Fall Skin Care Dos and Don’ts

Fall skin care is all about recovery. Now is the time to focus on shedding the damage that three months of heat, humidity, sun, and environmental pollutants can bring.

While many articles will tell you that requires a full revamp of your skin care routine, the truth is, a major shift is unnecessary. In fact, in many ways, it’s more about what you don’t change that matters. A few adjustments and a little refocusing are all you need for a trouble-free transition from summer to fall.

 

Don’t stop exfoliating.

We see a lot of advice this time of year to stop exfoliating. The rationale is that less humidity can mean drier skin. That part is true, but it’s no reason to stop encouraging cellular turnover, which is essential to healthy skin. Dry skin is evidence of dead skin cells building up on the surface. Keeping these dead cells cleared away is what allows moisture into the skin and keeps the skin looking vibrant and elastic. The trick is using exfoliating methods that don’t irritate or strip the skin.

Use a gentle scrub like Mandelic Acid 3-In-1 Exfoliating Cleanser to sweep away cellular debris, kill acne bacteria, and help brighten dull or discolored skin. This gentle acid is non-irritating so it won’t cause irritation. The microbeads in the formula are smooth, round, and fully biodegradable so you can feel good about how they treat your skin and the environment.

You can also promote cell turnover with a vitamin A corrective serum. This potent antioxidant boosts collagen production, and combats free radical damage caused by UV exposure. Start with Derm-A-Gel and move up to Exfol-A, a cocktail of acids and vitamin A, when skin has acclimated.

  

Do keep using your toner.

Toners formulated with reparative, hydrating ingredients remove dead cells, bring moisture into the skin, help to restore a healthy skin barrier, and enhance the absorption of antioxidants and other beneficial ingredients. These are things your skin needs year-round. However, you could switch to a lighter formula in the fall.

Vivant’s Skin Nourishing Toner is the perfect blend of refinement and repair with mandelic acid to target acne, aging and discoloration; botanical elements to clear and calm; rosehip oil to moisturize and protect against environmental stressors and signs of aging. It’s ideal for dry, irritated, sensitive, or rosacea-affected skin. If your skin is oily or acne-prone, Normalizing Tonic pairs clarifying glycolic and hydrating lactic acid to refine without over-drying.

 

Do defend against discoloration.

After months of summer sun, you could be noticing some signs of photodamage, including some pigmentation. A daily vitamin C and E serum is essential for repairing photodamage and fading discoloration. If you’re already using it, keep it up. If not, it’s time to add Vivant’s Pure C + E antioxidant serum to your regimen. The formula pairs vitamin C and E, taking advantage of the duo’s synergistic relationship for advanced photoprotection and repair. Use Pure C + E daily to reverse sun damage, boost collagen production, fade dark marks, and promote cellular repair for a brighter, smoother, plumper appearance and an overall radiant glow. A year-round must.

A mandelic acid corrective serum can also help with pigmentation issues. This gentle alpha hydroxy acid is a micro-exfoliator so it promotes cell turnover to remove dark excess pigment layer by layer. It’s also a melanin-inhibitor, so it help keep dark spots from forming and rising to the surface. Mandelic acid’s larger molecular structure slows its absorption rate so it’s non-irritating, especially important for skin prone to hyperpigmentation.

  

Do see your aesthetician.

An aesthetician can help assess any summer skin damage and help accelerate repair with a comprehensive treatment tailored to your skin’s specific needs. Professional treatments are more potent and bring faster results than what you can achieve on your own. A peel may be just the thing you need to jumpstart pigment reduction, reduce fine lines, and help erase the evidence of summer sun exposure.

  

Don’t stop using sunscreen!

The weather may be cooling, but the sun remains. Even when the sky is cloudy, damaging UV radiation gets through. Sun protection remains just as important in the fall and winter months as it does in the summer and spring. You don’t have to be sitting on the beach to be exposed. Deeply penetrating UVA rays are not stopped by glass, so in even in your car, you’re exposed. Vivant’s Day Treatment Lotion SPF 15 provides UVA/UVB protection and hydration in a non-greasy, non-comedogenic formula that’s light enough to use under makeup. Or you can mix it with a little mineral powder to make a light foundation.