Don't Over-Cleanse
“Do not over-cleanse your skin,” says Graceanne Svendson, a licensed aesthetician at Shafer Plastic Surgery. Instead, Svendson recommends doing a little exfoliation and less cleansing, especially in the fall, so you don’t strip your skin of its natural moisture barrier.
Try Monastery Rose Cleansing Oil, $39, which gently and effectively cleanses dry, dehydrated skin with a combination of nourishing facial oils.
Layer Your Products
“Instead of reaching for the heaviest cream possible, it's more beneficial to apply different layers of products to provide multiple barriers,” says dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman. Ointments are more hydrating than creams and creams are usually more hydrating than lotions, she says. Depending on the area and dryness, this can help guide which products to look for.
Maapilim Face Moisturizer, $28, is a natural blend of oils that plays nicely with your other fall skin care products.
Don't Over-Exfoliate
“Over-exfoliation exposes skin, weakens skin-barrier function and, in some cases, triggers inflammation,” Engelman says. If the barrier function is damaged, the skin becomes vulnerable to infection from microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungus, and leads to sensitivity and irritation. And even if the barrier function isn’t visibly damaged, she says that the skin may experience a low amount of inflammation (called chronic inflammation), which prematurely ages skin over time.
It's always wise to use a gentle exfoliant, like Meow Meow Tweet Face Exfoliant, $20, which uses five simple ingredients to gently lift dead skin cells and impurities from your face.
