by Jennifer J. Raymond

Created on: September 11, 2008   Last Updated: September 17, 2008

Fall is such a beautiful time of year with the abundant mix of colored leaves along with the crisp and bright mornings. It's the perfect time to reassess your skin regime to give your skin a boost and revitalise your complexion.

The intense summer sun may have gone and whether visible or not, the sun will have left its mark, by damaging skin cells leaving it unable to retain water, resulting in dry and aged looking skin. The contrasting conditions of the cooler climate of fall outdoors and the artificial heating indoors can also play havoc with your skin at this time of year.

Whatever skin type you have, under all these harsh conditions your best ally is a good moisturizer. Moisturizers act as a barrier to lock in water and replenish oils to rehydrate the skin. There are many varieties of moisturizer available and it is important to choose one that suits your skin type. Most importantly for skin of all ages, whatever your sun habits, prevention is better than cure so choose a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15 and use it daily, even in the winter. If you have oily/combination skin, choose a moisturizer that is oil free, with added mattifying emulsion to help reduce shine. Normal skin can cope with most moisturizers, but opt for a light cream that absorbs easily into the skin. For dry skin, choose a rich, oil-based moisturizer. Apply the moisturizer twice a day, preferably after cleansing and toning. Massage a thin layer all over the face and neck with your fingertips, ensuring that it is completely absorbed by the skin.

Exfoliation creams are another easy yet effective way of rejuvenating the skin. The upper layer of the skin is continuously being replaced by new cells, which move their way to the outermost part of the skin where the dead cells are eventually sloughed off. This whole process takes about 30 days but is partly controlled by how quickly the cells are being lost. Exfoliation creams work by gently removing the dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. This smoothes the skin, increases cell turnover and keeps the skin looking youthful and radiant. Facial exfoliation can form part of your weekly skin routine. There are exfoliation creams designed for each skin type, so choose one to suit your complexion, look for added chemicals such as glycolic acid to further breakdown the dead cells to reveal a brighter complexion.

Your skin is the first line of defense to the outside world, so this fall keep your skin in tiptop condition by gentle exfoliation and moisturizing. By devoting a little time each day to care for your skin, it will look revitalised long after the leaves have fallen from the trees.

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