Take your skincare routine from summer to fall, real quick

Give your skincare routine the smooth transition that it deserves

Mama, we made it! It’s officially Fall, yet, there is a ghastly heatwave happening in Los Angeles right now. For some, this heatwave is fun. While for those of us that have already transitioned our wardrobes from summer to fall, this is overwhelming. If you are as confused about the transitions as the latter are, we will discuss everything you need to know when transitioning your skincare routine from summer to fall.

Skinimalism is still best for your fall skincare routine

For the umpteenth time, we are still riding the skinimalism wave. In an age where it is a balmy 90 degrees in LA, days before October, skinimalism still makes sense. It calls for you to use what you need as part of your daily skincare routine. Fewer skincare products in your vanity could mean fewer chances of waste. Less waste is always good for the environment and your bank account.

In our last post, we shared which skincare products comprise the perfect skinimalist skincare routine. They include:

• Face cleanser
• Toner
• Skin serum or treatment (if needed)
• A lightweight moisturizer (with sunscreen)
• Mask or night treatment for days or nights when you want to give your skin some extra TLC

These 4-5 skincare products should address the specific skin issues you have (if any). For example, if you have acne-prone skin, it is best to use skincare products that contain salicylic acid. This bacteria-killing active ingredient kills acne where it starts. 

The point is that you should only do what works best for your skin. While skin product reviews and beauty trends can tempt you to try everything all at once, this method does not always work for your skin. That is something to remember as you transition your skincare routine from summer to fall.

Ditch these skincare products for your fall skincare routine

Now that you know that skinimalism is still the best beauty trend to follow, here are a few skincare products that you can do without as the weather cools down: 

• Astringent - unless you have acne-prone skin, this skin treatment is less than ideal for cooler months. The active ingredient of most astringents is salicylic acid. When your sebaceous glands overproduce oil in the warmer months of the year, a treatment like this can work whether or not you have oily, acne-prone skin. Yet, overusing this product may lead to dryness, flakiness, and itchiness. All issues that you do not want to deal with in the cooler months of the year. Replace your astringent with a daily-use toner. 
• Face scrub - before you start, we are proponents of skin exfoliation. With free radicals attacking your skin daily, a mild face scrub is a boost that your skincare routine needs every 2-3 days. Yet, over-exfoliation can lead to dry skin, and dry skin causes the overproduction of oil. While it seems ideal for your skin to be oilier in cooler months of the year, oily skin will always be the gateway for acne if you do not manage it well. A suitable replacement for your face scrub can be Masktini’s Twilight Zone Tahitian Detox Mask. This charcoal face mask draws out impurities, resurfaces your skin, and restores its moisture balance. 

Things to consider when transitioning your skincare routine from summer to fall

With astringent and face scrub out of the fall skincare routine picture, let’s talk about what’s most important for this season’s skincare routine:

1. Focus on hydration

Unlike warmer months where humidity and sweat provide natural moisture and hydration for your skin, cooler months tend to wick that all away. If you do not have oily or acne-prone skin, fall may be the perfect time to introduce oil-based moisturizers or serums to your skincare routine. To avoid acne outbreaks, you may want to alternate days with a lightweight AHA moisturizer and an oil-based serum or moisturizer.

2. Introduce more intense active ingredients or treatments

Excessive sun exposure is never good for your skin. Although the sun is still around in cooler months, it’s not as harsh. Does this mean that you should skip out on a broad-spectrum sunscreen? No. All it means is that you have a bit of time to experiment since people spend less time being as social - outside - during cooler months of the year. 

Retinol is one of my favorite skincare ingredients to use during fall and winter. This supercharged vitamin A product increases skin photosensitivity, so using it when the sun is most aggressive is counterproductive. If you are game for some anti-aging fun with your fall skincare routine, consider Masktini’s Night Ranger Overnight Renewal Mask. This anti-aging face mask has lime pearl acids that restore skin and smooth its texture. Hyaluronic acid locks in plumping hydration, while retinol boosts healthy cell turnover. 

3. Don’t forget your sunscreen

There is a common skincare misconception that you do not need sunscreen outside of summer, and that could not be further from the truth! Even if the day is overcast and gloomy, the sun is still hiding somewhere behind those clouds. Have some respect for your skin and wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30. Your next summer skin will thank you for it!

So there you have it - everything that you need to think about as you transition your skincare routine from summer to fall. If you have other things that you like to do as part of your fall skincare routine, leave a comment below and let us know. We’d love to hear from you!