As the seasons change and the air becomes colder and drier, it’s common for your skin to feel tight, dry, or lack its usual glow. With the heat cranking up and the furnace drying out your environment, your skin needs extra hydration to stay healthy and balanced.
Hydration is crucial because it maintains the skin's moisture balance, which helps prevent dryness, tightness, and irritation. Properly hydrated skin supports the skin barrier, ensuring it remains strong, resilient, and capable of protecting against external factors like pollution and harsh weather. Hydrated skin is also more supple, making it appear smoother, plumper, and less prone to fine lines.
Signs of Dehydrated Skin:
- A tight, dry feeling (even if your skin is oily)
- Moisturizer or oil sitting on top of the skin
- Fine lines seem more prominent
Here are essential steps to maintain skin hydration this fall:
- Don’t Skip Your Hydrating Toner: Hydrating your skin post-cleanse is a key step in your skincare routine. A hydrating toner not only replenishes moisture but also helps other products, like oils, penetrate the skin more effectively. This step is key to maintaining softness and elasticity, especially during drier months. Pro-tip: if you have very dry or dehydrated skin, try layering your hydration—apply a toner before and after your serum for extra moisture.
Our favourites: Laurel Elixir I (for dry, mature, rosacea), Laurel Elixir II (for oily, sensitive, acne, irritation), Skin Frequency Equilibrium Mist (for all skin types),
2. Hydration Heroes: Ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Marshmallow Root, or Indian Senna Seed act as humectants, pulling water deeper into the skin, leaving it plumper and dewy-looking. Incorporate a serum or mask with these ingredients for hydrated, healthy glow.
Our favourites: LILFOX Cupu Cool Hyaluronic Jelly Balm + Mask, Laurel Hydration Compound, LILFOX Flower Goo, Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Masque
If your skin is still feeling dry despite using hydrating products, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Use more toner: Aim for 6-8 spritzes to fully saturate your skin and don't let it dry before adding your serum or moisturizer. Your skin should still be damp when applying an oil or cream product.
- Check your cleanser: Harsh or drying cleansers can strip essential oils and make it difficult for products that follow to do their job. Refer back to our Routine Check: Your Fall Cleansing Switch-Up for guidance on selecting the right cleanser.
- Lock it in: Always follow your hydrator with a moisturizer that matches your skin type to seal in moisture and prevent water loss throughout the day.
- Internal health: Drinking enough water and eating healthy fats are important factors to your overall health, including the health of your skin. Stress, allergies, caffeine and alcohol intake (sorry!) are also factors that affect hydration.
Check out other articles in Fall Routine Check series:
Routine Check: Switch Up Your Cleanser For Fall
Routine Check: Hydration Matters (This article)
