Okay, the jig is up – it is officially fall, and I have to get on board, even if I am a summertime girl at heart.  I’ve traded in my easy breezy, balmy favorites for a more refined palette and some hard-w0rking skincare.

If you’re over 30, and you used coconut oil for everything all summer long, it’s time to get serious.  (Don’t get me wrong; I love coconut oil, but one ingredient just doesn’t “do it all” at this age.)  I’ve been using True Botanicals new Antioxidant Booster for two months, and I am loving it more and more.  (I wrote a full review here.) I wake up with less inflamed skin, and it definitely has faded some of my sun damage.  One of the great things about this booster is that you can mix it with just about any nighttime serum, and it benefits all skin types; it’s very easy to incorporate into your current skincare regimen (although I prefer mixing it with True Botanicals’ Cellular Repair Serums).

I also love True Botanicals’ Resurfacing Moisture Mask.  For those of you who have not tried their Resurfacing Moisture Mask, you are in for a treat.  True Botanicals Exfoliating Moisture Mask is the perfect year-round mask for all skin types.  It is incredibly hydrating – but – it also happens to work wonders on clogged pores. Sugar Beet-derived Lactic Acid (a powerful Alpha Hydroxy Acid) “eats” dead skin cells without irritating; it also helps lighten skin by inhibiting melanin-triggering enzymes.  Avocado and Mango Butters provide humectant properties; Potato Flour brightens.  This mask feels super-tingly while you have it on, but once you rinse, skin is calm, bright and hydrated.  If you are looking for one good anti-aging mask, this is it.  Also, a little goes a long way, so it’s a great value.  Another bonus?  This mask goes on clear, so you won’t scare your children/lover while you treat yourself, and you only need to leave it on for 15 minutes (3-5 minutes for sensitive skin).  How is that for efficient?

I am also a big believer in retinol – the gentler, cleaner cousin of tretinoin (both are derivatives of vitamin A, but they are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to toxicity*.)  Retinol works so well on hyperpigmentation, clogged pores and acne, and it boosts radiance, firmness and elasticity.  Fall is the perfect time to start add retinol into your nighttime routine, as your skin isn’t clocking in as much time in the sun (some people experience skin sensitivity during the day when they use retinol the night before).  My favorite retinol product is Marie Veronique Gentle Retinol Serum, (which I alternate with my True Botanicals Cellular Repair Serum at night before bed).  I see a visible difference in my skin when I use this product regularly.  If your skin is more mature and more dry, Luzern Force de Nuit is just the ticket.  It is a super-rich night cream that blends retinol at .15%, and it works beautifully; it’s my mom’s favorite.  *If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or nursing skip the retinol, just to be 100% safe.*

Because new fall clothes look weird with summer-y makeup, I’m trading in the corals and most of my bronze products for plums, bordeaux’s and rich taupes.  Kjaer Weis’ eye shadows are my favorite for fall and winter.  They are rich, but very wearable and universally flattering.  Wisdom is the perfect gray-purple-taupe for any eye color; I wear it in the crease of my eyelid almost daily for some added depth in the cooler months.  My go-to wine-berry lipstick for evening is Ilia Beauty’s Lip Conditioner in Lust for Life.  I love how saturated the color is without being at all drying.  Also, I wore it a wedding last weekend, and I only had to reapply once!  On my nails, I trade in my favorite sheer, nude-pink shade (Sundays No.2) for a deep plum-y wine (No.18).  If you haven’t tried this nail polish brand, you must.  When I use their base coat, color and top coat, my manicure lasts over a week, which just never happens.  Don’t forget to use my personal discount code at LeVert Beauty, BB10, for a 10% discount on your entire order.

What have I left out?  Is there anything you feel the need to switch out once the leaves change?

I added a few other items for fall over on Lake Pajamas’ blog, check it out (and their pj’s are ahhmazing.)

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