Glow Up for Fall: Seasonal Skin Care Tips

Refreshing your skin care routine every few months is a great idea for a few reasons. Our skin becomes habituated to the ingredients in products which makes them less effective, so mixing up what you’re using on a regular basis will help you get the most from your skin care routine. And as the weather around us changes, your skin’s needs will change too. Here are a few of my favorite products and ingredients to consider adding to your face and body care for Fall in the Bay Area.

Cleanse
Cleansing is a part of skin care all year-round. In the Bay Area, Fall brings special challenges to your skin that cleansing can help address. It is typically still hot, especially in September and October, as well as very dry. There may be strong winds blowing pollution, pollen and wildfire smoke, all of which will end up on your face. If you don’t regularly cleanse your skin, consider giving it a try, especially when getting home from a day out in the world or before bed. I especially like to recommend oil-cleansing, which removes grime and even makeup without stripping your skin of its natural protective oils. My grandmother used Pond’s cold-cream, but I use Clarifying Cleansing Oil, which we carry at Energy Matters, or pure jojoba oil. There are lots of natural cleansing oil products available nowadays, as well as recipes to blend your own. 

Hydrate
You may wish to add more hydration to your skin as we journey through the long months until the Winter rains. You can add a richer moisturizer to your before bed routine, switch to it as your daily moisturizer, or alternate with your standard a few times a week. Some luscious products we carry at Energy Matters include Jade & Ginseng Radiance Moisturizer from the Jade Spa collection, with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and herbal extracts including licorice and ginseng, or Nourish Botanical Serum from Yina, with camellia seed, squalane and herbal extracts including rhodiola and bakuchiol. Pure organic jojoba oil makes a great body moisturizer after bathing, or look for ingredients like cocoa butter, shea butter or sesame oil. Don’t forget about hydrating from the inside! Foods like cucumber, melon, goji berries, pears and apples, chicken bone broth and room temperature beverages will all benefit your body in dry weather.

Even though we’re often having our hottest weather, and the pace of life can feel faster as school and work keeps us busy, the days are getting shorter, the nights longer, and our bodies are seeking a chance to slow down with the earth. Caring for your skin can be an opportunity to pause, close the bathroom or bedroom door and take some quiet time appreciating and nourishing your face, body and spirit. Happy Fall!

About Kirsten Cowan: She is the Clinic Manager at Energy Matters, an acupuncturist and herbalist with specialized training in skin care and dermatology, and keeps our shelves stocked with natural and effective skin and health care products.

Questions about skin and body care or looking for guidance on your skincare routine and the products we carry at Energy Matters? Email Kirsten at [email protected] (or hit reply on this email)! Take advantage of her incredible wealth of skincare knowledge!