The integral relationship between the earth and the sun impacts every detail of our lives – from our skin health to our nutrition, sleep, and stress.
Bringing awareness to seasonal changes provides an excellent opportunity to better align our bodies and find optimal health for our skin, mind, body, and spirit.
And with fall right around the corner, there is no better time to switch up your summer skincare staples and prepare your skin (and body) for the transition from summer to fall.
Autumnal Equinox
The autumnal equinox, commonly referred to as the fall equinox, marks the time each September when the sun shines directly onto the equator splitting our day and night into equal lengths. The autumnal equinox marks the beginning of fall for the northern hemisphere and the beginning of spring for the southern hemisphere.
While many meanings, symbols, and celebrations occur around the fall equinox, it can also bring a shift in physical and mental health. So while many of us look forward to our pumpkin-spiced lattes and chunky sweaters, the colder temperatures and shorter days can bring decreased energy, changes in sleep patterns, mood imbalances, and skin irritations.
But don’t worry. Being mindful of these changes can help you prepare to transition from summer to fall.
How to Prepare Your Skin for Fall
Generally, it’s always good to approach skin and body health seasonally. Similar to changing your wardrobe each season, you should also make minor tweaks to your skincare.
Because fall typically brings cooler weather and a drop in humidity, even minor changes can help keep your skin looking great all season long.
Start From the Inside
Preparing your skin for a change of session is as much about what you put on your skin as it is about what you put in your body. Try embracing in-season fruits and veggies supercharged with nutrients that can help reduce inflammation and balance your complexion. Give these six fall foods a try:
- Butternut squash
- Sweet potatoes
- Honey
- Apples
- Turmeric
- Pumpkin
And since I love all things pumpkin in the fall, try these fun ways of incorporating pumpkin into your diet and skincare routine in the fall.
Pumpkin Face Mask
Pumpkin contains Vitamins A, C, and E and antioxidants that help fight wrinkles and sun damage, and zinc and potassium to combat redness. Plus, the natural fruit enzymes in pumpkin help exfoliate dead skin cells.
Try mixing 1 Tbsp of canned pumpkin with 1 Tbsp of plain yogurt and applying it to dark spots. Let sit for 15 minutes and rinse with warm water.
Pumpkin Seed Oil
Pumpkin seed oil has a pleasant nutty taste and is excellent in salad dressings or as a cooking oil. Bonus, it’s high in essential fatty acids that are great for your hair and skin.
Eating Pumpkin and Pumpkin Seeds
For its richness and nutritional benefits, try pumpkin in your pasta or pumpkin seeds on your salad.
Try a Thicker Moisturizer
As temperatures and humidity drop, it’s time to swap out the lighter, oil-free moisturizers you have used all summer. Try a thicker moisturizer with ceramides to help combat dryness all day. Plus, don’t forget your sunscreen – even in the winter!
Still, feeling dry? Try these five additional tips to keep your skin hydrated.
Cut Back on Exfoliating
Exfoliating can be tricky. It’s excellent at removing dead skin cells that may have built up over the summer, but you don’t want to overdue. Exfoliating too often can create tiny cracks on the skin’s surface, leading to further dehydration.
Try exfoliating one to two times per week and cut back on products that contain retinoids or glycolic acid to avoid overdoing it.
Add a Humidifier
The dry heat and low humidity in our homes and offices can break down the skin’s natural moisture barrier leading to flaking, peeling skin. Turning on a humidifier as soon as you turn on your heat can help combat the dry air, keeping moisture levels more stable.
Don’t Forget Your Lips and Under-eyes
Sensitive under eyes and dry, cracked lips are common during colder, windy months. If you aren’t already using a lip moisturizer or under-eye cream, now is the time to consider adding them to your daily routine.
I suggest using a gentle, peptide-packed eye cream and a nourishing lip balm or lip oil to help keep your under-eyes and lips healthy and moisturized this fall.
Be Mindful of Changes in Your Stress
With changes in seasons come changes in schedules, celebrations, and holidays. Most families ramp up their schedules in the fall, leading to an increase in stress. (Think back-to-school, sports, holidays, and more.) Not to mention changes in our sleep and the not-so-awesome weather, it’s easy to experience mood imbalances and stress.
Remember to take a few moments throughout the day and breath. When you’re feeling especially stressed, I recommend the 4-7-8 breathing method.
Breathe in for the count of four
Hold for the count of seven
Breathe out for the count of eight.
Repeat this four to five times, twice daily, to help calm and refocus your body and mind.
Time to Prep Your Skin for Fall
Before you turn on your heat and pile on the sweaters, take some time to prepare your skin and body for fall. Evaluate your products and check out your farmer’s market to best align your skincare with the seasonal changes.
Heal Your Skin from the Inside and Out
Your skin’s appearance reflects your individual state of overall health, age, and environmental factors. Digging deeper to reveal what may be holding you back from achieving the healthy, glowing skin you desire can help you heal your skin from the inside out.
Join me on a skin healing journey different from anything you’ve done before. Learn what the health of your skin may be saying about what’s happening inside your body.
Discover how to align your skincare with seasonal changes using my SkinClock Method.
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