Ms Lynn Beauty: Fall Beauty Closet

Summer has officially left us and now that we have settled into fall it's time to clear out your beauty closet.The drop in moisture and temperature can leave your skin drier than the Sahaara dessert. To prevent your skin from feeling like an emery board, throw away that almost empty tube of lightweight moisturizer that kept your skin semi-matte on the beaches of East Hampton. Along with your moisturizer, get rid of all extra oil absorbing products: extra foaming cleansers, foaming scrubs. Stop treating your skin like you would your dishes. All that foaming action is not the best thing for your skin in this climate. Unless you have oily or acne prone skin, you are allowed to keep a product that will control excessive oil production.

You want products that will keep your skin moist and supple through the increasingly dry and cold weather. Also, indoor heat is a major factor in dehydrated skin.

Find a cleanser that thoroughly cleanses without stripping your skin. The more you strip, the more oil skin produces to compensate. Products containing salicilyc acid will help rid the skin of dead skin cells and any bacteria trapped in pores. Next, exfoliate with a scrub to really stimulate and prepare your skin for any treatment that will follow. Do not overscrub and don't apply any pressure. You should be using the tips of your fingers and let the exfoliating beads to their job. I see women do this all the time, just rubbing and rubbing... Ouch! Just don't.

It's very useful to have a mask or two on hand to use once a week. Depending on your skin type, one should be hydrating, purifying or clarifying. This should be performed after the exfoliating step. The last step is very important. Actually, the first and the last steps are crucial. The first sets the tone (literally) to your routine. Before anything else happens, skin has to be squeaky clean. The last, is where anti-aging, anti-oxidizing, anti-glycating can happen. This is when your skin receives all the necessary nourishment and protection it craves and needs. Look for a moisturizer that contains anti-oxidants like vitamins A, C and E. If you can find a moisturizer that contains all three then you're in good shape. Other ingredients to look for are natural oils and humectants like shea butter, olive oil, sunflower oil, honey extract, stearic acid and glycolic acid. Obviously, what you choose will depend on your skin type and it's needs.

Here are a few options for each skin type.

Oily/Acneic skin