Fresh Start: How to Repair and Hydrate Skin After Summer

September isn’t just about sharpening pencils and pulling out cozy sweaters - it’s also the time to refresh your skincare routine after summer. After months of sunshine, salty swims, and maybe a few too many late nights (no regrets), your skin might be waving a little white flag. If you’re looking in the mirror and seeing dullness, dryness, or that “perpetually tired” look, you’re not alone. Your complexion is craving a transition - away from beach days and into a restorative, hydrating skincare routine that brings back balance, glow, and resilience. Ready to hit refresh? This GK skincare reset is tailored to help you look refreshed and ready to shine into fall. 

Step 1: Gentle Cleansing for Post-Summer Skin

Between SPF layers, sweat, and environmental buildup (hello, campfire smoke and city smog), your skin has been through a lot. But before you reach for a harsh scrub, remember: we’re not punishing our skin, we’re nourishing it.

• Switch to a gentle cleanser: Creamy or gel formulas cleanse without stripping.
• Double cleansing at night: Melt away sunscreen and makeup with a cleansing balm or oil first, then follow with your regular cleanser.

Our Natural Cleanser Picks:

• Glow Jar Beauty Gentle Gel Cleanser – gentle, hydrating, everyday wash.
• Indie Lee Cleansing Balm – melts away SPF and makeup effortlessly.
• Orgaid Cleansing Oil - a non-stripping, deep cleansing, hydrating oil cleanser. (Learn more about switching to an oil cleanser.)
  
  

Step 2: Exfoliation Tips for Dull or Tired Skin

Exfoliation is your secret weapon for refreshed skin, but not all scrubs and acids are created equal. Choosing the right type for your skin type ensures you slough off dull, tired cells without irritation, revealing a smoother, brighter complexion that truly glows from within.

• Chemical exfoliants (AHAs, BHAs) dissolve dead skin cells and fade sunspots.
• Physical exfoliants should be gentle and non-abrasive.

Our Gentle Exfoliant Picks:

• Fitglow Beauty Micro Exfoliant + Mask - a gentle natural polish.
• Viva Organics Amaze Exfoliating Gel - a highly effective exfoliant that visibly removes dead skin cells (yup - you can see them).
• Glow Jar Beauty 7% AHA Exfoliant Gel - mild enzymatic exfoliant. (Read more about the best chemical exfoliants and how to use them.)

Step 3: Add a Hydration Boost to your Natural Skincare Routine

Salt water, chlorine, and sunshine leave your skin parched. Layer hydration like you layer your fall wardrobe. A hydrating skincare routine is essential to restore moisture, plumpness, and radiance.

• Layer hydrating toners and serums with hyaluronic acid and collagen.
• Upgrade your moisturizer: Move from lightweight formulas to a richer moisturizer as the air cools.

Our Hydration Boost Picks:

• Fitglow Beauty Cloud Collagen Oil – nourishing and barrier-supportive.
• Josh Rosebrook Hydration Boost Concentrate – lightweight hydration hero.
• Glow Jar Beauty Moisturizing Face Cream – perfect fall transition cream. (Learn how to layer your skincare like a pro.)
  
  

Step 4: Brighten Up Tired Skin C/O Vitamin C and Retinol

After months of sun, salt, and late nights, skin can start to look a little lacklustre. The good news? A few powerhouse actives can bring it back to life. Vitamin C boosts brightness and helps fade sunspots, niacinamide calms redness while refining tone, and retinol (or its gentle plant-based alternative, bakuchiol) speeds up cell turnover for fresher, smoother skin.

• Vitamin C serums fade sunspots and improve radiance. (Read our GK guide to Vitamin C in skincare.)
• Niacinamide reduces redness and smooths tone.
• Retinol or bakuchiol encourages cell turnover. (Learn more about Bakuchiol here.)

Our Natural Skin Brightening Picks:

• Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum - classic brightener.
• Indie Lee Stem Cell Serum - antioxidant protection.
• Glow Jar Beauty PM 0.3% Retinol Serum - a gentle resurfacing plant-based retinol.
  
  

Step 5: Daily SPF Is Still Non-Negotiable (So We Carry the Best Mineral Sunscreen in Canada)

Even when it’s cloudy, raining, or snowing, UVA rays are constantly at work causing premature aging and long-term skin damage. That’s why SPF isn’t just for summer; it’s a year-round essential. Protecting your skin daily is one of the simplest, most powerful steps in any routine, and we’ve got you covered with the best mineral sunscreens in Canada.

Our Mineral SPF Picks:

• Just Sun Daily Defence Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 - mineral, hydrating, tinted.
• Glow Jar Beauty Tinted Daily Glow Sunscreen Cream SPF 30 -lightweight, tinted, fragrance-free, designed for all-day wear.
• LASPA SPF45 Mineral Sunscreen Lotion For Face & Body - daily protection and shine control for work/school.

Read: The Green Kiss Pocket Guide To Mineral Sunscreen

Step 6: Treat Yourself with Masks & Tools (At-Home Skincare Reset)

Every now and then, your skin deserves a little extra love. Hydrating masks quench and restore moisture, clay masks help clear out congestion, and a quick facial massage or some gua sha magic can reduce puffiness while boosting circulation for a radiant, refreshed glow. Think of it as a mini spa session without leaving home.

• Hydrating masks replenish moisture.
• Clay masks reset congestion.
• Facial massage & gua sha reduce puffiness and boost circulation.

Our Home-Spa Picks:

• Skwalwen Botanicals Tewín’xw Cleansing Clay - an all-in-one natural cleanser, gentle exfoliator, and clay mask
• Josh Rosebrook Advanced Hydration Mask - soothing hydration and comfort for tired skin.
• The Green Kiss Jade Gua Sha Facial Stone - a high-quality serpentine jade Gua Sha stone. Learn how to Gua Sha here. Pssst: you'll need a natural facial oil to help the gua sha glide.
  
  

Step 7: Reset from the Inside Out (Lifestyle Skincare Tips)

True glow doesn’t start with your serum or moisturizer - it starts from within. Sleep, stress management, hydration, and a nutrient-rich diet all play starring roles in how your skin looks and feels. By pairing smart lifestyle habits with your skincare routine, you’re giving your skin the ultimate reset from the inside out.

• Drink water consistently.
• Eat antioxidant-rich foods (berries, greens, nuts).
• Get enough sleep - skin repairs itself overnight. (Learn how beauty sleep is real)
  
  

Takeaway: Get Your Glow Back This Fall

Post-summer skin doesn’t need a complete overhaul - just a thoughtful reset. With gentle cleansing, smart exfoliation, layers of hydration, brightening actives, and year-round SPF, your skin can transition smoothly into fall looking fresh, radiant, and strong. Think of this routine as your seasonal reset: a chance to nourish what summer stripped away and set your skin up for its healthiest, glowiest months ahead. Want to elevate your natural skincare ritual? Reach out to a Green Kiss Educator for expert tips.

All copy found on The Green Kiss website is written for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.