Low temperatures, dry air, cold wind- Fall is when your skin, hair and nails need a little extra loving.
It’s time to update your routine a little and I’m not just talking berry-colored lippies and dark and moody nails.
KEEP YOUR SKIN MOISTURIZED
Your skin is often under a lot of stress during warmer months (sun, water, wind, dry air) so it’s important to restore it and keep it healthy. Make sure your skincare routine includes a good moisturizer that’s rich in antioxidants and cell-communicating ingredients like Niacinamide- it improves skin’s elasticity, diminishes discoloration, enhances its barrier function and revives its healthy tone and texture. CeraVe Moisturizing PM Lotion is a great drugstore product that’s formulated with Niacinamide.
HYDRATE INSIDE OUT
During summer we tend to drink a lot more water, since it’s pretty much always very warm and sunny and we get thirsty easily. I know that when Fall comes around, I don’t drink as much water as I do during summer, and it really shows on my skin- that’s why I always make sure to keep track of my water intake especially during colder months.
USE A HUMIDIFIER
Our heating systems usually cause the air to feel extremely dry, that’s why it’s important to use a humidifier (even when you’re not sick)- it’ll put moisture in the air which will keep H2O levels in your skin higher and sooth dry and itchy skin .
DRINK WARM WATER WITH LEMON, FIRST THING IN THE MORNING
Swap your coffee for herbal teas and start your day with a warm (not hot) glass of water and lemon juice from 1/2 organic lemon. Lemon has antiviral, antibacterial and immune-boosting properties that will clean your liver, boost your immunity, aid digestion, balance pH levels and help fight infections.
USE OLIVE OIL FOR DRY CUTICLES
Soak your hands in olive oil in 5-10 minutes to moisturize dry and cracked cuticles.
STAY ACTIVE
When the temperatures drop, we tend to get a little lazy and often skip a few workouts a week. My number one rule is to never skip a Monday- if you skip Monday’s workout, you’re more likely to also skip the following day, and then you think “well, I’ve already skipped Monday and Tuesday, what’s the point of starting on Wednesday?” Being active doesn’t mean you need to have an extremely intense routine- going for a run or a long, brisk walk also counts.
DON’T FORGET YOUR FEET
You may not wear sandals everyday anymore, but it doesn’t mean you have to stop taking care of your feet. If your feet start to feel dry, apply some Vaseline on them before you go to bed, wear some socks and let it work overnight.
CHAPPED LIPS
If you suffer from chronically dry lips you probably know just how annoying and even painful this problem can get at times. I always need to pay special attention to my lips during colder months because they tend to get even more dry than usually: I exfoliate them with a moist washcloth, then apply a used green tea bag by gently pressing it on my lips- this will not only bring relief if your lips are dry but also moisturizes them. I then apply a few drops of Jojoba oil or my favorite lip balm to seal in the moisture.
WEAR SUNSCREEN
Prevention is the best treatment, especially when it comes to skincare. Just because the Summer is over, it doesn’t mean that you can stop wearing sunscreen- the sun still emits harmful UVA rays that can easily penetrate clouds- this is why you need wear sunscreen, even if the weather is dark and gloomy. UVA rays penetrate deep into the dermis, where they damage the collagen fibers- this can cause wrinkles and hyperpigmentation (age spots). Make it a habit to wear sunscreen every single day- just like you brush your teeth every day.
SHOW YOUR HAIR SOME LOVE
Fall is the best time to try treatments for your hair like deep-conditioning and hair masks. My favorite haircare product is still coconut oil. I massage it all over my hair, including my scalp, leave it on for a few hours (sometimes I do it overnight) and then wash it off. If your hair tends to fall out a lot (like mine does) I highly recommend you try a good Omega3 Supplement (I swear by Dr. Perricone supplements, I have been taking them for years).
KEEP YOUR DIET CLEAN
It’s just as important to keep a healthy and clean diet during Fall as it it is during Summer. Seasonal finds like apples are full of antioxidants, brussels sprouts are a good source of folate and iron, squash has Omega3 fatty acids that will help your skin stay pretty and it’s also a good source of Vitamin A. And, of course, can’t forget pumpkin; it’s rich in Potassium and a good source of B Vitamins. It’s totally okay to indulge once in a while, but remember that foods that are high in salt will cause you to retain water which can lead to swelling (puffy eyes, anyone?).
INVEST IN A GOOD OIL..
Oils have become my favorite thing, ever. I love Jojoba, Coconut and Argan Oils. You can use them on your face, your body, your hair, your nails, etc. I get my Jojoba and Coconut oils from Trader Joe’s, and my favorite Argan Oil is by Josie Maran, but I did find an amazing drugstore dupe from Physicians Formula. I also recently fell in love with Jurlique’s Skin Balancing Oil.
… AND A BOTTLE OF GOOD PERFUME
Nothing will boost your confidence like a few spritz of your favorite, signature fragrance
Do you have any other tips that you’d like to share?