So long to the warm, sunny days of summer. Fall is here and it has made itself known! Is your skin feeling it yet? By this we mean, feeling a lot more dry, sensitive, dull and seemingly incapable of retaining hydration.
As temperatures drop and the air becomes cooler and drier, you may want to make some slight changes to your skincare regimen. What has worked for your skin during the warmer months may not be as effective in the colder months. Not sure where to start? No worries, we’ve got some awesome recommendations of products and routine adjustments to add into your regimen for the fall/winter months.
What Causes Dry and Sensitive Skin During Cold Weather?
First off, have you ever thought about why your skin gets so dry and sensitive during the fall and winter?
According to Aesthetics Journal, cold air tightens the skin’s pores which reduces blood circulation. As a result, the naturally occurring oils in our skin get reduced. Due to the lower levels of humidity and the drop in temperature during the colder months, the dry air tends to suck more moisture from your skin, which causes the skin to become more dry and sensitive.
All that to say that your skin needs some major love and TLC during the fall and winter months. By love, we mean lots and lots of moisture.
You might not be able to stop the seasons (unless you’re mother nature or something?), but there are seasonal adjustments you can make to your skincare routine to maintain the overall health of your skin.
Below are some swaps and additions you can make to your skincare regimen to say “goodbye” to dry, sensitive skin and “hello” to hydrated, radiant skin all season long.
1. Meet Your Fall & Winter BFF: Lip Balm
When it comes to the colder months, you do not want to forget about your lips! Just like the rest of our face needs moisture and attention, our lips need it just as much.
Lip balm is a necessary staple to have all year long in your skincare regimen, but if there’s a time of the year where it should be an ultimate essential, that would be during the fall and winter.
According to this study, the cold weather and wind causes the lips to dry out which can lead to cracking. We’ve all been there before and know that dry, cracked lips is not a comfortable feeling at all. Yes, there are a wide range of lip balms, masks and moisturizers on the market but try to look specifically for one with these ingredients:
- Vitamin E
- Natural oils (like coconut or sunflower seed oil
With those two core ingredients, dry lips will be the least of your worries this season. HIGHER EDUCATION MAKE OUT READY® Vegan Lip Balm SPF 15 contains all of the above: powerful antioxidants, vitamin E, and natural oils are a total lifesaver during the fall & winter months.
2. Go Gentle on Your Skin with This Cleanser
For the fall and winter, we believe that a cleanser should be two things: gentle and moisturizing. Our skin is already drier and more sensitive as it is, therefore, a good cleanser can make a significant difference in making this seasonal transition as smooth as possible on your skin.
We’ve got the perfect cleanser to tackle dry and sensitive skin this season. Higher Education Skincare just released a new cleanser specifically formulated for sensitive skin – just in time for the colder, dryer months: NO BRAINER® Gentle Facial Cleanser. Loaded with hydrolyzed rice protein and rice amino acids, this gentle cleanser will help your skin retain its natural moisture barrier while also strengthening it at the same time.
Hydrolyzed rice protein is a natural anti-irritant that will promote cell regeneration and relieve your skin of dryness. Rice amino acids are what will really lock up that moisture in your skin so that you’ll stay bright and glowy all day long, despite the weather.
Together, the two ingredients are a dream team. To all the dry and sensitive folks out there, this cleanser is definitely a good match for you and sensitive skin.
After you cleanse, it might behoove you to add on a facial oil into your seasonal rotation. I’ve found that using a facial or treatment oil helps repair my skin and lock in a nice glow when my skin looks dull and sallow. My go-to treatment oil for sensitive/ dry skin is Provence Beauty’s 'Repair' Facial oil with Coconut + Hazelnut. It’s super lightweight on the skin and it absorbs really fast. It repairs damaged, sensitive skin and hydrates dry skin with its natural oils – perfect to combat winter skin woes.
3. Hydrate...and then Hydrate some MORE!
While this isn’t necessarily a product, this is a pro-tip that you can carry with you all year long. Your skin can be a direct reflection of what you may or may not be putting into your body.
Dehydration, the reduction of water in your body, can lead to dry skin and chapped lips. Check out our blog, The 4 Things that Dehydrate Your Skin During the Summer Months to learn even more about this!
Make sure that you’ve got your water bottle handy at all times this season and that you’re chowing down some foods that are high in water content (like cucumber, spinach, celery, etc.) You’ll feel a difference in your body’s performance and your skin will be glowing like crazy.
4. Up the Ante with a Thicker Moisturizer
Let’s face it: a kickass moisturizer should be in everyone’s skin care regimen. But, are you noticing that your favorite moisturizer is no longer working as well during the colder months as it was for you in the summer?
Maybe your skin is not retaining the moisturizer as well or your skin is still feeling a bit dry no matter how much moisturizer you put on. This may be a tell tale sign that you’ll need one that is thicker and richer in ingredients and formula.
When your skin is dry it becomes a lot more delicate and sensitive. When on the search for a new moisturizer, keep an eye out for one that has anti-inflammatory and calming ingredients to cool the skin down. Higher Education Skincare’s newest product, GOAL DIGGER® Soothing Gel Crème is rich in superfoods as well as Hyaluronix and Vitamin B3.
All of those ingredients + cucumber and other plant extracts in the crème work to penetrate the skin with moisture, soothe the skin, reduce redness and so much more. Dry skin will be something of seasons past!
During this time of year as I whip out my seasonal candles and start to order all the seasonal lattes, I also like to add in an additional moisturizer or balm for optimal hydration. Innis Free Cica Balm is a must-have for me, whether it be for a use as necessary treatment or just an add-on in my routine, it really helps to strengthen and protect the skin barrier while also improving uneven skin tone.
For dry and sensitive skin, it’s recommended to use this balm after applying your moisturizer. Balms can be an amazing addition to your regimen if uneven skin tone and texture seem to be one of your top skin concerns.
5. Do NOT Put Away the SPF!
Just because you’ve put away your jean skirts and crop tops does not mean you should do the same thing with your SPF.
Yes, we may not be outdoors as often when it’s cold out, but those little moments outside still matter, even if it’s a walk from your dorm to class and back.
SPF protects the skin from getting damaged from sun exposure. Why not take the extra precaution and keep your skin looking fresh all season long? You can even use your SPF as a makeup primer for double duty during the colder months.
6. Overnight Masks
Masks make for the perfect at-home, fall break activity with your mom or sis. When I am looking for a quick fix for a blemish or dry spot, STUDY BUDDY® Detoxifying Bentonite Clay Mask works wonders in just 15 minutes.
When I’m looking for a thicker, longer-lasting remedy, I like to go with an overnight mask. Wouldn’t it be great if we could just wake up with a glowing, hydrated complexion each morning? This is where overnight masks come into play. As someone with sensitive skin, I am prone to irritation and dryness.
Overnight masks have become my best friend when it comes to dealing with sensitivity because instead of my skin losing essential moisture, the masks lock the moisture in. Two excellent options for those with sensitive skin are the Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask or Laneige Water Sleeping Mask.
Both are loaded with minerals and nutrients that work to soothe the skin from irritation, redness and dryness. You don’t have to rinse them off like you typically would with masks. A fun tip that I like to do is use an overnight mask as a base for my makeup. This reduces makeup from piling up around the dry patches on your skin.
How are you feeling about these product swaps and recommendations? As always, we’ve got you covered all year long. Don’t let the fall and winter seasons intimidate you and your skin. You can still have glowing, dewy skin no matter what time of the year it is. What’s your best fall/winter skincare tip for dry and sensitive skin?
