The Fall Body Care Routine Pros Recommend

Education

As the temperature changes from one season to another, our body’s skin care needs shift, too. "When humidity levels and temperatures drop, the skin on your body needs adequate solutions to make up for what the environment is lacking," says Sharlena Hassani, a licensed esthetician in Beverly Hills. The skin barrier can become disrupted without proper moisture, adds board-certified dermatologist and founder of Manhattan-based Entière Dermatology Dr. Melissa Levin. This can lead to discomfort in the form of sensitivity, dryness and irritation. To help with this seasonal adjustment, Hassani and Dr. Levin share their suggestions for the ideal fall body care routine.

1. Switch to a thicker moisturizer

Moisturizing the skin is what helps keep it plump and healthy, preventing it from drying out and in turn, preventing sagging and wrinkling, Hassani says. When it gets cold, however, Dr. Levin says the skin tends to get dryer and, therefore, more easily irritated. Warmer showers can also lead to skin barrier disruption, worsening dryness and irritation. For these reasons, Dr. Levin and Hassani recommend switching to a thicker body moisturizer during the fall. Dr. Levin points to body creams, specifically, which contain a higher oil content than lotions, making them thicker and more hydrating for the skin.

That said, Hassani notes that this does depend on where you live and your skin type. If you live somewhere with primarily warm weather year-round (like Southern California, for instance), sticking to your regular body moisturizer should suffice.

2. Always moisturize your feet

Once the temperature gets cooler, most people tuck away their sandals and start reaching for closed-toe shoes. As a result, the feet are often neglected, which is why Dr. Levin reminds us to moisturize our feet daily. "I recommend foot care products that soften, exfoliate and moisturize the dry and rough skin on the heels and soles of the feet," she says.

“The humidity during the fall drops, which is a big contributing factor to why your skin dries out in colder weather.”

3. Exfoliate less frequently

Exfoliating during the cooler months is also vital for maintaining healthy skin. "The humidity during the fall drops, which is a big contributing factor to why your skin dries out in colder weather," Hassani says. "Exfoliating the dead, dry cells on your skin's surface increases skin cell turnover and helps your other products like body oils and moisturizers work more effectively, as they are being absorbed by healthy fresh skin, not the dry, dead, damaged cells stuck to the body's surface."

There is a caveat, though. Dr. Levin recommends decreasing the frequency of exfoliation from every day during the summer to two to three times per week during the fall to help modulate changes in the weather. Specifically, Hassani and Dr. Levin recommend using chemical exfoliants such as glycolic acid, which helps brighten the skin and treat pigmentation.

4. Try body lotion that increases cell turnover

If you add one product to your fall body care routine, make it a retinol body lotion, which Hassani says acts as an anti-aging and skin-renewing treatment, leaving it feeling even, smooth and glowing. "This is especially good for people with sun damage, wrinkles, marks, sunspots and pigmentation from wear and tear, as well as strawberry skin on the legs or anywhere else on the body," she says. Apply the body lotion two or three times per week for best results.

"Exfoliating the dead, dry cells on your skin's surface increases skin cell turnover and helps your other products like body oils and moisturizers work more effectively …”

5. Add dry brushing to your routine

Dry brushing, Hassani explains, "is the process of taking a bristled brush and brushing the skin in an upward motion to help unclog pores, as well as detoxify the skin by increasing blood circulation and lymphatic drainage." She recommends incorporating this ritual into your body care routine before taking a shower. Ensure you use a good body lotion after to nourish the skin. If you have overly sensitive skin, Hassani says you may want to skip this ritual, and if you have any moles, warts, or other skin bumps or lesions, don't go over them with the brush.

6. Visit your dermatologist

And lastly, Dr. Levin says the end of summer, going into fall is an ideal time to book an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist for your annual skin cancer check. "No matter how good we are with applying sunscreen and practicing sun-safe behaviors, inherently, due to spending more time outdoors, increased UV index, and warmer temperatures, sun damage is accumulated," she says. A dermatologist can help game plan which treatments, either medical or in-office procedures, are needed to repair any sun damage and rejuvenate the skin.