub helps to remove dead, dull skin cells, and allows moisture to penetrate your skin. There are different types of body polish/scrubs for you to choose from. All scrubs have an exfoliating agent such as salt, sugar, crushed shells and even sand. Most are mixed with a type of oil or cleansing agent. Choosing natural ingredients that are finely milled will avoid damage to skin. Gently use circular movements over your entire body paying more attention to rough areas like elbows and knees. Let the product do the work! * Be extra careful if using in the shower. The oils can make the bath/shower very slippery! Our favorite scrub at the moment is FHF Sunny Dippin! A sugar-whipped polish that foams into a rich, milky lather and smells like an Orange Creamsicle!
Apply your moisturizer or body oil while you are still damp from your bath. It will help lock in moisture. Don’t forget your SPF on any areas that will be exposed.
Check your lifestyle.
A 360 approach to skincare is always important. After a summer of fun and festival foods, it can be nice to look at our diet and lifestyle once again as we hunker down for fall & winter. Hydrating our inside is even more important than our outside. I installed an app on my phone that reminds me to take a drink of water. It has helped me hit my goal of 3 liters a day. Getting enough sleep and exercising are all essential to your skin health. Hit up the last few weeks of farmers markets and take advantage of all the fresh fruits and vegetables to feed your skin from the inside.
Summary
Summer fun takes a toll on all skin types, no matter how careful you were about sunscreen or chlorine exposure. The cool, dry air heralding the arrival of autumn brings with it its own skin challenges. It’s important to take the time to properly treat your skin and start up a new skin regimen geared towards both healing the damage already done and protecting from future damage.