Transitioning Your Skincare Routine for Fall: Product Picks and Tips

With the colder weather coming how are you prepping your skin for fall?

It’s been a busy first couple weeks of September! My husband and I went to a wedding in Boston and I am transitioning jobs. I don’t talk a lot about my personal/professional life on here (this is all about beauty fun!) but I am starting work at a private gym in Chicago this coming week and beginning my mentorship hours for my CMPC (certified mental performance consultant) certification. With everything going on it’s been hard to play around with new makeup ideas. I have however, been spending more time on my skin as the seasons begin to change. Fall is a good time to switch out products and spend a little more TLC on your skincare routine.

While the fall weather hasn’t really started yet, it’s important to be thinking about what you want your skincare routine to look like and what products you need. I want to share some ideas and skincare finds I have been using so far!

Important Skincare Tips for Fall:

• Hydrate!
  • I can’t stress this one enough. There is nothing worse than the weather turning cold and seeing your skin start to flake from getting super dry (gross). My three biggest transitions are: swapping out a light-weight moisturizer for a heavier one, adding in a face oil at night, and adding in more products with hyaluronic acid for extra hydration.
• Be mindful with retinols and exfoliants:
  • I wouldn’t ditch them completely, but retinols and exfoliants can easily dry out your skin so it’s important to be mindful when using them. I love using a gentle retinol night cream. If you have to use a stronger retinol I would recommend to avoid using it daily. For exfoliants, using something with AHAs or BHAs and better than scrubbing your face raw. Again, you don’t need to exfoliate daily! I usually do 2-3 times a week. Do your research and make sure you are using products that work with your skin type.
• Use a gentle cleanser:
  • Again, hopping on the hydration train when it comes to cleansers. Just like ditching your light-weight moisturizer, it’s time to say goodbye to your light-weight cleanser. Look for a heavier, hydrating cleanser; either a cleansing milk, cream, or gel. Something light and foamy isn’t going to cut it. I am not a huge fan of double cleansing (I think it’s a lot on your skin) but I know people like to double cleanse with a cleansing oil if they have super dry and sensitive skin. I would be careful on going overboard with products, (I think less is more) and just opt for a really strong cleanser. Vitamin E is a great, hydrating ingredient to look for.
• Don’t ditch the SPF:
  • Just because the temps are dropping doesn’t mean it’s time to say goodbye to SPF. Sun damage happens throughout the year.

Products I am Loving!

I feel like I have gone a bit overboard on buying skincare products this month but sometime you gotta! Here are my buys for September:

• Cleanser: I am a huge fan of InnBeauty Project and am trying their hydrating cleanser for the first time. Their Keep It Clean Hydrating Gel Cleanser with Ceramides & 10 Amino Acids has super hydrating ingredients and is good for dullness and dryness. It’s a gel to cream cleanser that also contains vegan collagen to help soften and plump your skin!
• Vitamin C Serum/Hydration: I always use a Vitamin C serum and a serum with hyaluronic acid. Right now, I am currently using Japanese skincare products for both (huge fan of Japanese skincare by the way). Obagi Medical Professional-C Serum has been a GAME changer for helping with my redness. (Thinking about this, I should make an entirely separate post about the importance of having a good vitamin c serum!) Obagi’s serum has three different level’s of Vitamin C potency so based on your skin type, you can find the right about for you. I use the one that is 15% Vitamin C. When using mutiple serums it’s important to make sure you are pairing the right ingredients together. Vitamin C pairs great with both hyaluronic acid and retinol. I don’t use Vitamin C at night, but I do pair it in the morning with hyaluronic acid. When my husband was in Japan in April, he brought me back a huge bottle of straight-up hyaluronic acid that they actually sell on Amazon in the US, linked here. The Ordinary, Peach & Lily, and Paula’s Choice also make great, hydrating serums! You need this combo for glass skin this fall.
• Day-time Moisturizer: Saying goodbye to my fav summer moisturizer from InnBeauty Project (it’s called Slushy and it’s amazing for warmer months); I am trying Inn Beauty’s Extreme Cream Anti-Aging, Firming, & Lifting Refillable Moisturizer. This is a stronger moisturizer and great for hyperpigmentation, and skin-brightening. Another one high on my list to try is La Roche Posay Double Repair Moisturizer. This moisturizer is super affordable and packed with hydrating ingredients!
• Under-eye: Extra love to the under eyes! I have been using COSRX Advanced Snail Hydrogel Eye Patches about every other day for 10 minutes in the morning to help with puffiness and extra dryness under the eyes. I have also added in a hydrating under eye serum to pair with a Vitamin C eye cream. Goop recently came out with a Target line and I love their under eye serum. It’s hydrating and so much more affordable than their regular line. It also contains caffeine to help wake up tired eyes! Linked here. For Vitamin C eye cream, I love Summer Fridays and Olehenriksen. Both are great for brightening! A couple times a week I use a retinol under eye cream at night. I am currently using the one from Nip+Fab because I got it in an Ipsy box and I like it. It’s not too drying and helps with brightening as well.
• Retinol: As I mentioned earlier, I took my retinol usage down a notch. I have been using Murad’s Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream and I loveeee it. It is super gentle and has hydrating ingredients to help protect your skin. I recommend also using it on your neck and chest. Keep it to a pea size amount.
• Night-time moisturizer: I pair the retinol night cream with a heavier, hydrating moisturizer. I am a huge fan of Summer Friday’s Jet Lag Mask + Moisturizer. New flash: it’s not just for long flights! You can use it daily. This moisturizer has niacinamide, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants, which all calm and hydrate the skin. I also really love the Laneige Bouncy + Firm Radiance Boosting Sleeping Mask and their Water Sleeping Mask, which is better for drier skin.
• SPF: I always have a tinted SPF and a regular one on hand. I don’t always love a tinted one when I’m working out or just lounging around. There are a lot of conversations about the differences between chemical and mineral sunscreens and which one people should use. I currently use La Roche Posay’s Anthelios Light Fluid Facial Sunscreen SPF 60 and Avène’s Tinted SPF 50, which I got in France. I’m not sure if they make this in the US but I love it! I tend to gravitate towards mineral sunscreens because of my more sensitive skin but both are good to use! Tik Tok went nuts earlier this year about how sunscreen has chemicals that are bad for your skin and therefore we shouldn’t be wearing it. That can’t be farther from the truth. Listen to your dermatologists and not random influencers (no offense).
• Redness repair: Another extra skin product I bought for fall was Dr. Jart+’s Redness Rescue Kit to help with some of my redness as we transition into fall. The kit comes with a repair mask, cleanser, repair cream, and a color corrector that has SPF. I have yet to try it but am excited to see how it works. Will keep everyone posted…

What’s in your fall skincare line-up! I always love to hear what other people are using and what has been working for them. The key thing is to keep your skin extra hydrated as we coast into fall. Speaking of, what else is everyone looking forward to as we approach the new season! I am going to Michigan this coming weekend with friends and even though it will be warm, I am hoping to have an Oktoberfest beer and maybe go to a Pumpkin Patch!

Happy skincare shopping everyone!