Hello Fall, Get the Best Skin for the New Season

When the new season rolls in - just as we change our wardrobes, our skincare routine needs some adjustments too.

First, we need to deal with the reminiscence of fun summer days that were possibly not so much fun to our skin. Travels, less sleep and more outdoor time, combined with a lot of sun, humidity and changes in lifestyle associated with vacation, are just a few factors that can make our post summer skin starving for attention.

On the other hand, cooler, less humid but often unpredictable autumn weather, when coupled with the stress related to return to work and school, indoor heating, and more demands on our time may create a different stress to our skin. And… don’t forget the Holliday Season that starts in the Fall and lasts through the bigger part of winter. You certainly don’t want to get into those holidays with skin having acne blemishes, spots or with a dull and tired-looking complexion.

Summer often leaves us with some unpleasant reminders including more acne breakouts and dark spots. More breakouts may occur due to harsh summer weather that can lead to a buildup of dead skin that will mix with sebum which invites bacteria to grow and cause inflammation. In addition, changes in the schedules and time zone, extra alcohol and less sleep may trigger some hormonal imbalances that will increase sebum production. There is no overnight treatment for acne so start your skin re-balancing act with AcnEase 2.0 www.acnease.com as soon as possible so your skin is clear and glowing for the Holidays.

The other frequent and bothersome reminder of summer are dark spots or changes in the skin pigmentation. Why do they happen? Because your skin produces more of its natural color (melanin) to help protect itself from damaging sun and its UV rays—meaning long days in the sun can lead to discoloration. One of the best solutions to remove those dark spots is a combination of gentle natural acids and antioxidants during the day and non-irritating but efficacious new generation of the Retinol for the night. https://www.acnease.com/products/accelerated-botanical-brightening-serum.htm

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In addition to specialty treatments the shift from summer to fall brings broader needs to adjust to different environmental stressors (both external and more personal) that can impact our skin. Below are some important tips to return your complexion to perfect shape just for Holliday Season.

Cleansing:

• Switch to a gentler, hydrating cleanser to remove dirt and impurities without stripping your skin from basic sebum. Remember – your skin is really smart- if you over-dry it your skin may respond by producing more sebum which in turn may initiate “acne cascade”.
• Consider a creamy or oil-based cleanser for dry skin, or a foaming cleanser for oily skin.

Exfoliating:

• Gentle Exfoliating once a week to remove dead skin cells and promote cell turnover can do wonders for your glowing and healthy skin. It may also help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
• Choose a gentle exfoliator with glycolic acid, or lactic acid.

Hydrating:

• Focus on deep hydration, THE holy grail of autumn skin routine. Whatever you use- creams, lotions, serums, moisturizers, and toners they all should have a moisturizing quality.
• Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and niacinamide, which attract and retain moisture.
• Apply a thick layer of moisturizer after cleaning and exfoliating, especially if your skin is dry or sensitive.

Protecting:

• Don't forget sunscreen, even in the fall. UVA rays can penetrate through clouds and windows, causing damage to your skin.
• Fall may be a good time to switch from a sunscreen to a sunscreen moisturizer or even to a powder with SPF. Powder offers protection without causing acne breakouts and absorbs excess oil and can be typically applied right on top of makeup.

• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

Additional Tips:

• Avoid hot showers, the hotter the water the more it dries the skin. Much like sunburn, hot water causes the skin to become inflamed and disrupts the natural production of oils. To prevent this and protect your skin avoid extreme temperatures and if you want to use the steam-room, jacuzzi, hot bath or shower take care of your skin before and after to prevent excessive exfoliation and help your skin retain moisture.
• Put a moisturizer on your face and neck before the steam room or jacuzzi
• Pat your skin dry without rubbing to prevent too much exfoliation and… irritation.
• Use face and body moisturizer immediately after the session.
• Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air.
• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated from the inside out. Usually, a good rule of thumb is 6 glasses of water a day. However, if you’re taking certain medications or working out often, you may want to drink more. If you have trouble remembering (or liking) to drink water, you can still stay hydrated by incorporating foods with high content of water into your diet. Cucumbers, lettuce, watermelon, and strawberries are all high in water content and low in sugar.
• Consider adding a retinol and vitamin C serum to your routine for anti-aging benefits. https://www.acnease.com/products/retinol-rx.htm ; https://www.acnease.com/products/vitamin-c-antioxidant-serum.htm
• Don’t forget to protect your lips: with the cooler weather ahead, don’t forget to show your lips some love. Keep them moisturized and protected with a nourishing lip balm to prevent dryness and chapping.
• Read the labels: look for words like noncomedogenic which means the product is unlikely to clog your pores and cause breakouts
• Don’t forget about Combination Skin

Combination skin types often notice that they have an oily T-zone with drier cheeks. Many people with combination skin tend to use a strong, medicated cleanser to control oiliness, while they should rather focus on the dry skin and use a mild cleanser in cool water to avoid exacerbating parched areas and triggering irritation.

Next, treat your cheeks and T-zone differently. For combination skin, you’ll need to reach two levels of moisturizer. Now that drier fall weather is here, your T-zone might be far less oily than it was in the summer, and you may be more willing to moisturize. In the T-zone area, apply lightweight moisturizer (these are lotion-based, not cream) labeled noncomedogenic, or water based.

On the cheeks, use a slightly stronger moisturizer. Look for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, a natural component of skin that can draw in and hold moisture. Research shows that hyaluronic acid can instantly increase skin hydration and improve texture and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles when used over six weeks