Well, fall is officially here. Temperatures will begin to drop, and soon you’ll be pulling out the boots and eyeing that flannel. Just as its time to change up your wardrobe, it’s a good time to adjust your daily routine and make some tweaks to your regimen to prepare for the season’s change. Here are a few healthy grooming tips to help you transition from summer to fall.

SKINCARE

Moisturize: Cold winds and cooler temps can be harsh on the skin. While you might have shied away from moisturizer during the summer months, now is the time to not only protect your skin, but also help cell regrowth. Consider something a little thicker to give you a good line of defense and long lasting effects.

Exfoliate: You might think exfoliating might be harsh on your skin during colder months, but its actually great to do a couple times a month at least to remove dead skin cells. Consider using a soap that has a natural exfoliate. You can also try whipping up a simple scrub using oatmeal. Just use a blender or a coffee grinder to grind up a tablespoon of oatmeal and brown sugar until it becomes a fine powder. Then add in a tablespoon of raw honey, and if you happen to have jojoba oil mix in a few drops as well. Wet your face and apply the scrub, massaging it into the skin. Leave on for five to ten minutes and then rinse with warm water. (Note: Steer away from products that have exfoliating beads in them though, they’re extremely harmful to the environment and get washed into our water system.)

Shower: Sure, hot showers may feel great in the colder months and might be a quick way to warm up, but unfortunately they can also dry out your skin. Limit hot showers, turn down the heat, and shorten the time you spend in there.

HAIRCARE

Moisturize: Just like your skin, the summer months have probably put your hair through a world of hurt. Between the heat, sun, and probably a fair amount of chlorine too, your hair could use some serious moisture to help it get back to a healthier state. Try treating with a hair mask. The idea may seem daunting, but actually it’s really simple, it just depends on how much work to want to do. Looking for a one-step hair mask, then coconut oil is your friend. Start with a quarter cup of warmed coconut oil (more or less depending on the length of your hair, the goal is to just coat your head). Apply it to your hair, leave on for thirty minutes and then rinse out. Feeling a little bolder, go with an avocado and egg hair mask. All it takes is half an avocado and two egg yolks (no whites!). Mix it up and apply for 15-20 minutes. It’ll not only moisturize but it will also restore and add an element of shine. Looking for a daily moisturizing treatment? Simply add a few drops of essential oils or jojoba oil to your shampoo and conditioner to naturally encourage further hydration in your strands.

Trim: We tend to be a little more laid back in the summer, and regular haircuts tend to fall into that category too. The best way to prevent any further damage is to get a healthy trim. Fall and winter will be harsh with cold weather and frequent hats, so plan to go for regular trips to your barber or salon to keep the breakage at bay.

BEARDCARE

Moisturize: Whether you just started growing your beard or you can’t remember the last time you saw your face fully shaved, this is the time of the season when you might start to experience beard itch. You might not have needed the beard oil during the summer months, but it’s the perfect solution to help soften the beard hairs and moisturize the skin. Since you’re transitioning seasons you might also try changing your beard oil scent. If your summer go-to beard oil scent was mint, maybe try bay rum for a sweet, woody fall scent.

Comb: If you’re going all in for the fall and winter season, it’s a good time to invest in a beard comb. While it might not need the regular brushing that the hair on your head requires, it’ll certainly help keep it tame and prevent tangles or knots that can develop. If you’re going for a long beard and you’ve got thick hair then a wide-tooth comb is going to be the way to go. If you plan to keep things shorten in length and you don’t quite have quite the thickness, a skinny-tooth comb should work just fine for you.

Taking a few proactive steps to change your skincare and grooming regimen can provide healthy results in the long run. Consider changing your habits every season and taking a closer look at the elements ahead.