As the last days of summer draw to a close, so too should your summer beauty routine. Say adieu to the dewy and ease up on the exfoliants because your indoors are about to get a whole lot drier and your outdoors a whole lot harsher.
The time to get your fall-to-winter makeup routine going is…well TBH you should’ve already. But don’t panic! Our beauty editors have your back (well, your face, really) and have compiled your Fast Fall 7 List of must have items you need in your fall arsenal.
So let’s get started…
SWAP OUT THAT SCRUB
First, let’s talk exfoliation. In summer months when heat and humidity have our sebaceous glands working overtime, your skin can handle a heavy scrub. However as temperatures cool, air is less able to retain moisture, which means your skin gets drier…a lot drier. Add in wind burn and indoor dry forced air and you could quickly be doin more harm than good with that summer scrub.
Clarins, 1-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser $38
This fan favorite makes our list for a few reasons. First, it’s great for all skin types. Second, it uses orange and moringa seed extract to clean and soften without unbalancing the natural moisturization of your skin. Last, and definitely not least, it uses uniformly round microbeads to exfoliate which, as most dermatologists will tell you, is the best way to exfoliate. Irregular-shaped exfoliators, such as apricot scrubs and nut shells, can cause micro tears in your skin which actually invites bacteria, leading to skin inflammation, acne and long term skin sensitivity. NO thank you!
PRE-EMPTIVE MOISTURIZATION
In case you didn’t hear, cold weather makes for dry skin. That makes fall/winter the prime time to pull out the big guns. You want something that adds hydration (without clogging, natch) and keeps that hydration in. Sound simple? It can be, but you need to make sure you’re going with top quality ingredients to really get the job done.
BeautyBio, The Quench Moisturizer $125
There are lotions…and then there is The Quench. Made with active ingredients that don’t just add moisture, they actually restore the 4 key lipids (good skin fats) responsible for skin’s protective barrier, bounce, hydration and radiance. No, it’s not the most inexpensive out there, but with 100% of testers remarking how hydrated their skin felt and a clinical trial showing The Quench restored the skin’s barrier in the first 15 minutes of use, this is an investment your skin will thank you for all winter long.
LET’S GET PRIMED!
A primer may not be something you use during the summer months, but it’s an absolute must in winter. Drier skin makes it much more difficult for your face to accept any makeup. Makeup can clump around dry patches, or worse, hungry skin desperate for any moisture could suck in your foundation, creating uneven coloring. Either way, not a good look.
Philosophy, Line Correcting Primer $38
A good primer help smooth your skin, making it a great canvas for makeup. A great primer does all that and is also good for your skin. Philosophy’s Line Correcting Primer uses a combination of Indian gentian extract, sodium hyaluronate and Vitamin C to nourish your skin. It also has a little anti-wrinkle kicker to it that will help reduce the visual appearance of fine lines and wrinkles before you even put the rest of your face together. How confident are we putting this one on our list? It has a whopping 82% reviewer recommendation and a 4.4 star rating.
A GREAT CONCEALER
Next, let’s talk concealers. There are plenty out there, all promising a lot…only to end up in the dark recesses of our makeup bags. Often it’s because the product just doesn’t live up to the hype. Sometimes, the product itself works okay, but the execution is cumbersome, or impractical, or well…just too time-consuming for today’s busy women.
Tarte, Shape Tape Concealer $29
Tarte’s Shape Tape Concealer is definitely not on that list. It’s America’s #1 Concealer, which means it sells more than any other concealer here. It has been so popular that at one point the stores stocking it had to invoke a 2 per person limit on purchases. No wonder it’s achieved a whopping 5-star rating from almost 20,000 reviewers. With 34 shades to choose from, finding your perfect match is no problem. It covers incredibly well and stays crease-proof for a whopping 16 hours of wear. We’ve been singing its praises since it first arrived.
Oh, and speaking of arrival, this cult-classic item sells out fast…and we mean really fast. As in, you should be clicking on the above link right now.
LAY A STRONG FOUNDATION
The not so good news? Blasting building heat has our skin crying for moisture. More time under artificial lighting really shows off any oxidation (the dreaded 4PM Oompa Loompa face). Finally, less daylight exposure means you’re most likely on borrowed time using that deeper summer skin tone.
NARS, Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation $49
Want 16-hour wear that won’t fade or cake while nourishing your skin with raspberry, apple and watermelon extracts? How about breathable, transfer-resistant and paraben free? Oh, you also want it to be oil-free with 34 color tone options? Meet NARS’ Natural Radiant Longwear foundation, with rave reviews from makeup artists to good old 9-to-5 gals…and you’re welcome.
LUMINOUS SETTINGS
More than likely this is the one item of makeup you used most often in the summer. Setting powder is an absolute must in keeping that shine under control. So maybe you think that in cooler months and less oil production a good setting powder seems unnecessary? Au contraire. Setting powder isn’t just for shine control. It helps maintain an even coloring on your makeup throughout the day. And bonus, there are options out there that can actually boost the luminous look of your skin, combating the flat pallor that skin tones tend to fall into in cooler months.
Pacifica Beauty, Crystal Rays Luminous Setting Powder $12
All sorts of amazing natural ingredients go into this little but powerful pot of powder from Pacifica. Watermelon and Vitamin C nourish while dye-free natural minerals absorb and guard against any shifting in your concealer or foundation. But what really puts this one on our list of must-haves is the microfine highlighting mica. Like a great Insta-filter, it deflects and reflects light to create a soft, luminous looks to your skin, IRL. Amazing! And because it’s translucent, it works on any and every skin tone.
LEAVE NO TRACE
Just as important as how you put your makeup on, it’s equally important in how you take it off. Especially in the colder season where thorough scrubbing shouldn’t include just grabbing a bar of soap and a wash cloth. When it comes to removal, especially with so many products now including long hour wear and anti-transfer ingredients, your first move should be a practical one. Namely, a good makeup remover wipe.
BeautyCounter, One-Step Makeup Remover Wipes $20
It used to be that getting off stubborn makeup meant some serious scrubbing. Not so with these wipes from BeautyCounter. Okay sure, you’ve probably tried a few wipes yourself and found them lacking. Too much leftover residue, oily feeling on the skin or worse, super abrasive and damaging. BeautyCounter is changing that narrative with their 1-step remover wipes. It uses a naturally derived micellar formula that traps makeup, dirt, and impurities, with no need to rinse. Aloe Vera delivers hydration, while cornflower water soothes delicate skin. These wipes are gentle enough to use daily on face and eyes. They’re also oil-free. Oh and don’t just take our word for it – 94% of reviewers said these wipes removed all traces of their makeup.
So whether you love the cooler seasons or not, they are here. Make sure your makeup routine is ready for it!
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