6 Powerhouse products for summer-to-fall skincare
It's tempting to blame a breakout on the lunar cycle but, alas, it’s probably just fall
Good things come in threes and, in fall insofar as your skin health goes, bad things come in threes too!
You may feel tempted to blame a recent breakout on the lunar (or your hormonal) cycle but, alas, it's more likely to be the fault of summer turning to fall. Skin health disturbances unfortunately increase in autumn.
Colder temperatures slow microcirculation, the process responsible for oil flow in your pores, making it difficult for oil and debris to pass through your pores easily. When microcirculation slows, oils become trapped beneath the surface of your skin, leading to breakouts.
You may have also noticed a patch or two of skin discolouration, or pigmentation, a result of heavy exposure to the sun over summertime. In addition to its less-than-loved aesthetic, hyperpigmentation from sunlight is considered a health concern. In many skin types, an abnormal amount of pigmentation (or melanin) can lead to melasma, a discolouration of the face, and more serious age spots in our mature ages.
Finally, 'tis the season for our skin to dive back into its bad dehydration habit. Dehydration is a temporary frustration but for Canadians it can make cool seasons seem to last forever.
With the goal of optimum skin health in mind, here are 3 fixes and 6 finds for healing the breakouts, pigmentation and dehydration that fall and winter eventually bring.
Add BHA To Your Routine To Prevent Seasonal Blemishes
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% is a beta hydroxyl acid (BHA) that exfoliates the skin. Beta hydroxy acid will help microcirculation and the function of your pores so oil and debris don't get caught within and cause breakouts. Not intended for serious or clinically acneic skin, this hero product by The Ordinary is, however, impressively effective in managing seasonal breakouts.
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting BHA 2% Liquid is another boss beta hydroxyl acid (BHA) that will exfoliate the skin, and this cult favourite of skin care connoisseurs is loved for the fact that it's a lotion. While the seasons change, simply add this product to your morning and nighttime regime as an extra lotion — you'll enjoy smoother, brighter and blemish-free skin in no time.
Target Signs of Heavy Sun Exposure With Vitamin C
Caudalie Vine[Activ] 3-in-1 Moisturizer is a super light lotion that is packed with ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, AKA a form of Vitamin C, and the key with this magic ingredient is that it is stabilized. Science talk: "stabilized" means the Vitamin C ingredients won't break down and become ineffective, so the product will last much longer than if the Vitamin C weren't stabilized. Apply this baby all over your face to brighten pigmentation and improve the balanced tone of your skin.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Protect + Repair Moisturizer has blown up to become most beauty lovers' favourite cream with brightening qualities. Sunday Riley herself is the product formulator and literally put her stamp of approval on C.E.O, a heavy duty moisturizer with advanced Vitamin C — her choice for anti-aging potency with the added benefit of brightening to the max. The best part of CEO is the scent, like a basket of Sicilian blood oranges has been infused into your day cream. Delicious.
Get Serious About Hydration With High Quality Cream
Fresh Vitamin Nectar Moisture Glow Face Cream is a no-brainer hydrating cream for all skin types — easy peasy. The brand's in-house research lab developed a proprietary blend of vitamins (C,E and B5) for skin nutrition and glucosyl hesperidin, a flavonoid found in citrus fruit, to perk skin up in the morning like a nice glass of freshly squeezed orange juice does your bod.
This one is for the ladies and gents who feel their skin is too oily for thicker creams. Maria Badescu Collagen Moisturizer is a cult classic, no-fuss moisturizer boosted with collagen, which means your skin will be plump and hydrated all day long. Collagen is watery and sinks right into your skin so there's nothing left on the surface.