I Live in the Midwest and Dread the Annual Time Change—These 13 Beauty and Wellness Items Save Me
I grew up in the Midwest but lived in warmer, sunnier locales for much of my 20s. First, I moved to Los Angeles. Then, I moved to Austin, Texas. As I approached 30, I decided to move back to my hometown. I missed the people, the slow lifestyle, and the four seasons.
Now that I’ve been back for a couple of years, I can confidently say I made the right move. I love it here. There’s only one thing I don’t like. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say I dread it. I’m talking about the annual time change. Since I live in Northern Michigan, the time change leads to a 5 p.m. sunset. Yep. That means I wake up in the dark, finish work in the dark, eat dinner in the dark… You get it. Pair that with freezing temperatures and snowfall, and my energy levels hit an astounding low.
While I believe it’s important to let yourself fall into the rhythm of the four seasons (which means embracing a cozy, homebody vibe from late fall to winter), I can’t stay at home and sleep all season. Nor do I want to. So to help myself feel my best, I’ve created what I think is the perfect self-care routine. Ahead, see the 13 beauty and wellness essentials that save me from the effects of the dreaded annual time change. I hope these are as helpful to you, dear reader, as they’ve been for me.
The last light of one of my few remaining post–6 p.m. sunsets
My 13 Beauty & Wellness Essentials for Fall and Winter
Hatch
Restore 3 Smart Sunrise Alarm Clock
Waking up in total darkness means I’m way more likely to hit snooze, roll over, and go back to sleep. The problem with that is A) I’d be late for work every day and B) I’d feel groggy and need an unhealthy amount of caffeine to get through the day. Luckily, I have a Hatch alarm clock.
Unlike traditional alarm clocks, this is a smart alarm clock. It supports a healthy circadian rhythm with a sunrise lamp that stimulates the gradual brightening of dawn. It also offers customizable alarm sounds (mine is a chorus of singing birds), so it beats waking up to the aggressive sound of an iPhone alarm. It even has a “wind-down” setting that mimics a gradual sunset to help signal your brain and body to rest at the end of the day. There are so many great features, but beyond the functionality of it, I think it looks so nice on my bedside table.
Nespresso
Lattissima One by de’Longhi
I’m a coffee person. I rarely skip it. In fact, I rarely go a day drinking just one cup. I love the scent, the flavor, and the ritual of it, and this Nespresso machine is one my prized possessions. It pulls rich shots of espresso, has a built-in milk frother for lattes and cappuccinos, and is basically self-cleaning. Call me lazy, but IMO, this is way nicer than messing with a complicated espresso machine on busy mornings.
Joanna Vargas
Vitamin C Face Wash
Once I’m up and have had one cup of coffee, it’s time for my skincare routine. The first step is always this vitamin C–spiked face wash. It’s infused with antioxidant-rich açaí, goji berry, and citrus oils, as well as exfoliating galactoarabinan (derived from larch trees) and hydrating hyaluronic acid.
It makes my skin feel so clean and smooth. The best part is the scent. Akin to fresh tangerines or juicy oranges, the bright, zippy fragrance never fails to wake me up and put a spring in my step on cold, dark mornings—10/10 recommend.
YSE Beauty
The Overachiever Brightening & Depuffing Eye Patches
The entire Who What Wear beauty team knows how much I love these eye masks. I’ve waxed poetic about them for months, and I’m not going to stop now. They’re packed with vitamin C, peptides, and allantoin, so they *actually* brighten dark circles, reduce puffiness, and smooth lines in as few as 15 minutes. I count on them to make me look wide awake even when I’m extra tired and short on sleep. And when I travel? They’re going in my carry-on, thanks.
(They’re so good they won a Who What Wear Beauty Award… just saying.)
I love fall and winter, and I try to embrace every aspect of them that I can, but you won’t catch me going for a run in the snow. You just won’t. Instead, you’ll find me stretching or doing yoga or Pilates on a warm, indoor mat. This one from ALO Yoga is my favorite. It’s thick and grippy, so I don’t slip on it the way I do with other workout mats.
Le Specs
Duskfall Blue Light Glasses
The blue light from computer and phone screens is known to disrupt the circadian rhythm and make getting good sleep more difficult. Since I spend so much more time inside during the fall and winter, and electronic devices come with it, I’m always sure to wear blue light–blocking glasses. I’ve amassed a small hoard of them (they’re as chic as they are practical!), but these ones are my current fixation.
Diptyque Paris
Citrouille (Pumpkin) Classic Candle
For me, a big part of leaning into fall and winter is refreshing my space and making it cozy and seasonal. The easiest way to do that is by investing in a chic candle to burn on long nights spent at home. Right now, I can’t get enough of Diptyque’s Citrouille (Pumpkin) Candle. It’s the chicest pumpkin candle I’ve ever owned, featuring notes of sun-ripened pumpkin, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and creamy vanilla. Unfortunately, it’s a limited edition, so if you want in, act fast.
Tart by Taylor
Square Acrylic Match Striker
A chic matchbox or match holder is key; it elevates any coffee table or bedside table.
I’m all about low-effort, high-impact beauty techniques, and heatless curls are one of them. I’ve tried a variety of heatless curling techniques, but I’ve never had more success than with this inexpensive set from Amazon. It doesn’t slip out of my hair the way other satin-covered rods do, and it’s incredibly easy to use. Most importantly, it’s relatively comfortable to sleep with.
Sulwhasoo
Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Eye Cream for Anti-Aging
I swear by the aforementioned YSE Beauty Eye Patches on early mornings, but every night, you’ll catch me applying this eye cream. It’s packed with ginseng actives, peptides, and flower extract to enhance the eye area. It targets dryness, lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and more. I’ve used it religiously for a few months, and I can tell that my dark circles have diminished.
CYKLAR
Vanilla Verve Vitamin C Body Oil
I’m obsessed with bodycare, and this cozy, comforting body oil is my latest love. It contains oil-soluble vitamin C to brighten my skin and give it a glow. There’s also a multi-oil blend for cushiony moisture, and squalane for a strong skin barrier. And the scent… It’s divine. It’s sweet, spicy, and creamy with notes of vanilla, ambrette seed, amber, musk, and tonka bean. Trust me. This body oil is so good that it might replace your go-to perfume (and get you a lot of compliments along the way).
Canopy
Bedside Humidifier 2.0
Here’s another gadget I swear by for fall and winter. I’ve already written a whole 6000(!)-word love letter to this humidifier, so I’ll keep this short. It has a mist-free, mold-free design. It’s quiet. It hydrates my skin. It even prevents viruses from traveling through the air. And it doubles as an essential-oil diffuser. I love it so much I’ve told all of my friends and family members to get one.
Alo Yoga
Magnesium Reset Spray
Last but not least, I like to keep this magnesium spray on my bedside table. I’ve already explored the benefits of magnesium in skincare, and this spray delivers on all of them. Plus, it relieves muscle tension and provides aromatherapy to bring on better sleep.
