Gone are the days of sun-tanning, swimming, and outdoor cookouts, unless you live in one of the warmer areas of the country, like myself, where summertime is slightly more extended. But in the rest of the country, and many parts of the world, people have officially begun to enter sweater-wearing, hot cocoa-drinking, and pumpkin-picking season. Residing in Southern California, I’d say that the cooler climate that accompanies this season doesn’t truly begin for us until well into November. However, it does not mean that the weather does not change around here, however slowly it may happen. With the drop in temperature comes a whole new set of skin concerns that many of you may relate to. Therefore, it is quite natural for our skin and health routines to be modified a little in order to adapt to the changing weather. Here are our top 5 essentials for obtaining optimal skin health during the fall.
Coffee Scrub
The extremity of the summer heat in conjunction with all the outdoor activities we partake in during the last few months may leave our skin feeling dry, flaky, and rough. If our sunscreen practices have gotten behind us, our skin may have ended up falling victim to extra sun exposure and damage. Our very own Amire Arabica coffee scrub does wonders at buffing away the extra dead skin we may have accumulated during the summer. In the end, you’re left with soft, glowing skin. Also, may I say that the coffee scent is perfect for putting you to dream of scenes of cozy coffee shops on a gloomy, rainy day- aah.
Oils
The only thing better than using oils during the warmer months are quite possibly using them during the colder months. Since your skin naturally sweats less as the weather cools down, oil is far better absorbed into the skin. Since your skin is drier, it will soak in the oil with greater ease. I already have pretty oily skin in the summer, so slathering on more oil just makes my skin feel a little suffocated and uncomfortable. For these reasons, I like to take advantage of oils and their healing properties in the colder months. Our very own moringa oil is very hydrating and completely natural. It has many benefits, but I most like it for slowing down the aging process.
Thick Moisturizers
Similar to oils, a thick moisturizer keeps all of that much needed moisture from the air in our skin. Unlike an oil, a moisturizer tends to stick to the surface of the skin better, which is especially useful at night as we toss and turn. At night, I like to mix my favorite face and body oils along with my favorite moisturizers to provide deeper hydration and so the oils don’t rub off on my clothes and sheets as easily. My favorite moisturizers are Perricone MD's Face Finishing Moisturizer for the face and the Trader Joe's Pumpkin Body Butter for the body.
Face Masks
For extra hydration, I like to include a good face mask that will not only help my skin but make me feel like a million bucks. I can be quite ritualistic when it comes to masks. I only like to do them at night before bed during the weekend as a way to unwind and release any stress I had been keeping during the day. During the fall, I tend to take this step a little further and really commit to it every week because isn’t slowing down part of the season? To enhance my experience, I like to use masks that not only target my skin concerns but feel great, can be left for a long time, and smell good as well. (Aromatherapy goes a long way!) One of my favorites to use is Trader Joe's seasonal moisturizing Rose Face Mask because it is very affordable, clean, and smells like roses.
Beta Carotene Foods
I’m a firm believer that true skincare starts with how you take care of your body as a whole, beginning with your diet. Therefore, I’ve included a food category in my list of essentials because I feel like it is what truly makes the difference between healthy and not so healthy skin. Beta carotene is a molecule found in many orange vegetables that gives your skin a naturally glowy, slightly orange tint. Examples are carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, cantaloupe, and even leafy greens, such as spinach. Your summer tan may start fading away in the fall, but your glow doesn’t have to with these vegetables. Also, many of the foods containing this molecule are root vegetables that are naturally in-season during the fall, making them more accessible and cheaper to buy.
