It’s Fall! Your Skin To-Do List

Skin & Wellness Tips for Seasonal Transition

Happy Fall Equinox!

Seasonal transitions are the perfect time to assess your habits and routines. Fall, in particular, seems to be a universal favorite for many people because of the relief from summer heat and the coziness of sweaters and warm elixirs. Consider what rituals you can bring in or let go of to help your body and mind prepare for what’s to come.

This time of year can also get a little tricky with less sunlight, cold air drying our skin and less time outdoors. There is also a feeling of anticipation and some real stress with upcoming holidays to manage and plan for (creating the magic is alot of work for a mom!) But, the goal for me is always to find ways of going with the flow so I can find a little magic for myself too.

Here are some ideas to help balance your mind and body so you can feel better in your skin as we move through the last quarter of 2024.

Nourish: I often turn to Ayurveda for inspiration when it comes to seasonal transitions. As the air becomes cooler, the leaves get dry and the wind picks up, it’s important that we stay grounded. Ayurveda emphasizes a shift from raw salads and cold drinks of summer to warm stews and soups, hot elixirs and root vegetables. This is not to suggest totally eliminating salads, but adding in more cooked foods will naturally ground your energy.

One of the easiest ways to ground with food is to roast a pan of your favorite vegetables. I love roasting carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, mushrooms and yellow squash. A sprinkle of salt and pepper, a drizzle of olive oil and a heavy garnish of parsley will make this a nourishing staple to your meals for the week. You can add to a whole grain, soup broth or protein for a grounding and balancing meal.

Spice: Two of my favorite fall spices are cinnamon and cardamom. Consider a sprinkle of each in your morning coffee. Cinnamon is known for its longevity benefits because it balances blood sugar. Cardamom helps negate jittery effects from caffeine so you are left with a calm energy from your morning brew!

Hydrate: Chia seeds became trendy about 10 years ago but they are still worth keeping in your kitchen to support internal hydration and smooth skin. Have a jar of chia gel prepared in your fridge for the week. All you do is add water and chia seeds to a jar (I don’t ever measure but a ratio of a little more water than chia usually does the trick!) When the chia seeds soak up the liquid, they form a gel around each seed.  This gel “collects” toxins as it moves through your organs acting as a detoxifier.  The healthy amounts of omega 3 fatty acids in these beauties will do wonders for your skin.

Consider adding this “Skin Smoothing Chia Cereal” to your Fall menu.

The combination of healthy fats, protein, vitamins and minerals make this “cereal” a nutrient rich powerhouse that will satisfy your appetite and make your body happy.  

Combine 2 TB chia seeds, 2 TB hemp hearts, 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder and 1 cup of non-dairy milk of your choice. I also like to add frozen banana and pumpkin seeds.  

Prepping this the night before is helpful for busy mornings, but if you make it the day of it just needs to sit for at least 10 minutes.  

Move: Reach, bend, twist, squat, stretch! Our bodies are meant to move frequently throughout the day. This is especially helpful to remember during this time of year when we naturally stay in doors more often. A helpful habit to get into is to not wait until you have an hour to “workout” but finding a few minutes to incorporate stretching or some type of gentle movement a few times of day will connect you back to yourself, enhance circulation and give you a energy boost…with a glow! If you are seated for long periods of time at work, set a timer for every 30 minutes. Take 1 minute to stand up, stretch your legs, do a few calf raises, take a deep breath and quick walk around the office.

Glow: Adding a few drops of your favorite oil to your moisturizer (face and body!) is an easy and effective way to add extra hydration to your body and it gives you a natural glow! There are many options to consider but my favorites are jojoba and rosehip. You can find these very reasonably priced on Amazon or I also love Mountain Rose Herbs. If you need to tend to extra rough areas like heels an elbows, a dash of shea butter is amazing. Just make sure you are buying organic and without extra additives.

Legs up on wall: Our lymph system doesn’t move on its own, so it’s very helpful to give it some support. A simple ritual of elevating your legs is so helpful to your body after a long day to increase circulation and relieve any heaviness you may feel. 10 - 15 minutes is all you need. You can put them on a wall or just as long as they are elevated above your heart will be enough to have benefits.

Evening Elixir: Adding hot tea to your routine as you wind down in the evening will nourish your nerves and prepare your body for a rejuvenating beauty sleep. I like to look for herbal formulas that are known to soothe the gut, support the skin. One of my favorites is The Cleanser Tea from Organic Olivia. I add a dash of manuka honey for a little sweetness and immunity benefits.

Cleanse: It’s important that we think of detox as a daily necessity and crucial that we eliminate regularly (like everyday) to move toxins out of our body. This includes excess hormones like estrogen! Our bodies are great at doing this, but we are bombarded with toxins in our daily life. Consider adding a magnesium oxide supplement to your evening routine. It will infuse your system with fresh oxygen molecules with the added benefit of magnesium which keep things moving along consistently.

I love Kimberly Snyder’s Feel Good Detoxy 2.0 and take it right before bed each night. I have always said it’s my #1 beauty secret!