Your wardrobe isn’t the only thing that needs updated as the leaves – and temperatures – begin to fall. Changes in temperature, humidity levels, and allergens can cause unwanted skin conditions, including dry patches, redness, and breakouts.

In colder weather, the skin becomes drier because it is producing less oil, which can lead to worsening eczema and other skin irritations. Likewise, the humidity levels affect the hydration of your skin. Humid climates can soften skin and make it easy to maintain fullness. Dryer climates, however, can dehydrate the skin making it more likely to show fine lines and wrinkles.

These are a few fall skin care tips to consider—and some of my favorite products and procedures – as you adjust your daily skincare regimen for the Fall:

Cleanser & Toner – Sweat and activity in the summer months require clarifying cleanser and toners, but the Fall and Winter months require a gentler approach to cleansing. Does your skin feel tight after cleansing? If yes, it means the products that you are using are too drying, and it is time to make a change.

• My favorites: SkinMedica’s Facial Cleanser for normal skin types or Obagi’s Foaming Cleanser which is gentle but also a great cleanser for the removal of makeup.

Exfoliation – It is necessary to exfoliate to keep your skin from getting dull, but be careful not to overdo it in the colder months. While humidity and warm temperatures can help buffer the irritating effects of topical retinoids and exfoliants, these protections are not as helpful during Fall and Winter.

• My favorites:  SkinMedica’s AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser is another good choice, as it gently scrubs away dead skin, improving the appearance of skin tone and texture.

Moisturizer – As the colder weather moves in, it is time to transition from gel moisturizer to something thicker. Choose a heavy cream moisturizer with ceramides – the essential and healthy fatty acids that occur naturally in the skin, but need to be replenished during the colder months.

• My favorites:  SkinMedica’s HA5 Hydrator is a great addition to anyone’s skincare regimen during the drier fall and winter months, as it supports the skin’s natural ability to retain moisture resulting in radiant, rejuvenated tone and texture. SkinMedica’s TNS Ceramide Treatment Cream hydrates and helps restore your skin’s barrier function and balance, or for sensitive skin try SkinMedica’s Replenish Hydrating Cream to refresh, soothe, and nourish.  For an extra boost at night, use Obagi’s Hydrate Luxe Moisture Rich Cream.  

Bonus Tips: Also be sure to use an eye cream to add extra moisture to this sensitive area, as well. One of my favorites is Obagi’s ELASTIderm® Eye Cream. For allergy sufferers, de-puff that sensitive undereye area with ELASTIderm® Eye Serum!

Sunscreen – While UV radiation is greater in the summer, it is present throughout the year, which means sunscreen is essential all year long.

• My favorites: Don’t go a day without SkinMedica’s Total Defense + Repair Broad Spectrum Sunscreen, which provides UV protection, defends against harmful infrared rays, and supports the skin’s ability to restore itself. Try the tinted version if you’re looking for some added coverage. Obagi’s Soothing Complex Broad Spectrum hydrates delicate skin while blurring minor imperfections and providing physical UVA and UVB protection. When you are on the go, don’t forget Colorescience’s Sunforgettable Brush-On Sunscreen Face Powder.

Vitamin C – In addition to helping combat SPF rays that are not fully blocked by sunscreen, it also can help even out skin pigmentation and boost collagen production, resulting in a brighter complexion.

• My favorites: Obagi’s Vitamin C with Hydroquinone reduces hyperpigmentation and has other essential ingredients to help address the signs of skin aging or try SkinMedica’s LUMIVIVE® System to improve the appearance of skin tone evenness including redness and help restore stressed skin.

Skin Rejuvenation – Addresses the skin discoloration left behind by the summer sun, improves the skin texture, and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

• My favorite: Obagi Retivance® Skin Rejuvenating Complex is a new product that provides a great first step in moving toward Tretinoin and Retinols in your skincare regimen.

If you are looking to take your Fall skin care a step further and reduce the damage done by the summer sun, you may want to consider one of the treatments offered at Timeless Skin Solutions.

• Genesis/IPL – Restore your skin’s youthful glow by combining Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) & Genesis. The lasers of IPL and Genesis work in sync to complement the effectiveness of one another. Paired together, these treatments will stimulate the body’s natural collagen production to reduce the appearance of sunspots, fine lines, wrinkles, and redness. This improves the skin’s overall texture and tone for the radiant glow you crave.
• Pearl – During the Pearl resurfacing treatment, we comfortably remove that layer of rough, uneven skin to reveal the layer of smooth, renewed skin underneath. In just one treatment, we can erase sun damage, reduce pore size, refine tone & texture, eliminate fine lines and increase collagen production.

Something to consider when selecting the treatment best for you –  you can achieve the same results with both IPL/Genesis and Pearl. The Pearl requires only one treatment, but involves longer downtime, while IPL/Genesis requires multiple treatments, although less downtime. The physicians and clinicians at Timeless can help you determine the best course of treatment for your particular needs.

• Micro-needling – Micro-needling is a popular treatment choice for patients who desire clinical results, with little to no recovery. Micro-needling is an effective treatment for a variety of concerns, including large pores, fine lines and wrinkles, brown spots, acne, scars, and skin pigmentation issues, and is a valuable alternative to more invasive procedures such as laser skin resurfacing and deep chemical peeling.
• Chemical Peel – Customized to fit your skincare goals, chemical peels are a tried and true treatment that has been used for years to smooth and brighten skin and correct a variety of complexion concerns. Don’t be scared away by the word chemical – the ingredients in these peels are derived from all-natural ingredients.
• DiamondGlow™ – A 3-in-1 treatment that exfoliates, extracts, and infuses, DiamondGlow is a perfect treatment to help combat dry skin. Melinda suggests “to use the hyaluronic acid serum to get a hydrated glow to the skin.”

At Timeless Skin Solutions, we are committed to providing physician-led, personalized, and science-based solutions to all of your skincare needs. We look forward to meeting with you to discuss your specific goals and how Timeless can help you jump into Fall!