As summer winds to a close, it’s time to embrace new skincare routine. We need a new routine that both corrects the sun damage created by increased outdoor exposure during the warm-weather season, and that begins prepping the skin for the unique challenges of the winter months.

Cool air and wind can be extremely drying to skin, and if it hasn’t had enough renewal and recovery time from summer’s toll, you’ll miss out on that luminous glow for the holidays. There are several very simple and cost-effective ways to make autumn your skin-survival season.

Here are a few fall-specific tips for gorgeous skin:

Stay Hydrated - It’s important to maintain a plentiful daily intake of water to aid in elimination of toxins that build up in the body and pores. When you don’t drink enough water, fluid volumes become diminished and the body’s ability to remove toxins is also decreased resulting in a dull complexion and increased frequency of breakouts as the toxins exit the body through the skin. Increased water consumption not only keeps the body hydrated but also decreases the amount of toxins eliminated through the pores helping to maintain a radiant, clear complexion. Opening up the pores by using saunas and exfoliating products in addition to drinking water can also go a long way in improving skin health.

Switch your lotion to a cream - As fall approaches, humidity levels drop making the skin naturally dryer and tighter. An easy way to increase hydration is to switch your daily moisturizer to a cream, which will help your skin moisture more effectively than a lotion. Regular use of hydrating creams will not only help to prevent water loss, they will also aid in restoring moisture balance and elasticity to the outer layer of the skin. Comfort Zone’s Hydramemory Cream is a wonderful moisturizer that can be used daily to provide maximum hydration for dry skin.

Continue Sun Protection - Winter doesn’t necessarily mean a break from sun exposure, especially for those who exercise or work outdoors. UV rays still penetrate clouds and overcast skies, and reflect off water, cement, sand, and snow. Try to find moisturizers and mineral make-up that have SPF and use them daily all over the face, body and hands to protect them from these harmful rays. For daily coverage, try Comfort Zone’s Skin Resonance Cream SPF 15 and combine it with natural mineral make-up, like La Bella Donna which contains SPF 20.

Exfoliate - Oil, chemicals and dead skin cells can build-up on skin over time, especially after the summer season so it’s important to slough off this layer regularly to reveal fresh, glowing skin underneath. Exfoliating with a scrub that contains natural ingredients used once a week is just enough to keep skin healthy and new and to help rid dry skin of flakes. For those that do not have sensitive skin there are products that contain alpha hydroxy acids available at spas, salons and pharmacies, that work very well in revealing a new layer of skin. Before investing in a medicated scrub, it’s important to check with a skincare professional who can help assess the best products for individual skin types and methods of application. A great product that works with most skin types is Whish’s Pomegranate Scrub.

Vitamins, Vitamins, Vitamins - Vitamins A,C,E help to boost the immune system and prepare the strengthen all of the body’s systems for the winter months. They help maintain skin health and youth with important antioxidants and can help reverse the affects of sun exposure like wrinkles and age spots by restoring elasticity to the pores. Skin-friendly vitamins can be applied topically with beauty products and lotions as well as what you consume in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables. Concentrated vitamin C creams such as Skin Authority’s Super C Serum for the face restore firmness and tone by aiding antioxidant absorption.

Skin care should happen all year-round and by using the mild-weather seasons as a chance to restore skin health you also help your face and body to prepare for the harsher weather of the summer and winter months.

Matt Lee is the Spa Director at Rock Spa - Hard Rock Hotel.

For more information on fall-weather skin tips from a spa professional please visit Rock Spa or call 866.918.5003.