Will You Be Changing Your Products this September? [UPDATED]
It’s not for nothing that September magazine issues are such a thing. September represents the promise of a fresh start: It’s back to school, it’s new clothes and products—maybe even new love. In other words, it’s the chance for companies to sell, sell, sell you on the idea of beginnings. And none of us are immune.
Case in point: Here in Los Angeles, September is kind of none of those things—it’s actually wild fires and scorching hot weather (which I happen to like). Yet, for no apparent reason, I woke up this morning to fantasies of fall fashion: sweaters and blazers and boyfriend jeans.
As for products, I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I’m a hydration whore. Whether the temperature goes up or down, the air here will be dry and unforgiving this September (add to that travel plans on those skin-sucking planes) so I am going to try out the Tata Harper’s Rebuilding Moisturizer (I can’t believe I haven’t yet!) and will finally re-up on the Tammy Fender Repair Balm. Because while I’m all about the oils for maintenance, moisturizers are better occlusives; i.e. they hold that moisture in, whereas oils absorb.*
Now it’s true that we asked you last year if you would be changing up your products with the seasons. But there were so many less of you then! So we ask again, will you stick with your current routine or adjust accordingly?
And just to keep the seasonal conversation going, be on the lookout in the next week or so for a Q&A with my new favorite Ayurvedic expert, filled with fall health tips. Coming soon!
*One of our readers pointed out in the comments that I may actually have this backwards—and in principle she’s totally right. (Dain, not rude at all… we welcome feedback and corrections!) But let me explain (properly this time) why I feel that moisturizers can sometimes be better occlusives. Certain moisturizers are not simple oil-water combinations, and in particular the ones I love tend to be on the heavier-even-sticky side. That’s probably due to the presence of additional occlusive-type ingredients (including lots of oils): things like glycerin, honey, beeswax and so on. The point I should have made is that single ingredient oils versus multi-ingredient moisturizers do sometimes absorb more easily—but not always!
I’m mostly sticking to my normal routine. Year-round I like to switch up my products though, just to try something new, and not cater to the season.
I imagine I will be changing my routine (well, products) but this is based on previous un-clean experience so it’s my first summer-to-winter experience with my new, beloved, clean routine. I would normally say that winter strips my skin completely of moisture, but given my I-can’t-say-enough-good-stuff-about-it love affair with Kahina serum and argan oil I am curious to see what, if anything, I feel I need to switch up as we hit the cold weather. Right now I use the oil occasionally (a couple of nights a week) and the serum daily (morning & night) as a stand alone moisturiser – perhaps I’ll need to add the oil more frequently, maybe even daily, in the winter months. I imagine central heating will try to rob my skin of precious moisture… My hands and cuticles react very badly to winter weather – good old argan oil on the cuticles should help with that, I imagine!
Another curiosity… My hair normally goes insanely static in the winter – will my Rahua be the answer to my prayers? Let’s hope!
@Naomi Fingers crossed on the Rahua! I’m willing to bet that the switch to clean hair products will really help your hair this winter. You’ll have to keep us posted. :)
Ha, I thought from the title this was about the issues of September magazines and their ads for very dirty beauty products. I flip right through those ads, whereas before, I’d pour over each one to see the new products. Reading women’s magazines now is a totally different experience. I don’t really bother with the beauty articles, because rarely do I see some clean/organic products.
That said, after dumping all my dirty products and going natural, I’ve been trying to strike the right balance. Which means going down to base moisturizer and the evan healy clay mask for super cysts on my face (thanks for that recommendation, btw, it helped a super cyst on my nose shrink down in 2 days). Problem is, the oil and clogged pores are getting out of hand. So, as soon as it comes in the mail this week, I’m starting the Juice Beauty acne regime. I used ProActiv successfully for a few years, but then they changed the formulation, and my skin reacted badly. I’m hoping this will do just as well, but without all the chemicals and icky stuff for my skin.
I don’t think I’ll make any major changes based on season. I generally make slight alterations to my routine based on what I need for the day, like which toner, how much oil, whether I use just one product or layer – I guess there’s some seasonal aspect to what my needs are but I don’t usually think about that. What I do with my hair products has more to do with how long my hair is. I’ve been letting it grow a bit from being very short, so I’ve been using more oil and other heavier products.
