Skin care tips to help keep your skin healthy this fall

The calendar tells us that the days of autumn have arrived! Usually, that’s the time to trade in those summer clothes for sweaters, boots, and scarves. You may not be out in the sun as much as you would during the summer months, but it’s still important to remember that cooler weather, strong winds, and drier air can take a toll on your skin.

Here are some tips to help you keep your skin healthy and looking great.

Create a good skincare routine. Having an effective skin care routine is important if you want to maintain healthy skin. I highly suggest making an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist, if you don’t have a skincare routine or want to make sure your skincare routine is right for you.

Keep hydrated. You’ll want to keep your daily intake of water up, as it helps your skin cleanse itself and flush out toxins.

Moisturize every day. I can’t stress this enough; If you want to keep dry skin at bay, you need to moisturize your skin on a daily basis. The best time to apply lotion is right after drying off from a shower or bath. Seals in moisture that has already been absorbed by your skin.

Re-evaluate your body cleanser. Use mild soaps that don’t strip oils from your skin. Just make sure your current favorite doesn’t dry out your skin when the cold, dry weather rolls around. You will want to find a shower gel that does not contain soap and is also moisturizing.

Protect your lips. I suggest you start moisturizing early to avoid chapped and chapped lips this winter. A non-petroleum-based lip balm is best, as petroleum-based products have been found to have a drying effect on the lips.

Don’t forget your hands. Moisturize your hands after each wash. With the decrease in humidity during winter, it is easy for hands to dry out and hurt. It’s also a good idea to put an effective sunscreen on your hands.

Don’t forget the sunscreen. Just because you don’t go to the beach as much doesn’t mean you can forget about sunscreen for the next 6 months. Sunscreen is a daily staple.

I am lucky to be in Sarasota, Florida, where the fall and winter are not as harsh as in the northern states. Fall weather isn’t a reason to take a break from skincare gear. Keeping up a good skincare outfit in the fall will help your skin stay healthy and look good.