Fall Skincare Swaps to Help You Prepare for the Colder Months

Tips for Transitioning Your Skincare Routine for Fall

Tip 1: Assess the Sun Damage

According to Dr. Bhanusali, fall is a great time to schedule your annual full-body skin check with a board-certified dermatologist. After spending more time outdoors during the summer months, seeing a dermatologist for a skin check is a good safety measure to be sure you don’t have any sun spots or moles that could be cancerous.

Tip 2: Don’t Put Your Sunscreen Away

We can’t say it enough, but the best way to remain proactive and prevent adverse effects of sun exposure, like premature signs of aging and skin cancer, is to apply (and re-apply) sunscreen. “Even on cloudy days, up to 80% of UV rays can still penetrate the skin,” says Dr. Kagha, who is a COOLA dermatologist partner. Make sure to use a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or more and wear it every single day, regardless of the temperature outside. Dr. Kagha recommends the COOLA Refreshing Water Hydration Stick Organic Face Sunscreen SPF 50. Or, if you prefer a cream sunscreen, try the L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 Daily UV Lotion. Sunscreen is the one product that everyone needs to wear every day of the year, no matter your age, skin type or tone. 

Tip 3: Prioritize Hydration 

“As we move away from summer, some may experience more dryness in the skin during this time,” says Dr. Kagha. “It can be a great time to increase moisturizer use and [you] may even consider adding a hyaluronic acid to the regimen for increased hydration.”

Dr. Bhanusali echoes this sentiment. “I recommended moisturizing more often in the fall, especially after getting out of the shower,” he says. He notes that using a moisturizer immediately after cleansing will help lock in the hydration provided by the water. If you like your showers to be hot (as most of us do when the temperatures start to drop), Dr. Bhanusali recommends limiting showers to five minutes or less, since hot water can be more drying. 

While summer is all about lightweight hydration, fall is a time when you’ll want to embrace more emollient formulas in your skincare routine. “Replace the light, oil-free moisturizer with something a little thicker,” says Dr. Bhanusali. We love the Thayers Barrier Bestie Ultra Whip Face Cream. 

Tip 4: Swap Out Your Summer Skincare Must-Haves for Fall Products

The products that you gravitate towards during the warmer months may not be best suited to meet your skincare needs as the weather changes with fall. As mentioned above, for example, it’s a good idea to swap your lightweight gel moisturizer for a richer face cream. Additionally, if you experience dry skin in the fall, you may want to consider replacing your current face wash with a hydrating cleanser, like the CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser, to remove any dirt and impurities without stripping your skin of essential moisture. 

Tip 5: Try Incorporating a Retinol

Now that summer is over, it’s an ideal time to add retinol back into your skincare routine. Retinol makes your skin very sensitive to the sun, which is why you might have been taking it easy on this anti-aging ingredient. But now that the temperature is dropping and the sun is not quite so strong, feel free to reintroduce retinol into your regular routine this fall season. 

Tip 6: Schedule a Treatment

According to Dr. Kagha, “fall can be a great time to get laser treatments or chemical peels in order to rejuvenate the skin and improve some of the damage incurred during summer.” Just remember to always do your research and consult with a board-certified dermatologist before trying out a new treatment.

Tip 7: Add a Nourishing Lip Balm

Like the rest of your skin, your lips may be more prone to dryness and uncomfortable chapping as the weather gets cooler. Invest in a conditioning lip balm, like the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Hydration Restore Lip Balm. Formulated with shea butter and vitamin B5, it delivers lasting moisture to leave your lips feeling soothed and softened. 

Tip 8: Cut Down on the Exfoliation

“It may be necessary to decrease the frequency of potentially drying products that contain ingredients such as exfoliating acids,” says Dr. Kagha. “During the fall, it can be more difficult to tolerate these products with the same frequency without causing too much irritation.”