As autumn leaves begin to fall, so does the humidity, and that means it’s time to modify your skincare routine. Winnipeg’s fall is marked by a decrease in humidity levels, indoor dryness, and chilly outdoors. Your skin becomes drier and more sensitive.
It’s time for a switch-up in your routine to ensure your skin remains supple and radiant!
Here are 10 ways you can adapt your routine:
1. Opt for a Gentler Cleanser:
- Summer: Gel-based or foaming cleansers might have been your go-to to combat excess oil and sweat.
- Fall: Switch to a creamier or hydrating cleanser that doesn’t strip your skin of its natural oils.
2. Amp Up Moisturization:
- Summer: Lightweight, water-based moisturizers are ideal.
- Fall: Consider a richer moisturizer or add a hydrating serum underneath. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and shea butter which help to lock in moisture and strengthen the skin’s barrier.
3. Incorporate Exfoliation:
- Summer: You might have opted for more frequent exfoliation to combat clogged pores.
- Fall: Opt for gentle chemical exfoliants such as AHAs or BHAs daily/weekly and get your monthly professional facial for a thorough unclogging of your pores.
Best Facials for Fall
Seasonal shifts can be a shock to the skin, and as we adapt our daily routines, it is essential to integrate monthly facials.
Here’s what to look for:
- Professional Exfoliation: Over time, dead skin cells accumulate, making your daily skincare routine less effective. Treatments like the HydraFace Treatment and chemical peels provide thorough exfoliation, ensuring your products penetrate deeply.
- Infusion of Professional-Grade Skincare Products: Facials like the OxyGeneo Super Facial offer deep infusion of professional-grade serums tailored to your skin needs, delivering nutrients more effectively than over-the-counter products.
- Smooth Texture with Dermaplaning: A professional dermaplaning session removes the top layer of dead skin cells and peach fuzz, giving a smoother canvas for makeup application and better absorption of skincare products.
4. Don’t Ditch the SPF:
- Summer: Sunscreen is a must (as it should be year-round).
- Fall: Even if you’re spending less time in direct sunlight, UVA/UVB rays still damage your skin. Continue using a broad-spectrum SPF, even on cloudy days.
5. Add or Increase Retinol:
- If you avoided or limited retinol use in the summer due to increased sun sensitivity, fall is a great time to incorporate or ramp up your use. Retinol helps with cell turnover and collagen production. We carry retinol concentrations of 0.3% to 1%. Check out this guide to find the right retinol strength for your skin.
6. Eye Cream and Lip Balm:
- The delicate skin around your eyes and your lips can suffer in cooler, windy weather. Consider incorporating a hydrating eye cream and always have a moisturizing lip balm on hand.
7. Consider a Night Oil:
A nourishing night oil provides an extra layer of hydration and protection, ensuring you wake up with plump, radiant skin.
What night oils should I use in the fall and winter?
Merula oil, prickly pear oil, and rosehip oil are all highly regarded in the skincare world, each offering its unique set of benefits. The choice among these oils often depends on individual skin needs and concerns.
- General hydration needs or oily skin: Marula oil is your best pick.
- Acne-prone skin or concerns about hyperpigmentation or inflammation: Prickly pear oil is the winner.
- Support skin care for scars, wrinkles, or uneven skin tone: Rosehip oil is your friend.
Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:
Marula Oil: Best for general moisturizing, anti-aging needs or oily skin, and improving skin texture.
Origin: The African marula tree fruit contains kernels from which the highly nourishing marula oil is extracted.
Benefits:
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- Rich in antioxidants, especially vitamin C and E.
- Suitable for all skin types, including oily skin, due to its non-greasy texture.
Prickly Pear Oil: Best for brightening the skin, anti-aging, and soothing inflammation.
Origin: The prickly pear cactus, native to the Americas, bears colourful fruit from which the nutrient-rich prickly pear oil is derived.
Benefits:
- Extremely high in vitamins E and K + fatty acids
- Firms and brightens the skin and helps reduce dark spots.
- Offers anti-inflammatory properties, making it great for acne-prone skin.
Rosehip Oil: Best for repairing damaged skin, anti-aging, and reducing scars and hyperpigmentation.
