Fall Detox: How to Restore Skin After Summer
With the advent of the cold season, it’s time to think about some must-have steps to be included in our fall beauty routine.
In summer, the skin experiences increased stress from frequent contact with ultraviolet light, wind, dust, salt, chlorinated water and temperature changes. All this does not pass without a trace, and in the fall, when the first tan comes off, the reflection in the mirror is often not the one you’d like it to be. The skin is severely dehydrated, coarse, flaky, and hyperpigmented. Therefore, the first months of fall should be devoted to intensive skin regeneration.
1. Exfoliation
While in summer it’s customary to take a break from exfoliation, so as not to increase sensitivity to ultraviolet light, fall is on the contrary an ideal time to return to regular exfoliation. It is better to choose gentle peels, not to injure the skin which is hypersensitive after summer. For example, acidic peels based on AHA and BHA acids or enzyme peels. They gently exfoliate dead particles and trigger skin renewal at the cellular level. In addition, AHA acids, especially glycolic and lactic acids, provide additional hydration to the skin.
2. Deep pore cleansing
During summer, the sweat on the face mixes with dust and makeup particles, which clogs the pores, dulls the skin and breaks out. That is why during the fall time you need to pay extra attention to products that can deeply cleanse and narrow pores. Products with retinoids will do the best job. They thicken the deep layers of the epidermis, increasing the elasticity of the skin, break down fat plugs, cleanse pores and make them look smaller.
Vitamin A derivatives do not exfoliate the skin. Therefore, peeling can be made immediately before applying retinoids. Acidic products can help make the skin smoother and minimize flaking.
3. Elimination of sun damage
As soon as the suntan disappears, all the signs of frequent contact with the sun immediately appear on the skin, and you begin to notice that the tone has become uneven, and age spots have appeared on the skin. Therefore, fall is the season for brightening products. And number one on this list is the vitamin C of course.
This ingredient is a powerful antioxidant which smoothes the skin, evens out the complexion and has an anti-inflammatory effect. But it’s important to use the correct, fat-soluble form of vitamin C which is THD, because a water-soluble form of vitamin C will not have sufficient effect.
4. Moisturizing
Moisturizing is the foundation of any skincare routine. Frequent contact with chlorinated or salt water, exposure to ultraviolet radiation and overdried conditioned air — all this thins out the hydrolipid barrier, so we often enter the fall season with dry and dehydrated skin. It needs to be intensively moisturized.
Moisturizers also differ, and come in two types: hydrators and moisturizers. Hydrating products absorb moisture from the air and saturate skin cells. If you see that the skin has become dull, thinned, wrinkles and small folds appear (especially after active procedures with acids), then most likely the skin is dehydrated. And first of all, it needs to be thoroughly saturated with moisture with the help of hydrating products — then it will become dense and elastic again.
If the skin is dense, dry, prone to irritation and peeling, very quickly absorbs funds without a visible effect, then most likely the hydrolipid barrier is broken and it cannot retain the nutrients it receives. Products labeled as ‘moisturizer’ replenish lipid deficiencies by creating a ‘film’ on the surface and preventing transepidermal moisture loss.
Therefore, it’s very important to correctly diagnose your skin condition and choose the right moisturizing product.
5. Protection
Despite the fact that summer is over, it must be remembered that the skin needs protection all year round, both from the sun and from pollution. Therefore, when going outside, don’t forget about the sunscreen with an SPF 30 (not less than that) and products marked as ‘anti-pollution’.