I just love your posts! Always !! That said, I’ll probably add some moisturizer after applying my “customized” Kahina Giving Beauty Argan Oil (thanks Rebecca:) if the weather calls for it. I already have Tata, Tammy and even Pai handy for that and will probably be more diligent with lip balm (Hurraw!)
p.s. On Tammy Fender spa experience @ Elle Spa Eden Roc Miami…The Spa has finally opened and Tammy Fender products are used on Elle Signature’s facial…(@ U$325 a visit)
Well, I just found out that I’m in the family way (and coincidentally very relieved that I went clean a year ago), so I expect some skin changes, and so change of products, I’m just not sure of what!
Does anyone in NMDL land have any recommendations? I’m thinking (shudder..) stretch marks and massage oil and things that will help your legs to not swell up and all that. Also, I am wondering about safety too – clean products can still pack a punch I guess – heck, you’re apparently not even supposed to drink chamomile tea! Still don’t know quite what to expect – except that I am (sorry, couldn’t help it) expecting.
This morning dawned crisp and cool here in Vermont. It felt just like fall–and guess what? I actually thought about needing to adjust my skin care regimen soon because my skin is desert dry in winter. So, perfect timing on the post (as is frequently the case)! I’ll need to add a moisturizer to my daily toner and oil/serum and eye cream. Actually, I already use Kahina moisturizer on drier days in summer; I’ll have to see how it stands up to parched New England winters. (Frankly, I’m desperate to try Kahina’s face serum and would love to use the changing seasons as an excuse to buy it! But I’m a bit broke now so I’ll wait till I run out of my evanhealy serum and MVO anti-aging plus oil (which I use singly or even together, depending on the day) and then see if I can spring for it.)
PS: I second the hurrah for Hurraw lip balms!
i like to buy a few new products each season, if i can, especially when school starts (perpetual student, awww yeah). i just tried out water-based nail polish today (suncoat) in this awesome deep-rust color, and I’ll probably pick up a bright blush since I go all pasty and yellow in the winter. Skincarewise though, I’m lucky. I basically just need to moisturize more. Fall/winter/spring are actually great for my skin, it’s summer that wreaks all the havoc!
@Naomi, I switched to silicone-free organic shampoo last winter, and it was a lifesaver in the dry frigid weather.
Also, yay for ayurvedic health tips!
I will be switching things up this fall, as I run out of what I have been using. Right now I’m trying a trial set of Dr. Hauschka skin care. I also am trying some new nail polishes from Sheswai, and I found a new fragrance that I LOVE– Vamp a NY by Honore des Pres.
@Deanna, i purchased the juice beauty kit a little over a month ago because my acne was getting out of control and it had rave reviews but i’m less than impressed and actually passing it along to a friend to see if it works for her. i was thinking instead of going with the evanhealy line. have you just been using the green tea clay mask or have you tried their other acne products? their products are [justifiably] expensive so i’m really pulling for a miracle. i hope the juice beauty works for your skin and just so you know the tinniest bit of the blemish clearing serum goes a long way.
I apologize if this is rude, but I believe it is the other way around. Oils are occlusive, they form a barrier; they only form an emulsion that absorbs if there’s sufficient water. If you’ve ever applied an oil neat on dehydrated skin, you’ll find it merely coats the surface. By contrast, moisturizers, being a combination of oil and water, will absorb better, the more water in the formula the easier its penetration into the skin.
@eva, Congrats! The stretch mark situation is probably more based on genetics than anything else, but if you feed/hydrate your body well and use some nice oils/butters topically, like shea or coconut, that should help. I love Sprout Wellness body cream, or try mountainroseherbs.com and read lots about ingredients and melt together your own mix. And maybe try the Pai range from the Friday Deal with NuboNau – just got my stuff today and they had an awesome sample set from Pai along with my regular order (all kinds of other samples too).
Oh yeah, and ginger for the nausea. : )
In Minnesota, transitioning form summer to fall is like moving to a different country. So yes, absolutely I’ll be switching up my skin care. Specifically, in the summer I only use a facial serum (and not a face lotion) at night. But soon i’ll add something like Naturopathica’s Cassis Ultra Replenishing Cream to prevent flaky dry patches. And I also have to do a hair treatment once a week to deal with the drier air (I like Rare El’ements El’Serum). I also go from more powder-based makeup to liquids. It’s all about adding moisture in the fall and winter, whereas summer (and this summer in particular!), it’s been about trying to keep the shine from getting out of control.
