Fall is a busy time for most of us, so creating and following a complex beauty regimen ends up pretty low on the to-do list. But thankfully, looking and feeling beautiful doesn't have to be complicated. We tapped top skin, hair, spa, and makeup experts for their best tips to streamline your routine -- your skin will be clear and glowing, your hair will be healthy and shiny, your nails will look perfect, and the rest of you will feel pampered, pretty, and relaxed.
"Professional treatments are great, but it's your daily routine that will really make the difference," says Dallas-based esthetician and spa owner Renée Rouleau.
With a little beauty savvy, you can look (and feel) great in the new season without spending hours in front of the mirror. See exactly how to revamp your beauty routine for fall now and below you can download our PDF tip sheet to easily remember all your new beauty to-dos.
When we're dehydrated or undernourished, it often shows on our skin through blemishes, flakiness, or dullness. So your first step toward fresh, glowing skin is to assess what you're putting into your body.
"Nourishing your body properly by eating raw fruits and vegetables will help strengthen your cells from the inside out," says Howard Murad, MD, associate clinical professor of medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles and founder of Murad, Inc.
In other words, when you think hydration, don't just count glasses of water; think cucumbers, mangoes, and apricots, all of which also boast substantial vitamin A, which helps normalize skin cells.
Joanna Vargas, owner of the Joanna Vargas Salon, Skin Care Sanctuary in New York City, also recommends green juices -- blend apple, kale, parsley, romaine, celery, lemon, cucumber, and ginger -- for a detoxifying boost that helps your skin. "A green juice is great for promoting skin's elasticity and looking glowing all day," she says.
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Make Thursday all about you
It's right after hump day and right before the weekend: Thursday (or, rather, tHERSday™) is the perfect day to pamper yourself -- and you can find time to treat yourself well during the busy workweek. Here's how:
• Start your day with a brisk walk to get your blood pumping, then take a steaming hot shower. Add a few drops of organic geranium or lemon oils to a washcloth and breathe in the calming scents, says Joanna Runciman, a wellness coach and member of Environmental Defence Canada's "Just Beautiful" campaign.
• When you get out of the shower, cleanse your face and put on an exfoliating mask, which you'll leave on while you make some coffee and choose your outfit. After you finish your cup o' joe, make sure to prevent any coffee stains with a fast-acting whitening strip (try REMBRANDT® INTENSE STAIN™ Stain Dissolving Strips, $24.99).
• After work, turn off your phone and the TV for one hour and drink a large glass of pure, unfiltered water with a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, says Kayse Gehret, founder of Soulstice, a vegan, natural cosmetics and body care company. Play with your kids, read a book, or just take the time to chillax.
• Keep pampering yourself until you head to bed. Watch your favorite TV show; give yourself a mani/pedi (including a long, stress-relieving foot soak!); or call your best friend who always makes you laugh.
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Update your hair color for fall
With the new season approaching, take some time to rethink your hair -- especially your color. Celebrity colorist Marco Pelusi says fall is the time to add richness to your hair, regardless of your starting shade. Here are his suggestions to change up your hair:
If you're blonde: "Fall is the time to add lowlights to blonde hair," Pelusi says. "Rich golds, beiges, woodsy tones are lovely -- it's an easy way to become a slightly deeper, warmer blonde for fall."
If you're brunette: Summer has likely given you "a lot of fadage and possibly unwanted brassy tones," Pelusi says. "So feel free to deepen the brown just a bit, maybe even add a form of a rich red, such as auburn. Also, a caramel glaze over the faded summery ends of brown hair is a great choice for just about every brunette."
If you're a redhead: By the end of summer, redheads -- whether they're natural or color treated -- can look "a bit frazzled and faded," Pelusi says. So he suggests "a glaze with a demi-color to add shine and richness." You can also try a vibrant red, which, "if done properly, can even help make the hair look and feel better."
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Simplify your skin care system
Most skin care experts say that all you really need to use in the morning is a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer, and sunscreen. And boom, you're done.
Your next step? It depends on the time of day. "The must-have element in the daytime is sunscreen; for nighttime, it's a retinoid (prescription-strength vitamin A)," says Tanya Kormeili, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles.
Retinoids should only be used at night because they make skin sensitive to the sun, Kormeili explains.
Products containing retinoids are the most effective wrinkle-erasers you can use, says dermatologist Erica Kelly, MD, associate professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston. "Retinoids unclog pores, boost collagen to reduce fine lines, and speed cell turnover to even out discoloration and smooth the skin."
Fall is a busy time for most of us, so creating and following a complex beauty regimen ends up pretty low on the to-do list. But thankfully, looking and feeling beautiful doesn't have to be complicated. We tapped top skin, hair, spa, and makeup experts for their best tips to streamline your routine -- your skin will be clear and glowing, your hair will be healthy and shiny, your nails will look perfect, and the rest of you will feel pampered, pretty, and relaxed.
"Professional treatments are great, but it's your daily routine that will really make the difference," says Dallas-based esthetician and spa owner Renée Rouleau.
With a little beauty savvy, you can look (and feel) great in the new season without spending hours in front of the mirror. See exactly how to revamp your beauty routine for fall now and below you can download our PDF tip sheet to easily remember all your new beauty to-dos.