Fall Skincare in San Diego
Why 95°F September Weather Changes Everything for Your Routine
Here in La Mesa, fall isn’t really fall. While the rest of the country is breaking out their pumpkin spice lattes and cozy sweaters, we're still dealing with 95-degree days and that intense Southern California sun. As a licensed esthetician who's spent countless hours analyzing skin in our unique San Diego climate, I've learned that our "fall" skincare needs are completely different from what you'll read in most beauty magazines.
Around this time of year, I see clients who are confused about why their skin isn't responding the way they expect it to. They're following fall skincare advice designed for climates that actually get cool in September, but that doesn't work for us. Our skin is still dealing with summer damage while being exposed to ongoing heat, UV rays, and the drying effects of air conditioning that runs year-round.
Let me break down what I've learned works specifically for San Diego skin during our extended summer season, and the professional-grade solutions that actually make a difference in our climate.
Our Reality in SD: When Fall Doesn't Feel Like Fall
Let's be honest about what September in San Diego actually looks like. While Instagram is full of fall transitions and cozy autumn vibes, we're still hitting 90+ degree days regularly. I track the weather because it directly impacts what I'm seeing in my treatment room, and the reality is that our skin is still in full summer mode even as the calendar says fall.
What I'm seeing in clients during these hot September days is a perfect storm of skin issues:
Dehydration that goes deeper than surface level. The ongoing heat combined with constant air conditioning creates a double hit on your skin's moisture barrier. Clients come in looking parched even when they think they're drinking enough water.
Uneven skin tone from accumulated summer damage. Months of intense UV exposure have created dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and general dullness that becomes more obvious as we move into what should be the repair season.
Unexpected breakouts in people who normally have clear skin. The combination of leftover summer damage, continued heat, and hormonal changes from seasonal transitions creates the perfect environment for congestion and inflammation.
The key insight I've learned is that San Diego skin needs a completely different approach during our extended summer season. We can't treat September like autumn when it's still feeling like July outside.
Keep Up Daily SPF: UV Protection Doesn't Take a Fall Break
This might be the most important message I can share with my San Diego clients: UV exposure doesn't stop just because the calendar says fall. I constantly remind clients that our September sun is just as intense as our June sun. The angle might be slightly different, but we're still getting significant UV exposure every single day. This is especially true here in La Mesa where we get that direct, unfiltered sunlight for most of the day.
My Professional Recommendation: Glymed Plus Hydrating Protection Gel SPF 30
This ultra-lightweight, water-based broad spectrum SPF 30 is what I recommend to almost every client dealing with our ongoing summer heat. It's FDA tested and approved, provides excellent protection without that heavy feeling that makes people skip SPF when it's hot outside. The hydrating base actually helps with the dehydration issues we're dealing with in this climate.
The mistake I see people make is thinking they can dial back their sun protection as we move toward fall. In San Diego, that's simply not the case. Your morning SPF routine should be exactly the same in September as it was in July. The best SPF is the one you'll actually use every day, which is why I focus on lightweight formulas that feel good even when it's 95 degrees outside.
Repair Summer Damage: Gentle Intervention for Accumulated Issues
By September, your skin has been through months of intense San Diego sun, heat, and environmental stress. This is when I start focusing on gentle repair strategies that address the accumulated damage without overwhelming skin that's still dealing with ongoing environmental challenges.
The key word here is gentle. I see too many clients who think September is the time to go aggressive with acids and treatments, but when you're still dealing with heat and UV exposure, aggressive approaches often backfire. Instead, I focus on consistent, gentle interventions that support your skin's natural repair process.
Gentle exfoliation to address texture and tone issues. Summer buildup creates a dull, uneven surface that prevents products from working effectively. But harsh scrubs or strong acids can compromise your barrier when you're still dealing with environmental stress.
Antioxidant support to protect and brighten. Vitamin C becomes even more important during our extended summer season because it provides ongoing protection while helping to brighten and even out damage that's already occurred.
My Antioxidant Powerhouse: Glymed Plus VITAMIN C SERUM
This stabilized vitamin C serum provides both protection and repair benefits. The 15% concentration is strong enough to address pigmentation issues while being stable enough to use consistently, even with ongoing sun exposure. I recommend applying it under your SPF every morning for maximum benefit.
Hydrate & Strengthen Your Barrier: Combat Dry Heat and AC Effects
One of the biggest challenges I see with San Diego skin during our extended summer is the constant battle between external heat and internal air conditioning. This creates a unique type of dehydration that goes beyond what you'd experience in other climates during fall transitions.
The dry heat outside combined with constant AC exposure creates chronically thirsty, irritated skin. I see clients who are drinking plenty of water but still have skin that looks and feels parched. This is because the environmental stress is pulling moisture out of your skin faster than you can replace it internally.
Lightweight hydration that won't feel heavy in the heat. Traditional fall moisturizers are too heavy for our ongoing warm weather, but your skin still needs serious hydration support.
My Hydration Hero: Glymed Plus Comfort Cream
This lightweight yet deeply hydrating moisturizer is perfect for our climate challenges. It provides serious moisture without the heavy feeling that becomes unbearable when it's still hot outside. The formula includes hyaluronic acid and ceramides to actually strengthen your moisture barrier while feeling comfortable on your skin.
Barrier strengthening to prepare for eventual weather changes. Even though September still feels like summer, eventually our weather will shift. This is the time to start building your skin's resilience so it's ready for those changes when they come.
My Barrier Support: Glymed Plus Barrier Repair Cream with Amino Acids
This cream-based treatment provides intensive barrier support without adding heaviness. It's perfect for transitional weather because it gives your skin what it needs to repair and strengthen while still being appropriate for warm, humid conditions.
Protect. Repair. Hydrate: Your San Diego Fall Strategy
After years of treating San Diego skin during our unique seasonal transitions, I've learned that success comes down to three consistent actions: protect, repair, and hydrate. These aren't just buzzwords—they're the foundation of everything that works in our climate.
Protect means never letting your guard down on sun protection, even when it feels like fall should mean less UV exposure. In San Diego, consistent SPF is year-round, non-negotiable protection.
Repair means addressing summer damage with gentle, consistent interventions rather than aggressive treatments that can compromise your skin when environmental stress is still high.
Hydrate means recognizing that our dry heat and constant AC create unique dehydration challenges that require lightweight but serious moisture support.
The most important thing I've learned is that San Diego skin needs San Diego solutions. Following skincare advice designed for climates that actually get cool in September will leave you frustrated and dealing with skin that doesn't respond the way you expect.
Your routine should support your skin through our extended summer season while gently preparing for the eventual weather changes that will come. This means professional-grade products that can handle our unique environmental challenges while providing the repair and protection your skin actually needs.
Ready to Give Your Skin What It Needs This Season?
If you're dealing with the effects of our extended San Diego summer and want a personalized approach to fall skincare transitions, I'd love to help. My Pumpkin Reset Facial is specifically designed to address accumulated summer damage while preparing your skin for seasonal changes—perfect for our unique September challenges. I also offer virtual skincare consultations where we can discuss your specific concerns and create a routine that actually works for our San Diego climate using professional-grade Glymed Plus products. Shop my curated Glymed Plus collection designed specifically for Southern California skin, or book your appointment to get personalized product recommendations. Because your skin deserves solutions that make sense for where you actually live.