Every change of season brings with it an opportunity to update your daily routine. The vast majority of people spend time purging and reworking their wardrobe to match impending weather differences, but neglect to update their hair and beauty products.
We met with local skin, hair and beauty experts to see what we should be swapping out for fall.
Skin
“Dryness and flakiness come with the change of seasons and although it may seem counterintuitive, you really need to be exfoliating,” says Sandra Oulmas from Medical Aesthetics in Tysons. “Over moisturizing, especially in fall and winter, will trap dead skin cells on the surface and prevent hydration from ever reaching deeper layers where it’s really needed.”
Professional chemical peels may also yield desirable results.
“Chemical peels are great for generating growth of new skin cells,” says Sara Cabrisses from Professional Dermatology Care in Reston. “Because of lower sun exposure this process is less damaging during the fall and winter months.”
Other advice includes:
- Using a moisturizer or makeup that has an SPF 30 or above. Cabrisses warns that “you are still getting sun exposure in the fall. We find a lot of skin cancers on the left side of the face from driving in a car.”
- Swaping a weekly face mask for a crystal or enzyme exfoliator.
- Using a mild face wash to avoid irritating and drying out skin during the cooler months.
- Moisturizing regularly.
- Dry brushing your skin to eliminate toxins and improve the appearance of cellulite.
- Getting a full body skin exam by a dermatologist. After summer sun exposure, your dermatologist will look for moles and other dark spots that could point to skin cancer.
Product Recommendations: La Roche-Posay: Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser; Oulmas Paris: Exfolisse Les Crystals; Vanicream: Moisturizing Skin Cream; Aveeno: Eczema Therapy Itch Relief Balm
Hair
Darker tones, smoky hair colors and textured looks are trending this fall.
“Hair is [a] huge expression of who you are. Don’t choose a hair color because everyone else is doing it that season. Instead choose one for your personality and look,” says Mallory Martin, stylist at Eclips Salon and Day Spa of Ashburn.
“Use pictures to communicate wants to your hair stylists,” Martin adds. “Communication is crucial and pictures are the best way to ensure your stylists know what you want or don’t want.”
Martin recommends that people trash products with sulfates and parabens, hydrate hair with a good conditioner and use leave-in spray for added moisture. Keeping your hair’s natural oils is also important. Martin advises that people only shampoo roots and carefully condition from the hair’s mid-shaft to the end.
“When using product, less is always more,” Martin says. “More can always be added later on. Focus [the] product from mid-shaft to the ends of hair, as that hair is dead.”
If you want to style your hair:
- Find a wand with a consistent diameter versus one that tapers in size for a soft, even curl.
- Use a light hold hair spray before heat, curling section by section.
- Use a sea salt spray on damp hair before blow-drying, then a little more once hair is dry.
Product Recommendations: Paul Mitchell: Express Ion Smooth + Unclipped 3-in-1 Wand; Redken: Braid Aid 03 Braid Defining Lotion
If you have fine hair:
- Add dry shampoo to ends for extra texture and volume.
- Lightly rub a dryer sheet over styled hair to reduce static.
Product Recommendations: Redken: Diamond Oil Glow Dry Detangling Conditioner
If you have curly hair:
- Wash hair with cold water, closing the hair follicle.
- Don’t rinse out conditioner.
- Use a hair oil.
Product Recommendations: Pureology: Hyrdate Shine Max Hair Smoother
If you dye your hair darker:
- Use protein-based products to rebuild and strengthen hair.
- Deep condition every two weeks.
- Style with a leave-in spray.
Product Recommendations: Pureology Colour Fanatic line
If you opt for smoky pastels:
- Get a bond builder mixed into your hair color. This treatment will protect the hair’s protein.
- Because cool-tone dyes only last eight to 12 washes, use a color conserving shampoo.
Product Recommendations: Redken: Genius Wash Cleansing Conditioner
Makeup
Monira Mher, a beauty consultant at Ulta in Dulles, stresses matching foundation to lightening skin tones. A bronzer can easily replace or enhance a fading tan.
Summer eyeshadows should be replaced with mattes, metallic and jewel tones, and Mher also says that “darker browns and wine colors for your lips” are currently trending.
As a reminder:
- Replace mascara and liquid eyeliner every three months.
- Replace pencil eyeliners and lipsticks every year.
- Replace lip gloss every six months.
- Replace powder, blush and eyeshadow every two years.
Product Recommendations: Anastasia: Subculture Palette