A couple questions:
1) Does anyone have a suggestion for a heavy duty body moisturizer. I already use a body oil but with winter coming, coupled with my ceramics courses, I see the cracked hands I deal with occasionally becoming a constant. I haven’t found a clean lotion that doesn’t make me feel claustrophobic or perpetually greasy.
2) My sister is suffering from a return of her cystic acne. My mom is helping her switch to clean products but I was wondering if anyone had any specific suggestions for her.
Thank you, thank you!
@Courtney and Deanna, have you read up on Dr. Alkaitis? I know the products are expensive but they seriously last forever (I’m still working through the trial kit I got in the mail almost a month ago). The toner, cleanser, and nourishing treatment oil have seriously almost perfected my skin, and I’ve been dealing with acne and pigmentation for ten years. I really really recommend trying the products. They are insanely clean (like, edible) and they really make for healthier skin.
@Courtney, my skin had been breaking out in a variety of cystic acne and pimples for well over a decade. I used a lot of BP to control my acne, which worked okay but was killing my skin–it became so dry and so sensitive. When I made the switch to 100% clean makeup and skin care (and no BP), I first tried Tata Harper but that was too harsh, so I next tried evanhealy (blue line products)–without much hope. But it was perfect. Now, 8 months later, my skin is reliably clear. I can’t say how much of the solution was stopping using dirty cosmetics and skin care, and how much was due to evanhealy specifically. But I can say that, for the first time in more than a decade, my skin is basically clear, moisturized, and not as insanely sensitive as it used to be. I still get the extremely occasional red dot (not full pimple) that disappears in a day–I put organic lavender directly on any suspected spots. I think, for certain, the fact that my skin is less dry and much less reactive is solely due to evanhealy. And I think evanhealy products made (and continue to make) a big difference with my acne, too. If you can, I recommend trying the blue line trial kit. It really saved my skin…maybe it’ll help yours. (I didn’t use her blemish stick; somehow I didn’t think it would work for me, so ended up relying on the lavender oil.) Best of luck to you–and to Deana!
i agree w/ Alyssa about Dr. Alkaitis – those products have worked wonders for me since I started using them in April.
I did use some Juice Beauty moisturizer that I’d gotten as a sample a few times, and my word, it it some great stuff. I’m usually wary of putting much oil or moisturizer on my face, because my skin does not approve…but the Juice Beauty moisturizer really shrunk my under-the-skin lumps, so I’m about to order some.
& can I say: the Patyka exfoliating mask is amazing & I have been wanting to buy it for a month now. I can’t take it anymore – I have to get it!! haha
Based on raves and recommendations here, (and not on the season), I am off to buy argan oil and a good body oil at my local health foods store. I have a funky runner’s toe nail that is going to get the tea tree oil treatment. I’m also on a mission to find a good mascara. AND, I am going to try soapwalla deodorant, first just for workouts, to see how it fairs. Thanks for all of the great posts, recommendations and, above all, the honesty that comes with them.
I hope I am not opening Pandora’s box here, but does anyone know anything about the WEN line of hair care products. They claim to be “not shampoo” but essential oils for your hair. However, I cannot determine whether they are natural. Just curious.
When the heat comes on and the air gets dry my skin is the crackiest, ouchiest, super dry-est skin you’ve ever seen. Right now I am just using argan oil to moisturize but will need to add in a moisturizer. I’m also thinking about getting a toning spray to add some extra moisture. I will need to find a good body lotion or body butter this year too…I use coconut oil now but I know it won’t be enough once the humidity is gone from the air. Other than that, I don’t change makeup colors or scents because I’m just not that interesting…just a little extra moisturizing once summer is over.
@Sarah have you ever tried Weleda Skinfood? It’s a small tube but a teeny bit goes a long way for cracked skin, especially on the hands.
@Pepper- I have small tube of Skin Food and it’s great for small spots but I’ve found that for my arms and legs (I work on the pottery wheel and end up spending hours covered in clay- hands, arms, shoulders, face, feet and legs) it doesn’t spread easily enough for that much surface area and it makes me heat up and feel claustrophobic. I’d also like something that is either unscented or very lightly scented. I’m thinking that maybe a heavier body oil might be good- has anyone used Sodashi Vitamin Rich Body Oil? Thoughts? Thanks!
