As we bid farewell to sunny summer days and embrace the crisp, coolness of fall, our skin care routines also need to shift. Moving from hot, humid summer weather into the cool, drier air of fall requires adjustments to keep your skin looking and feeling its very best.
Fall is the perfect time to repair summer sun damage, boost hydration and prepare your skin for the much colder months ahead. Here, we’ll help you transition your skin care regimen for the season ahead with expert tips, treatments and products from our team of licensed clinical aestheticians from the LovelySkin Spa.
Focus on diminishing discoloration
As fall approaches, you may notice more skin pigmentation changes such as dark spots, discoloration or an uneven skin tone. Luckily, fall is the perfect time to start addressing these pigmentation concerns and give your complexion a fresh start.
Amanda M., LovelySkin Spa C.M.E. and Licensed Clinical Aesthetician, explains, “It’s an ideal time to work on evening out discoloration that has built up over the summer. There are two forms of Obagi products, the Nu-Derm with 4% hydroquinone and the over-the-counter Obagi Nu-Derm FX that contains Arbutin. While the prescription version is stronger and works much more quickly, many of our patients transition between the two of them. Luckily, we can supply both with either a prescription visit to the Schlessinger MD clinic or an online telemedicine consultation. Obagi Nu-Derm Clear Fx #3 and Obagi Nu-Derm Blend Fx #5 are excellent products for targeting stubborn dark spots, discoloration and melasma.”
She adds, “Also, if you’re not already using a product that contains hydroquinone, now’s a great time to add it to your routine. Hydroquinone is a powerful ingredient that helps brighten discoloration and create a more even skin tone. I also like swapping out glycolic acid products in the evening for a nightly retinol. For a brightening boost, I mix Obagi Nu-Derm Blend Fx #5 with my retinol. We can also supply prescription-strength Obagi Tretinoin in four different versions in the office or during telemedicine visit.”
Brightening peels for a fresh fall glow
If you’re looking to rejuvenate your skin after months of summer fun, brightening peels are a great way to renew your complexion. These treatments gently exfoliate dead skin cells, improve skin texture and promote a brighter, more even skin tone. Peels containing ingredients like lactic acid, glycolic acid and vitamin C are especially great for restoring a radiant glow.
“One of my favorite treatments for fall is a brightening peel,” shares Jenna H., LovelySkin Spa C.M.E. and Licensed Clinical Aesthetician. “It’s an excellent way to remove dead and damaged skin cells through exfoliation and encourage healthy cell turnover. Peels are especially effective at diminishing discoloration and restoring vibrancy to dull, stressed skin.”
“I recommend a series of three to six peels, spaced one month apart, in the fall to address discoloration from sun exposure. Both the brightening peel and the afa Clay Peel are fantastic options for exfoliating and brightening skin. They also help your at-home products penetrate deeper for even better results.”
Revitalize skin with an afa Clay Peel
An afa Clay Peel has been shown to be one of the most effective in-office treatments available for addressing uneven texture, pigment irregularities, signs of aging, dullness and moisture barrier functions. Bentonite clay draws impurities from deep within, improving clarity and minimizing the appearance of pores.
This clay peel is also enriched with afaLUXE™, a powerful antioxidant-rich ingredient known for its ability to gently exfoliate, hydrate and brighten the skin. Made for patients with normal, oily or combination skin, it’s the perfect way to revitalize and renew skin for the season ahead.
Amanda M., LovelySkin Spa C.M.E. and Licensed Clinical Aesthetician, explains, “The afa Clay Peel is one of my go-tos for fall. It’s a gentle way to address rough texture, unclog pores and diminish dullness, dark spots and dehydration after months of hot or humid summer weather. Plus, it leaves skin feeling soft, smooth and totally rebalanced.”
​​Nourish and rehydrate
Rehydrating your skin should be a top priority as we enter fall. During this transition, it’s common to experience dryness and uneven texture, making it essential to nourish and hydrate your skin, whether indulging in a professional treatment or an at-home skin care ritual.
Joey L., LovelySkin Spa C.M.E. and Licensed Clinical Aesthetician, explains, “When transitioning your skin care for fall, I always encourage my clients to focus on deeply moisturizing skin.”
“In the treatment room, I love administering a Diamond Glow microdermabrasion with the newly reformulated SkinMedica HA5 Hydra Collagen Replenish + Restore Hydrator. This powerful treatment works to gently exfoliate then infuse skin with plumping hydration, eliminating rough patches for a smoother, softer complexion.”
To maintain your professional results at home, our team recommends continuing to use SkinMedica HA5 Hydra Collagen Replenish + Restore Hydrator at home twice daily for continuous hydration.
Joey L. adds, “For a moisturizing boost, I also suggest adding Natura Bisse Essential Shock Intense Mask to your at-home skin care routine, once or twice a week. This creamy mask is deeply moisturizing and works great to nourish and rehydrate skin in colder, drier weather.”
Maintaining healthy hydration
As fun fall festivities continue on, colder temperatures set in. During chillier fall and winter months, your skin requires extra help to stay healthy and properly hydrated. Adding a hydrating serum to your skin care routine and upgrading to a richer moisturizing cream can help keep skin comforted and soft all season long.
Jenna H., LovelySkin Spa C.M.E. and Licensed Clinical Aesthetician, shares, “SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan Multi-Dimensional Volumizing Serum is perfect for boosting hydration without leaving skin greasy. The formula uses pure hyaluronic acid to instantly hydrate and plump skin while increasing glycans to help maintain long-term moisture in the tops layers of the skin.”
Replenishing lipids can also help keep skin feeling soft and comfortable during colder months. SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 Anti-Aging Cream is formulated with ultra-nourishing lipids, ceramides and fatty acids to restore skin’s moisture barrier while diminishing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration and pores.
Jenna H. explains, “Another great way to maintain healthy skin hydration at home this fall is a weekly moisturizing mask. Look for face masks with ultra-hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and natural oils and extracts.”
She adds, “For lingering insect bites, rashes or dry patches, I love FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Body Balm. The healing hydrocortisone formula soothes itching, flaking and dryness, and the convenient stick packaging makes it perfect for on-the-go use.”
Achieve a radiant complexion
At LovelySkin Spa, our team of Licensed Clinical Aestheticians are here to help you achieve your skin goals all year round. We offer a curated selection of professional med spa treatments with a wide variety of skin care benefits, along with skin care recommendations, to fit your unique needs. Book your appointment today to create a customized treatment plan designed to deliver healthy, beautiful skin.