As a young entrepreneur, life sometimes gets the best of me and my self-care regimen is thrown out of whack due to a busy schedule. Self-care, to me, includes consistently sticking to my skincare regimen and generally, my wellness and beauty routine. SheaMoisture products are some of my favorite so I’ve been reaching for them more regularly this season.
I’ve found that I am at my best when I take time to care for myself. Doing so also helps me keep my mental and emotional health in check.
Now that we’re in the fall season, I’m paying particular attention to my wellness routine and in particular my skincare regimen. I’m noticing that as the days get shorter, and the air a little crispier, my skin has felt drier than it did in the summer.
To keep my body glowing and thriving from the inside out, here’s how I’ve tweaked my skincare regimen for the fall:
Facial Care
1. Cleanse
Instead of using a soapy cleanser, I’ve opted for a gentle foam based formulation that lifts dirt and make-up off my skin without leaving it feeling stripped. My current favorite is Innisfree’s Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam and another favorite is Shea Moisture’s African Black Soap.
2. Tone
For my toner, I’ve found that I reach more for witch hazel extract. According to Dr. Josh Axe, a certified doctor of natural medicine, he claims “the leaves and bark from the [Witch Hazel] plant are used to make a skin-healing astringent that’s capable of naturally reducing acne, blisters, insect bites, poison ivy, inflammation and much more.”
To tone my skin, I dilute one tablespoon of witch hazel with a quarter a teaspoon of grapeseed oil and apply the mixture to my skin. A toner that works quite similarly to my DIY mix is Shea Moisture’s Kukui Nut & Grapeseed Oil Youth Infusing Toner.
3. Moisturize
I massage a few drops of Argan Oil into my skin to keep it supple. Argan Oil is said to have a consistency that is quite close to sebum so as opposed to heavier oils like Castor Oil, it literally melts and disappears into my skin. It doesn’t leave me greasy but rather my skin feels extra soft to the touch and has the most subtle and delicate glow.
Argan Oil is quite widely available online but two of my current favorites are Elma & Sana 100% Pure Organic Argan Oil or cold pressed Argan Oil is by Shea Moisture.
Body Care
Even though I’m bundling up a lot more this fall season, that doesn’t mean my body is safe from the drying effects of indoor heating and outdoor elements like wind, rain, and snow. So I’m keeping my skin supple by exfoliating, moisturizing and hydrating frequently.
1. Exfoliate
Dry, cracking and peeling skin is hardly a pretty sight in the fall. To keep my skin rejuvenated and fresh, I’ve opted to invest in a couple of Shea Moisture scrubs. I love how they smell and they always leave my skin feeling extra fresh. My favorite scents are 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Ground Coffee Scrub and the Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Energizing Hand & Body Scrub.
2. Moisturize
During the fall, I’m usually wrapped up in a scarf, a long coat, and some thigh-high boots so my actual skin is usually pretty much hidden away. But my hands tend to be left exposed when not in gloves, so to keep them moisturized I keep my Shea Moisture Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil Intense Hydration Hand Cream in my bag at all times.
When it comes to the rest of my body, I’m lathering my skin in heavy butter right after I shower. I prefer tp whip up my own butter at home. Here’s a simple D.I.Y recipe:
- Mix one tablespoon of virgin, cold pressed olive oil with one tablespoon of virgin, cold pressed grapeseed oil
- Heat it up for three minutes in a cup of hot water
- Add the mixture to half a cup of pure raw shea butter
- Whisk it until you achieve a uniform consistency
- Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to scent and voila! You are well on your way to the perfect glow!
3. Hydrate
Healthy skin usually starts with a healthy diet. Drinking good ol’ plain water is the perfect place to start – eight to ten glasses a day is the recommended amount. But just to go the extra mile, I’m drinking a super-charged smoothie at least once a week to detox and deeply hydrate my body from the inside out.
I don’t have a perfect recipe per se, but my smoothie usually consists of one whole lemon, a single clove of garlic, a slice of ginger, a teaspoon each of ginger, turmeric and cinnamon, a dash of moringa powder and about half a cup of aloe vera juice. I crush the ingredients in my blender and then gulp the mixture all down. It doesn’t taste great, but it sure does give me that extra spring in my step.
Has your skincare regimen changed this fall? What products are you using to keep your skin moisturized?