Origin: The wild rose bush is predominantly found in the Andes and similar regions, and is cold-pressed to extract the rejuvenating rosehip oil.
Benefits:
- High in vitamins A and C + linoleic acid
- Supports scar and fine-line reduction.
8. Pay Attention to Your Body:
It’s not just your face that needs extra care. Switch to richer body lotions or creams and consider body oils for areas prone to dryness, like elbows and knees.
Why body oil?
In the fall, as the air becomes cooler and drier, body oil provides an essential layer of hydration, preventing moisture loss and keeping the skin soft. Additionally, it acts as a barrier against harsh environmental elements, ensuring skin remains nourished and radiant throughout the season.
How to Use Body Oil:
When using body oil in your body skincare routine, we recommend applying it after your body lotion or moisturizer. You can also mix a few drops of it with your moisturizer and apply them together.
The case for applying oil after moisturizer: Oils can penetrate moisturizers but not vice versa. By applying the oil after your moisturizer, you’re sealing in the hydration from the moisturizer and providing an additional layer of nourishment.
Ingredients to look for in your body oil:
- Marula oil: Enhances skin elasticity, repairs pollutant damage, calms acne-prone skin, and moisturizes, rejuvenating the complexion.
- Broccoli Seed Oil: Rich in antioxidants, fatty acids, and vitamin C, promoting plump, firm, and hydrated skin.
- Camellia Oil: Rich in Omega-9, is a potent emollient that helps retain skin moisture.
- Rice Bran Oil: Packed with Vitamins E and B, moisturizes and diminishes fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.
- Coconut Oil: An anti-bacterial and moisturizing agent, this oil is rich in lauric acid, vitamin E, and nourishing fatty acids that smoothen the skin.
- Orange Oil: This oil promotes skin clarity, radiance, smoothness, and reduces signs of acne.
- Peppermint Oil: Soothes dry and irritated skin.
- Vanilla: Rich in B vitamins and antioxidants that protect the skin from environmental damage and toxins.
9. Stay Hydrated:
Drink plenty of water to help keep your skin hydrated from the inside out.
10. Monitor and Adjust:
Everyone’s skin is unique. What works best for one person in the fall might not work for another. Pay attention to how your skin responds and adjust your routine as needed. Our expert Total Wrapture skin technicians use a UV Skin Scanner to show in-depth mapping of your skin and help determine what skincare ingredients you need.
Your 5 Fall Skincare Routine Essentials
AM Routine
- Cleanser: Start with a gentle, hydrating cleanser. Considering Winnipeg’s dryer autumn air: It’s essential to cleanse without stripping your skin’s natural oils.
- Toner: Post-cleansing, a hydrating, alcohol-free toner will help balance your skin’s pH and ensure it is ready to absorb the subsequent products.
- Serums: Vitamin C serums can be beneficial in the morning. They not only brighten but also protect the skin from free radicals and potential UV damage.
- AHAs: Alpha Hydroxy Acids, such as glycolic or lactic acid, exfoliate the skin, promote cell turnover, and brighten the complexion. Because they can make your skin sensitive to the sun, using a good SPF afterward is non-negotiable.
- Moisturizer & SPF: A moisturizer that protects your skin barrier from moisture loss helps your skin avoid dryness in the fall. No matter the season, SPF is crucial. Even in overcast conditions, UV rays can penetrate the skin. A hydrating moisturizer with broad-spectrum SPF protection can incorporate both steps on busy days.
PM Routine
- Cleanser: Cleanse with a gentle, hydrating formula to remove the day’s grime and makeup.
- Toner: Rebalance with your hydrating toner.
- Serums or Night Oil: A hydrating night oil offers an added barrier of moisture and defence to wake up with supple, glowing skin. If you are using serums, opt for hydrating serums with ingredients like hyaluronic acid that can lock in moisture overnight. Switch between serums and night oils to give your skin extra tools for rejuvenation.
- Retinol: An essential for many in the cooler months, retinol promotes cell turnover and collagen production. Because it can be potent, starting slow (2-3 times a week) is advisable, especially if you are new to it.
- Moisturizer: In the evening, opt for a thicker, richer moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated throughout the night.