@Sarah, I have had my fair share of cystic zits. Ugh. I’m not sure that any topical treatment or skincare line can work on its own. I really believe that a proper regimen must also include changing diet, dealing with stress, addressing hormanl imbalances, etc., I would suggest urging your sister to see a naturopath–or at least, doing a simple bloodtest at her regular doctor’s office to take a look at her hormone levels. I don’t know much about this, I’m sorry, but I do know that too much testosterone can cause acne to flare up–but, I know there are natural ways to get your hormones in check.
Also, it was suggested to me once that a gluten intolerance was at the root of my skin issues…. Best of luck to your sister!
Can anyone else chime in here with better information? Cystic acne is the pits.
@Sarah, re-reading my previous comment…I didn’t mean to preach! Wow, I’m sorry. I just meant to say that I’ve never found a skincare line to help with that situation–though I will totally echo Alyssa above and say that Dr. Alkaitis, while almost prohibitively expensive, is terrific.
Also, and I’m not sure about their preservation practices, Keys Island Foaming Rx Wash was like a miracle for my standard acne. But I wasn’t confident, in the end, that they preserved well enough. I should balance that statement out by mentioning that I am totally and shamefully an alarmist, so take that with a grain of salt.
@Sarah & Pepper- I use plain shea butter when it’s really dry. It works better than anything else I’ve tried and lasts forever. Burt’s Bees Hand Salve and their Coconut Foot Cream are great, too.
For cystic acne, I saw a naturopath and did an elimination diet. I ended up being allergic to soy and dairy (I already knew I was gluten intolerant, so I don’t eat any of those three). Since I found the allergens and removed them from my diet, my skin has basically cleared up. I say “basically” because it still breaks out if I touch my face too much or slip and eat some cheese or soy, but it’s more clear than it’s ever been (except while on Accutane, twice, which clearly didn’t actually fix it long term for me). I use tea tree oil (anti-bacterial) and rose geranium oil (supposed to help balance hormones), both as just pure essential oils, as spot treatments and all over treatments. I have been using Pai lately (which I really like) but Hope Gillerman’s skin care line I really like as well (I plan to use the HGillerman Organics Neroli Face Oil more in the winter). I have found that any clay mask usually works wonderfully, but my favorite is Evan Healy’s Green Tea Mask, which I’ve begun to alternate with honey masks, but I usually use a mask every night. I have also started using Dr. Alkaitis Soothing Gel and Nourishing Treatment Oil at night, and I really like them, but I think Argan Oil worked really well, too (as an alternative to the Treatment Oil). I also use Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil about 3-5 nights per week to help fade acne scars (hyperpigmentation) and it does a really good job.
Acne has been really difficult to deal with, and it feels awesome to finally (finally!) have a solution that doesn’t mess up my body. I agree with the other commenters – eliminating the food allergens made the biggest difference, but good skincare helped my skin to heal faster and be healthy. Good luck!
I guess the best way to put it might be: oils aren’t hydrating at all, since they have no water, nor do they penetrate as well as humectants, but nevertheless they can still feel lighter on the skin. : )
I have very thin skin so its behavior changes dramatically in different climates. Though the oil production stays the same (very dry, tiny pores), it sucks up moisture from the humid summer air while in winter the dehydration is severe. Minimal barrier function, I suppose. So in the summer, a light humectant solution, a “softener” in Asian skincare, like Kahina Toning Mist followed directly by an oil is more than sufficient. It’s probably that I don’t need moisturizer at all when it’s humid and the water content in my skin is high, but the habits of dry skin are hard to break. In winter, I have to sandwich a rich moisturizer between the softener and the oil. Even on damp skin the oil won’t be able to cut through dehydration and uselessly coats the surface of my skin. So my skin’s receptivity to oils tends to depend on the moisture content of my skin. People with thicker skin will probably not experience such fluctuations.
