Complements How to prepare your skin for fall

08/31/16

By Lashelle Kuhlman, licensed aesthetician, reconstructive & cosmetic surgery, Mount Nittany Physician Group

The different seasons affect skin in many different ways. Skin tends to get oilier in the warmer months, which leads to more cellular buildups. In cooler months, skin can be drier and is easily irritated. Fortunately, there are changes we can make to our beauty regimen that can prepare our skin for the new seasons.

Change your moisturizer. The moisturizer you used in the summer doesn’t offer the necessary protection you need for the chilly weather. Try something a bit heavier, but watch ingredients so the moisturizer does not clog your pores. Having a good daily moisturizer is necessary to ensure that your makeup glides on smoothly without any dry, flaky skin getting in the way. Be sure to swap the moisturizer you use on the rest of your body, too!

Keep exfoliating regularly. The general rule of thumb is to exfoliate one to three times per week. To keep your skin smooth and bright all year round, exfoliating is the key to success. Your skin renews itself overnight, so exfoliate in the morning. With regular exfoliation comes great skin. Not only does it remove dead skin, but it also reduces skin discoloration and pigmentation.

Wear your sunscreen year round! We are exposed to the sun every single day, even on cloudy days. UV light penetrates clouds with ease. We need to make sure we are protecting our skin every single day. Most of what you call aging is really years of sun damage. Wearing sunscreen daily saves your skin from years of visible damage later.

Renew your skin and schedule a treatment to remove dull skin to reveal a new, healthy layer of skin. This could be a microdermabrasion or chemical peel appointment. I like to think of these treatments as reboots for your skin, allowing healthy skin to appear.

Think of these tips as simple steps to move toward the next season with your skincare at home. Here’s to great skin now, next season, and all year long!