You’ve got your new leather boots laced up and jacket strapped on. After all, you’ve been waiting all summer long for a reason to wear them. You’re almost out the door to hit up your go-to café (pumpkin spice latte is back!) Suddenly, you feel like you forgot something. Did I cleanse my skin properly? Check. Did I hydrate? Check. What about sun protection? Check. You take a closer look in the mirror. Your skin seems unusually dull and feels uncomfortably tight. But I did my routine perfectly! Word from the wise: No, you’re not going crazy. And yes, you probably did cross all your t’s and dot your i’s. But the times have changed, and that means that your skincare routine calls for a change, too. Here are a few hacks to make you feel you are on your a-game again.
1. Dryness
The fall season isn’t just cooler, but it brings with it a serious drop in humidity levels. This can affect your face, body, lips and even scalp. As far as your skin goes, a drier climate makes it more prone to dehydration, flaking, and sensitivity. While oilier skin types may have been waiting for this moment all summer long, most of us will find that the moisture levels in our skin have been thrown off. Switch up your summer skincare staples for lightweight yet deeply hydrating products like the EDOBIO Intensive Hydration Serum and Fresh Balancing Toner. You’ll want to incorporate the serum day and night, while the toner can be spritzed on any time your skin starts to feel thirsty. If you’re a fan of Japanese sheet masks, you can’t go wrong with the Megumi no Honpo Hot Spring Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Mask. Beside its affordable price point, the big draw of this mask is its effective combination of hydrating ingredients. Reparative ceramides, plumping collagen, and rejuvenating hot spring water work together to strengthen the skin barrier and increase elasticity and firmness. It’s also a quick solution for busy people on-the-go to nip dry skin in the bud. To make the most of this mask, we recommend massaging the mask’s remaining serum into the skin and following-up with a moisturizing cream to seal the deal.
SHOP: EDOBIO Intensive Hydration Serum
SHOP: EDOBIO Fresh Balancing Toner
SHOP: Megumi no Honpo Hot Spring Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Mask
2. Summer sun damage
Even if you wore SPF religiously all summer long, the fun in the sun might start to haunt you by the time fall rolls around. It’s common to notice dullness, dark spots, and uneven skin tone. For a quick skin rescue, try a Japanese sheet mask or a brightening rinse-off clay mask like the EDOBIO Radiance Booster Mask. The rinse-off clay mask helps repair damage from seasonal stressors, like UV rays, temperature changes, dirt, pollution, and even blue light. For all skin types looking to regain a summer glow, the UNNATURALLY NATURAL Vitamin C Oil Essence helps to tighten pores, even out skin texture, and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The unique blend of fermented plant extracts, essential oils, and skin brightening Vitamin C leaves the skin glowy and firm, making it perfect as a makeup primer for a radiant finish.
SHOP: EDOBIO Radiance Booster Mask
SHOP: UNNATURALLY NATURAL Vitamin C Oil Essence
3. Windburn
A lesser discussed yet equally relevant concern is windburn. If you spend a lot of time outdoors exposed to cold windy air, your skin might turn red and experience a burning sensation. Your skin might even peel, much like a sunburn. It’s advised to wear long sleeves, pants, and cover your face with a scarf to prevent windburn, but it also helps to hydrate your skin with a dense Japanese face cream like the La Vie Précieuse MOIST A.P.G. Cream. The MOIST A.P.G. Cream is formulated with AP ceramide, an ingredient that specifically strengthens the skin barrier and helps defend it from outside forces.
SHOP: La Vie Précieuse MOIST A.P.G. Cream
4. Stress
Sometimes our beauty woes go farther than skin deep. Autumn anxiety is the tendency for people to suffer from an overcast mood during the fall months, and it can be triggered by numerous changes, including the start of new school year, stress from the upcoming holiday season, or SAD (seasonal affective disorder). People with SAD experience elevated serotonin levels during the summertime due to sun exposure, but might find themselves struggling with the shorter days, longer nights, and indoor lifestyle of colder seasons. If you’re feeling blue, your skin is bound to as well. Your self-care routine should feel relaxing and stress-free. We recommend downsizing to simple all-in-one products like the face and body Mutenka Sekken Kobe Sake Cold Press Soap. Handcrafted with luxurious all-natural ingredients like fermented rice liquid and rice bran oil, this Japanese bar soap not only nourishes dry skin but its relaxing spa-like scent soothes the mind and soul.