As leaves fall and the temperature drops, we habitually trade in our shorts & tanks for cozy knit sweaters & jeans. But while we are transitioning our wardrobe, we shouldn’t neglect our beauty cabinet. After all, our complexions face the outside environment head on – it’s least likely to be covered by any article of clothing (well, not during the fall at least). Wind, UV, pollution – our faces gets the worst of these dehydrating, ageing environmental assaults.

People tend to love the idea of keeping the same beauty ritual all year around – and while it may work in locales where weather doesn’t fluctuate with seasons, it is not quite practical for those of us who experience a cyclical temperature change. For example, an oily skin type rarely wants to apply anything on their skin during humid, summer months, but may still feel dehydrated as the weather cools, and the air becomes drier. Similarly, a dry skin type will not likely want to layer on product after product during the summer, but may want to amp up their moisturizers during cooler months.

But hey, I get it. Nobody wants to overhaul their entire skincare regimen. It’s expensive and just too much work to figure out what to switch into next. So let me introduce to you a little trick… it’s what I call the art of seasonal layering. The basic premise is this: add on a “layer” during cooler, drier months and remove the “layer” when the weather gets warmer. Think of it as layering on a sweater during winter and forgoing it during the summer.

Essences and serums are packed with so many moisturizing, anti-aging, and targeted treatments for specific concerns, that you can feel pretty good about either one you choose, as long as it works with your skin type. Starting in the fall, add a layer to your beauty regimen. Layer an essence or serum after cleansing and follow up with a moisturizer. Naturally, we are partial to our hydrate mi beauty essence for fall, providing a boost of hydration just when we need it!

For Oily Skin Types
Opt for an essence, which is lighter in texture. You’ll still get a hydration packed product that shouldn’t clog your pores. Find an essence that will also target your specific concerns (i.e. redness + irritation) so you get the best ‘bang for your buck.’ Our de-stress mi beauty essence, for example will combat redness, irritation, rebuild skin barriers and pack on hydration. Follow up with a moisturizer formulated for oily skin to ensure that you are adequately quenching parched skin without causing further breakouts.

For Normal/Combination Skin Types
Choose a serum if you are on the drier end of normal, or an essence if you lean more towards combination skin. Combination skin types – if you want to get fancy, you can apply a serum on the drier areas of your face and an essence on the oilier areas (i.e. T-zone). Follow up with a moisturizer formulated for normal/combo skin.

For Dry Skin Types
Go for a serum, which tends to be richer and more nourishing in texture. Deeply penetrating, a serum will provide the topical nutrients that your skin craves. Following up with a moisturizer for dry skin will only enhance the results.

And regardless of your skin type, don’t forget to continue to exfoliate! Exfoliation will help get rid of dead skin cells which can actually block moisturizers from effectively absorbing into the skin. I recommend exfoliating 2-3x per week. Avoid over-exfoliation though, as doing so can produce the opposite result.

Happy Fall lovelies and thanks for tuning in to our first Wellness Wednesday post! Please feel free to ask questions or comment in the section below. We also encourage you to request for specific Wellness Wednesday topics as I will be discussing all things health & beauty here… and yes, that will be every Wednesday :). Cheers to your new autumn glow!