I reside in the Midwest and dislike the yearly time change—these 14 beauty and wellness products help me cope.

      I grew up in the Midwest but spent a significant part of my 20s in warmer, sunnier places. Initially, I moved to Los Angeles and later to Austin, Texas. As I neared 30, I chose to return to my hometown because I missed the people, the slower way of life, and the four seasons. After being back for a couple of years, I can confidently say I made the right decision. I really enjoy it here. The only thing I find undesirable—and I might even say I dread—is the annual time change. Living in Northern Michigan means that the time change results in a sunset at 5 p.m. This leads to waking up in darkness, finishing work in darkness, and eating dinner in darkness… you get the picture. With frigid temperatures and snowfall, my energy plummets to an all-time low. While I believe in embracing the rhythm of the four seasons (which means adopting a cozy, homebound vibe from late fall to winter), I can't stay home sleeping through the entire season, nor do I want to. To help me feel my best, I've developed what I believe to be the ideal self-care routine. Below are 14 beauty and wellness essentials that keep me going despite the dreaded annual time change. I hope you find them as beneficial as I do, dear reader.

      The last light of one of the few remaining sunsets after 6 p.m.

      My 13 Beauty & Wellness Essentials for Fall and Winter

      **Hatch Restore 3 Smart Sunrise Alarm Clock**

      Waking up to total darkness often makes me more inclined to hit snooze, roll over, and go back to sleep. The downside of this is that A) I would be late for work every day and B) I would feel groggy and need an excessive amount of caffeine to power through the day. Thankfully, I have a Hatch alarm clock. This smart alarm clock promotes a healthy circadian rhythm with a sunrise lamp that gradually brightens like dawn. It also features customizable alarm sounds (I chose a chorus of singing birds), which is far superior to the jarring sound of a typical iPhone alarm. It even offers a "wind-down" setting that simulates a gradual sunset, signaling my brain and body to relax at the end of the day. It has numerous fantastic features, but beyond its practicality, I find it aesthetically pleasing on my bedside table.

      **Nespresso Lattissima One by de'Longhi**

      I’m a coffee enthusiast and rarely skip my daily cup, often consuming more than one. I adore the aroma, flavor, and ritual surrounding it, and this Nespresso machine is among my most valued possessions. It brews rich espresso shots, has a built-in milk frother for lattes and cappuccinos, and is essentially self-cleaning. Call it laziness, but I find this to be much more enjoyable than dealing with a complicated espresso machine during hectic mornings.

      **Joanna Vargas Vitamin C Face Wash**

      Once I’m up and have had my first cup of coffee, I begin my skincare routine. The first step is always using this vitamin C-enriched face wash. It contains antioxidant-rich açaí, goji berry, and citrus oils, along with exfoliating galactoarabinan (derived from larch trees) and hydrating hyaluronic acid. It leaves my skin feeling clean and smooth, and the fragrance—reminiscent of fresh tangerines or juicy oranges—never fails to invigorate me and give me a boost on cold, dark mornings—10/10 would recommend.

      **YSE Beauty The Overachiever Brightening & Depuffing Eye Patches**

      The entire Who What Wear beauty team is aware of my fondness for these eye masks. I've sung their praises for months, and I have no intention of stopping. They're infused with vitamin C, peptides, and allantoin, enabling them to genuinely brighten dark circles, decrease puffiness, and smooth fine lines in as little as 15 minutes. I rely on them to make me look alert, even when I'm particularly tired and sleep-deprived. And when I travel, they definitely go in my carry-on. (They’re so effective that they even won a Who What Wear Beauty Award… just saying.)

      I cherish fall and winter and strive to embrace all aspects of these seasons, but running in the snow is not something you'll see me doing. Instead, I prefer stretching or practicing yoga or Pilates on a warm indoor mat. My favorite is this one from ALO Yoga; it's thick and grippy, which prevents me from slipping like I do with other workout mats.

      **Le Specs Duskfall Blue Light Glasses**

      Blue light emitted from computer and phone screens is known to disturb the circadian rhythm, making it harder to achieve quality sleep. Since I spend considerably more time indoors during the fall and winter—along with increased screen time—I always wear blue light-blocking