@ Sarah and anyone else looking for stuff to deal with their acne.. I agree with other commenters on here about food issues, especially if your sister is having a sudden flare-up. My sister developed horrific cystic acne at 27, first starting when she went off the pill. She saw a naturopathic doctor and did the elimination diet, discovering she was gluten intolerant, which also explained a lot of the stomach problems she’d been having. Later in the year, I did the elimination diet and found I was also gluten intolerant (such fun). My skin has been SO much better since I stopped eating gluten. It’s really worth checking out… it made things that I didn’t even know were problems feel so much better, and if it doesn’t work for your sister then she can go back to eating regular people food! Again, I highly recommend Dr. Alkaitis, but I’ve never tried Evan Healy and have heard good things about it as well. Good luck!
in the southern hemisphere, we’re coming into spring/summer – so the main change for me is lots and lots of sunscreen! I already use Invisible Zinc’s tinted face moisturiser, so I’ll probably pick up some of their sunscreen soon. Lots of pure aloe vera too, for after-sun – I have lots of gardening and beach trips planned! otherwise, everything else is likely to stay the same.
Just a quick question – does anyone know of any “natural” alternatives to “TEST TUBE”?? I found out about Test Tube online – you subscribe to it and 3-4 times a year you are sent a tube full of sample of skincare and make-up products to try. I’ve been wating to try alot of new clean products, espcially those highlighted by the NMDL book and NMDL blog, to spice things up this coming fall and winter but I can’t seem to find a clean / natural company that does this type of “clean” test tube. Can anyone point me in the right direction??
Thanks in advance!!
@comagirl, I’m devoted to Real Purity mascara. Adds thickness to my already dark lashes, no clumping or flaking, washes off with my usual face wash. I’m not looking for length but I suppose one could layer it. Best of all I can’t feel it on my lashes – most mascaras bug me by their feeling or they burn my eyes. And…wait for it…13 bucks. Gluten free too, for those who care about that.
@ Sarah C.: Though I’ve never subscribed, Eco Emi boxes sound similar.
@Samantha, what made you go with the blue line instead of the blemish line? i’m not a fan of tea tree cleansers so the blue line looks better in that respect but the blue line doesn’t mention anything about taking care of the acne. i would prefer to try the evanhealy over the dr. alkaitis because it is cheaper and i’m really hoping it works so that long term i’m not spending so much on products for my face.
Thanks Rebecca. I appreciate the feedback. Such a deal too!
@comagirl, and anyone else interested: Just received a code for free shipping from Real Purity:
Enjoy our Labor Day Free Shipping Special from 8/31/11 thru 9/6/11 on all product purchases of $50.00 or more.
(US & Canada only).
Enter coupon code {LD2011}.
@Sarah C: It’s not really a subscription but you can order the customized sample kit at spirit beauty lounge to pick out samples of whatever you want to try (and for me at least, the order still came with a few extra samples). I just browse through all their products and click on the Order a Sample for the things I want to try. You get to choose 9 and the price includes a discount towards your next regular purchase.
Wow!!! —
Ok, I got confused after reading all of this, and the update, hmmm…
I do use oils, all over my body, to clean and hydrate. I have combination skin and oils are the only thing that have not given me any rashes, irritation, etc, thus far.
I will stick to such routine, and use more tea tree and coconut oils to clear breakouts.
@Comagirl: I have very short, sparse eyelashes and require 2 or more products plus curling for them to be (barely) visible. After being “clean” for about 8 months, my old mascaras are the only dirty products I still have daydreams about. I just got a tube of the Jane Iredale extender & conditioner for about $16 and use it under Physician’s Formula organic wear, jumbo lash mascara which you can get from Target for $7-8. The Lavera from Target was a waste of time for me. I gave it to a friend with beautiful thick lashes and it works great for her, although I’m not sure why she needs mascara. *sigh*. I still have lash envy…but the combo of JI and PFOW is working as well as can be expected.
On another note, I am also a runner and the soapwalla deodorant works great for workouts as well as everyday. I’ve discovered that I often need to reapply after 10-12 hours. (ie, if you shower and apply before bed, put more on when you get up in the morning – otherwise your morning running partner will soon be looking for a new buddy)
I don’t think I’ll be changing my skin care. I live in the PNW and our fall/winter is usually pretty mild. All I do is use a clean soap on my face, witch hazel as a toner/astringent, tea tree oil if I have a blemish, and almond oil if needed. That’s it! I used to use anything and everything I could find to try to clear up the cystic acne I was “blessed” with in my early 30’s. Since I went clean and stopped using all of that crap on my face it has gone away. Now, if I get a pimple, it’s just a pimple and not a painful cyst.
I have combo skin that can get really oily if I don’t use the witch hazel in the middle of the day. I also only wear mascara, occasional eye shadow, and lip balm. I never have worn heavy make-up.