There is so Much to Love About the Fall- Such as Your Gorgeous, Autumn Complexion.
Solid Tips for Encouraging Your Own Radiance to Smolder as We Gradually Move Toward Winter…
1) This goes for always, but it is especially true now: ensure your cleanser cleans effectively, but also leaves your skin soft, supple and hydrated- never tight and dry. We have no time for this drying-out nonsense, especially as we move into winter.
2) Make sure you are applying something that hydrates well (a hydrating toner, a hydrating mist, or hydrating serum) under your moisturizer, both AM and PM. This could be a dedicated hydrating product, or a product that does other things (brightening, regenerating) that also happens to hydrate really well. (And just to be clear, by hydration I’m referring to water-rich, quenching ingredients such as aloe vera gel, hyaluronic acid, botanical waters such as cucumber water, rose water, etc., not heavy oils.) When your skin is well-hydrated it will feel soft, possibly even ever-so-slightly moist, and will likely absorb a moisturizer easily.
3) Fall is the perfect time to restore and revitalize your skin. Why? Now that we will no longer be exposed to strong sunlight on a nearly daily basis for awhile, we can work on actively healing the sun damage (hyperpigmentation, increase of fine lines, etc.,) we experienced over the summer. This and this are superb for exactly this purpose in your regular home care routine.
4) Moisturizing- in the fall and winter we will really feel it if our skin is not moisturized, and our skin will show it, too. If your normal moisturizer does not seem to be “going as far”, such as leaving your skin feeling a bit dry a few hours after application, you may need to upgrade to a richer option for the fall/winter months. When your skin feels satiated through most of the day, you are on the right track with your moisturizer.
5) For true dry skin types, there is nothing more luxurious and beneficial than a good facial oil applied during the fall/winter months. A good facial oil locks in moisture right where you want it- next to your skin. A good one will keep dry skin consistently dewy-soft. There are several ways to get the benefits of a good facial oil…You can add a few drops of a good facial oil to your moisturizer application (my favorite method), or apply the oil first, then apply your moisturizer over the top, or pat in the oil after you’ve applied your moisturizer. It all works, and its all absolutely lovely and lush-inducing for dry skin. This is my favorite oil for dry skin.
6) Wear good mineral sun protection. Yes please. Even through the winter. A good zinc oxide sun protection product creates a slight barrier between your skin and the environment. Not only does this help protect your precious skin from the damage of ultra violet light (which still exists through the winter, even on cloudy days), it also protects your skin from extreme, chapping cold, from drying wind, and even a bit from air pollution (which has an aging effect on our skin). Mineral sun protection has a firm place in age prevention for so many reasons- don’t miss out.
7) Don’t forget your gorgeous lips, Beauty! Dryness will show up as chapped lips, too. Include your lips when you hydrate, moisturize, and sun protect- then apply a good lip balm. Finish with lip stick or gloss if you wish, or leave your lips au naturel- it all looks great.
8) Nourishing our skin from the inside out is too important to ignore- so we will not! In the fall and winter, most of these nutritious, health-and-beauty inducing powerhouses are in season. Enjoy them often- your skin will love you for it.
Carrots~ Chock-full of vitamin A, which is not only great for our skin topically (Retinol is from vitamin A) it is phenomenal for our skin when we eat it as well. Its one of the most potent antioxidants that we know of, helps to maintain collagen integrity, and helps to maintain over-all skin health. Our bodies cannot produce vitamin A – we must get it through our diet. (Carrots love your skin! Your skin loves carrots!)
Sweet potatoes and yams~ Rich in vitamin A but also full of vitamin C, copper, manganese, vitamin B6, potassium, and dietary fiber. (We need all of this.)
Pumpkin and all winter squash~ Butternut squash in particular is rich in carotenoids, a compound that helps to reduce inflammation and encourage cell turnover, but all orange flesh squash is full of beta carotene, which provides superb age-prevention for our skin. (Our skin needs this!)
Apples~ Full of vitamin C, a multi-tasking wonder vitamin that supports collagen health, helps to prevent hyperpigmentation, and protects against free radical damage. (Yes. Please.)
Chard, kale and collards ~ Dark leafy greens are nutritious forces of nature- full of skin-beautifying phyto-nutrients as well as vitamin A, B, C, E & K which support healthy skin and help to prevent wrinkles. (Yes please again.)
Tomatoes~ Full of potassium, beta-carotene, vitamin C and lycopene. (This holy combo gives your skin no choice but to glow.)
Beets~ vitamin C, manganese, potassium, and iron are all vital for skin health, and these nutrients are found in abundance in beets. (Beets pack in a ton of nutrition.)
Turmeric, ginger and cinnamon~ These roots and bark have serious anti-inflammatory properties. (Just to be clear, anti-inflammatory support is at the heart of age-prevention and health for our skin.)
Nuts and seeds~ Omega-fatty acids, essential fatty acids, and healthy fats are crucial for supple, soft skin- most especially as we move into the winter- and nuts and seeds are chock-full of them. Chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, Brazil nuts, pecans…there is a wealth of skin-beautifying nutrition and fats in seeds and nuts. (This is moisturizing your skin from the inside out, which is one of the oldest secrets for maintaining good skin.)
This Season, Allow Your Own Radiance to Burnish and Glow.
“Food is more than just taste, it can create deep, therapeutic changes that heal, energize and nourish the body and the skin.” ~ Gregory Landsman
“Skincare is like a workout for your skin.” ~Amit Kalantri
“The best beauty advice I ever received is to keep skin hydrated and limit harsh exposure to the sun...” ~Erica Durance
“I wouldn't mind spending a little more time and effort and money on good skin care. And I'm sure they'll come out with, as they are doing, with more and more treatments that are noninvasive and healthy ways to keep your face looking as good as it can.” ~Catherine O'Hara
Blog written by Marna Herrington with Rich Earth Organic Skin Care Studio
Blog copy editing and polishing provided by Karen-Eileen Gordon (MsGordonLovesWriting@gmail.com)
This blog is not intended to take the place of in-person consultations with qualified skin care and health care practitioners.
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