7 Ways to Take Care of Your Skin in Autumn

It's not only the skin that needs to be protected from the powerful summer sun. In autumn, the mild weather can also cause damage. Find out how to take care of your skin in the fall here!

Reviewed and approved by the nurse Leidy Mora Molina.

Written by Luz Marina Carpio Hernández

Last update: 09 October, 2022

Taking care of your skin in autumn is necessary to alleviate possible damage caused by the summer. Although skincare shouldn’t be ignored during any season of the year, it’s advisable to adapt your skincare habits to what your skin requires according to the weather.

After exposure to the summer sun, it’s common to experience spots, dehydration, or redness of the skin. These effects can be treated and must be healed before the winter can make them worse. However, your efforts should not just be focused on your face, but also on your whole body.

It’s essential to start from the inside out and include substances that match the particular traits of your skin type. Bearing this in mind, let’s take a look at why it’s essential to create a routine.

The importance of skin care in autumn

The Mexican Society of Dermatological and Oncological Surgery defines skin care as the use of hygiene, moisturizing, and photoprotection products that have a good tolerance profile and that have been tested on a diseased dermis.

Carrying out this task in autumn goes beyond aesthetics. It’s a matter of understanding and caring for the skin as a protective barrier against any external agent. Bacteria, cold, heat, and pollution all fall into this category.

In addition, healthy skin is a mirror of our physical and mental health. And that’s not to mention that skin neglect accelerates the physical signs of aging and transforms the dermis into a vulnerable organ.

When our skin is properly cared for, it looks like elasticity, luminour, and soft. In autumn, this becomes even more important because there’s often a mixture of hot, rainy, and windy days that can compromise the health of our skin.

Tips for skin care in autumn

The continuous variations in temperature that usually occur in autumn merit respecting a strict skincare routine. During this season, it’s important to put into practice tips such as the ones listed below.

1. Moisturize your skin

To take care of your skin in autumn, make sure to hydrate it both internally and superficially. Drink enough water and take advantage of the water naturally contained in certain types of food. Also, apply moisturizing cream all over your body regularly.

The Fundación Piel Sana points out that water is the major component of the skin and that its contribution is key to maintaining turgor and elasticity. They also add that a dehydrated dermis becomes less elastic and more problematic.

2. Change your facial cleanser

When moving from one season to another, it’s a good idea to change your hygiene cosmetics. In autumn, there’s supposed to be less perspiration, and the skin isn’t as oily. Therefore, products made with natural ingredients are good for you.

3. Always remove your make-up before going to bed

If you don’t remove your makeup, your pores will become clogged. Every night before going to bed, cleanse your face until there are no impurities left. The face is better-oxygenated when it’s free of makeup; this action is beneficial to prevent early wrinkle formation and acne breakouts.

4. Exfoliate your skin

Exfoliation is part of deep cleansing, as it removes dead skin debris. Schedule an exfoliation at least once a week using light substances so as not to irritate your skin. Look for products with vitamin E or try natural exfoliants.

5. Take quick showers and without too much soap

Perhaps the colder weather will make you want to take a hot shower. It’s not wrong to take one, but make sure to shorten the time and use water at a moderate temperature; skin that’s been exposed to hot water for a long time loses strength in its protective layer and gains a dehydrated appearance.

Another recommendation regarding your bathing or showering is to opt for pH-neutral soap or cleansers, as they’re gentle and don’t alter the skin’s properties.

6. Eat healthily

A publication in the journal Dermato-Endocrinology reports that vitamins, carotenoids, tocopherols, flavonoids, and various plant extracts contain antioxidants that are beneficial for skin care.

While you find this in topical applications and oral supplements, you get the best advantage of it through food. Get nutrients in a varied diet abundant in fiber, vitamins A, B, C, E and minerals. Here are some of the best sources:

• Yogurt
• Eggs
• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Legumes
• Nuts

7. Don’t forget sunscreen

The sun’s rays are harmful in any season of the year, so you should always wear sunscreen. It’s clear that during autumn, the radiation decreases in intensity, but this doesn’t mean that the chances of damage to the skin decrease. On the contrary, cold and dryness are quite harmful.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicates that broad-spectrum sunscreens are essential to prevent skin cancer and protect the skin from other conditions.

For its part, the American Association Against Cancer suggests taking care of the skin in the following way:

• Cover up and seek shade when you have to spend a lot of time outdoors.
• Make sure the sun protection factor is at least 30.
• Limit your direct exposure to the sun, especially between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

A “peeling”: A plus for skin care in the autumn

An extra tip for skin care is the application of a peeling. This type of cosmetic treatment balances the pH, renews the appearance and moisturizes the skin.

In autumn, this type of exfoliation is perfect because there’s less probability of hyperpigmentation due to the substances applied as the intensity of the sun’s rays decreases. So, are you going to give it a try?