As summer winds down — as disappointing or delightful as that may be, depending on how you feel about heatwaves — it’s time to address any skin concerns that may have stacked up and prep skin for the busy days ahead, whether they’re taking you back in the office or to the classroom (virtually or otherwise). 

Summer can do a number on skin: Between lazy days in the sun and sweat-inducing temperatures, you might be experiencing more dark spots than usual, contending with breakouts, and managing redness. If that’s the care, consider this your skincare bootcamp to prep your skin for fall. With cold days ahead — but not yet on the cal — this is the ideal time to tackle each and every concern. Here’s how.

Skin Concern: Dark spots

Summer is dark spot season — no surprise there, seeing as UV light is one of the primary factors in both the development and darkening of hyperpigmentation. (They’re called sun spots for a reason.) “All types of skin are susceptible,” says Jeanine Downie, M.D., a dermatologist in Montclair, NJ. “Those with darker skin tones to begin with often end up with patches, rather than spots, however.” Once fall rolls around, you might be seeing more in the mirror.

If dark spots have crashed your party, here’s how to give unwanted pigmentation the heave-ho.

The goal is to approach dark spots in two ways: from above, and from below. From above means dealing with dead, pigmented skin cells. Stepping up your exfoliation routine can help slough them off more quickly; try using Watermelon Glow Hyaluronic Clay Pore-Tight Facial, which contains a blend of chemical exfoliants (think polyhydroxy acid, PHA, and beta hydroxy acid, BHA) and a manual exfoliant (super-fine blueberry seed powder) to gently buff them off. Then, to tackle them from within, look to ingredients that interfere with the pigment production process. Vitamin C is a winner here, since it inhibits an enzyme that’s key to creating those dark spots. (More on that in a moment.) Find it in Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum. And, of course, don’t skip out on Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Sunscreen SPF 50 even through fall and winter, since more sun will just unravel all your efforts.

Skin Concern: Under-eye circles

While you might blame late summer nights for dark circles, they don’t just result from sleep loss. And they might especially be pronounced after the summer, since sun damage can lead to hyperpigmentation on the skin beneath the eyes — just as it does to other areas of the face in the form of dark spots and melasma. This is especially common among people with darker skin tones; “because of higher levels of melanin in the skin, medium to deep skin tones can be more susceptible to hyperpigmentation,” Geeta Yadav, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology, shared with us in a previous interview.

This is where an eye cream with vitamin C can be especially helpful. Vitamin C is a well-known brightening ingredient; it inhibits tyrosinase, a key enzyme for pigment production — and, in doing so, it prevents excess pigment from being created. (It also offers other perks, like stimulating collagen production, which can keep skin firm and smooth over time.) 

Look no further than Guava Vitamin C Bright-Eye Gel Cream, which pairs five forms of (gentle, encapsulated) vitamin C with brightening niacinamide for a one-two punch of skin tone-evening power. Use it morning and night — and always pair it with sunscreen to keep UV rays from undoing your hard work.

Skin Concern: Redness

Sorry — it’s not just dark spots. The sun wreaks all sorts of havoc on skin in the summer, and that could mean redness particularly in lighter skin tones, not to mention sunburns and inflammation for all, come September. For the former, it’s caused by “a temporary alteration in the pigmentation of the skin after injury or inflammation,” says Caren Waintraub, M.D., a dermatologist in Boca Raton, FL. Not only that, but it could also lead to flares of existing skin conditions, such as rosacea.

Redness can happen for a number of reasons — here’s how to get to the bottom of yours.

Whatever the cause, the first order of business is the same. “Repair the skin barrier by replenishing the ceramides, lipids, and fatty acids deficient in your skin,” says Waintraub. You can snag all of the above in our Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum, which features all of the above — five ceramides, assorted lipids, and a range of fatty acids. Use it consistently to have skin calm and ready to handle anything that may come your way this fall.

Skin Concern: Clogged pores

Got clogs? You’re not alone. In fact, research shows that sebum production spikes in the summer months. Translation: If your skin is naturally oily, it will get even oilier. Fortunately, certain ingredients can offset that.

For starters, beta hydroxy acid (a.k.a. salicylic acid) is a classic; unlike it’s alpha hydroxy counterparts, it’s oil-soluble, which means it can actually deep-dive into pores and clear them out — through mild chemical exfoliation — from the inside out. That’s why it’s the star of Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Serum, with pairs it with those alpha hydroxy acids in the 10% Clarity Acid Complex to help smooth texture and keep pores clear. (It also contains hyaluronic acid and soothing allantoin to keep skin comfy.)

But the spotlight isn’t just on salicylic acid. Niacinamide has also been shown in studies to lower the rate of sebum production in skin, too, which in turn limits its potential to clog pores and lead to congested skin.

What makes niacinamide such an all-star ingredient for *all* skin concerns. Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops — which you might already know and love as a highlighting serum to take your makeup to the next level — also contains vitamin B3, so you can both tamp down the grease and get a lit-from-within glow at the same time. (It also visibly brightens skin over time — just saying.) Using it as a serum? Try mixing it in with your moisturizer or foundation, where it’ll also give skin a subtle radiance. Start using it now and you’ll see the calm, mattifying benefits by the time you need to pull out your parka. Another time-saving option: Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment, which pairs gentle exfoliation with hydration for smoother, less congested skin; use it three times a week (if your skin allows) for the best results.

Read more about how to prep skin for fall:

• How to Prep Your Skin for a Big Event (and Care for It After)
• Finally, a Glass Skin Routine That Works for Your Schedule
• How to Exfoliate Skin Properly