When summer ends, your skin care focus should no longer be on achieving a summer glow and rinsing chlorine from your skin. Proper skin care in the fall requires that you correct all of the skin damage dealt by the summer months while you also shield your skin from the cold weather conditions ahead.
Moisturize
Use thick cream-based products instead of light and watery lotion-based products to imbue your skin with more moisture. If you were already using a cream moisturizer to combat dry skin in the summer months, graduate to the next level of moisturizer (e.g., a cream formulated for severely dry skin or an ointment). Apply the cream at least twice a day as needed.
Cleanse Gently
Fragranced and antibacterial soaps can strip necessary oils from your skin, according to DERMAdoctor.com. Although you may be able to get away with using them during the spring and summer months, your skin will let you know that your cleanser isn't gentle enough when fall rolls around. Consider using a soap-free cleanser such as Cetaphil or chemical-free body bar soaps such as Vanicream, and avoid washing your skin too frequently or it will lose some of its natural moisture. When you do cleanse, scrub in a delicate circular pattern and dry by patting with a towel rather than rubbing.
Exfoliate
After sunburns, chlorine and oil have dulled your complexion, exfoliating daily can slough off some dead cells and give your skin a fresher and more radiant appearance. Exfoliating also allows your skin's surface to readily absorb other treatments, according to DERMAdoctor.com. Choose an exfoliating product with small beads for a less abrasive experience.
Prepare for Flare-ups
Skin conditions such as seborrhea dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema tend to flare up in the fall. If you have a skin condition that goes through such cycles, be sure to have prescription treatments and other remedies readily available.
Have Sun Protection
The cloudy layer that arrives during the fall doesn't protect your skin from UV ray damage. To prevent your skin from aging prematurely and to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen and wear sun-protective clothing such as wide-brimmed hats and long sleeves. The Mayo Clinic recommends applying lots of sunscreen 30 minutes prior to going outside, and reapplying it every two hours or after exposure to lots of sweat or water.
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