Why You Need To Reassess Your Skincare Routine For Fall

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We’re about twenty seconds away from fall, which is great news for our cinnamon-loving besties, but not-so-great for our skin. Allow us to explain: as we breeze (pun intended) past the summer months, our skin tends to appear dull, dry, and less glowy due to the lack of moisture in the air. But don’t stress; it’s just time to re-evaluate your skincare routines with products and habits that amp up hydration, hydration, hydration…

1. Switch to Heavier Formulas 

Bestie, you shouldn’t just wear thicker clothes in the colder months – it goes for skincare too! Dr. Friedmann from the Harley Street Dermatology Clinic explains that because of “the wind and cold and the transition between heated and cold environments, skin can become dry. Therefore, it’s good to moisturize as often as possible, especially before going outside, as this retains the skin’s moisture.”

Swap your lightweight summer moisturizers for hefty hydrators and heavy creams with essential fatty acids that nourish your skin. We’re biased, but our WISHFUL Honey Balm Jelly Moisturizer, $43, comes with a rich serving of soothing honey, calming turmeric root, and niacinamide for luminous-looking skin.

And just as you would layer your sweaters, we’d recommend adding an extra layer of hydration ­– before your moisturizer – with hyaluronic acid-based (HA) serums and sheet masks. Our obvious choice is our WISHFUL Thirst Trap Juice HA3 Peptide Serum, $47, which contains three types of HA and firming peptides to hydrate and strengthen your skin. It’s the ultimate combo!

2. Cut Back on Exfoliation

As the weather gets chillier, it’s best to cut back on exfoliating ingredients like retinoids and glycolic acid. Thing is, exfoliation can be easily overdone in general, causing damage to your skin’s barrier, which increases the loss of hydration and generally puts your skin at risk – a no-no.

Dr. Michael Jacobs, a board-certified dermatologist and medical technology director for Cortina, confirms that “Overdoing it can harm the skin barrier, strip your skin of its natural oil, and cause breakouts. Limit the number of times you exfoliate if you are seeing signs of having overdone it, and use gentle, dermatologist-approved products and tools.”

We’d recommend twice weekly a scrub-a-dub-dub with something gentle like our WISHFUL Yo Glow AHA & BHA Facial Enzyme Scrub, $39, to buff away dead skin cells for a healthy glow.

3. Use a Lip Balm  

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With temperatures dipping RN, you should make time to moisturize your skin, which includes your lips. If anything, they need an extra dosage of TLC because they lack sebaceous glands (which the rest of your skin has) that produce moisturizing oils, making them more vulnerable to dryness. To keep chapped lips off the menu, use a good lip balm, like Carmex’s Original Tube, $1, to protect your pout from damage or use the SPF 15-infused Carmex Original Stick, $1, to hit two weather-related birds with one protective stone.

4. Invest in a Mister

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If you didn’t pay attention in science class, here’s a quick 101: cold air is dry. This makes it an unavoidable threat (air is everywhere, right?) to your skin’s moisture levels. Thankfully, you can boost the humidity levels in the air in your home, office, or even subway (trust), by adding your own “air-moisturizer” to the mix with the help of a mister. Our fave skin-friendly choice is the Nano Facial Mister, $7, which happens to be the derm-approved secret to hydrated skin.

5. Try Slugging

If you breathe beauty, you’ve probably heard about slugging. If not, it’s a buzzy skincare trend that involves applying a rich emollient on top of a hydrating skincare routine to lock in your ingredients more effectively. It’s basically a seal for your skin that makes it easier to soak up the good stuff from your skincare and prevent precious moisture from evaporating (AKA transepidermal water loss). Thanks to its super thick occlusive nature, Vaseline’s Original 100% Pure Petroleum Jelly Skin Protectant, $6, is great to slug with. The new WISHFUL Pillowgasm Cherry Glow Sleeping Mask, $39, is another lighter, non-comedogenic alternative if you have oily skin or acne and want to try a less intense slug!

6. Add Vitamin C to your Routine

Vitamin C is like a fast-track ticket to glowier skin, which is why adding a vitamin C serum into your routine is a no-brainer all year round.

Want more deets? According to Camellia Zheng, lead medical aesthetician at NYC’s Tribeca MedSpa, “Vitamin C is an essential part of skin health. It is a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals caused by environmental stressors, limits the damage caused by ultraviolet light exposure, and has been shown to help repair skin cells.” We’re obsessed with the Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Day Serum, $80; however, the Ordinary’s Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%, $6, is a great budget-friendly option.

7. Don’t Forget Sunscreen

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If you’re a regular here, you’ll know we preach the sunscreen gospel – even when the sun’s taking a chill pill. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, UVA rays can penetrate through clouds (yikes), making sunscreen a year-round necessity. And come winter, Dr. Friedmann adds that “The snow reflects a large percentage of the sun’s UV rays and the UV exposure is greater in the mountains, so you can still get sunburned and are at risk to skin cancer.”

Apply a sunscreen with high SPF and a 5-star UVA ratings like Ultra Violette’s Queen Screen Luminising Sun Serum SPF 50+, $35, all over your face, neck, and décolletage for stellar protection against UVA and UVB rays. And plop La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios Anti-Shine Sun Protection Invisible SPF50+ Face Mist, $20, into your purse for reapplication on the go.

While we’re on the subject, here are some SPF myths you shouldn’t believe.

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