Did you know that when seasons change, so should your skin care routine? Admittedly, I never knew this until several years ago when I began working at a skincare company. Your skin’s needs in the fall are different from those in the summer. Therefore, it’s important to transition your skin care routine from summer to fall for cooler months.
I enlisted Allison Mockett, my esthetician and owner at No Filter Beauty to give her professional advice on how to transition into a fall skincare routine. (You may remember Allison from this post on how to give yourself an at-home facial.)
How To Transition To A Fall Skincare Routine
Your skin in the fall needs a ton of post-summer TLC.
“Fall skin is usually dealing with multiple issues at once,” says Allison. “You have pigmentation from summer sun damage; dullness from dryness or dehydration; breakouts from increased skin congestion from SPF and more oil production in some skin types; and redness from seasonal allergies or sensitivity.”
Although that may sound like a lot, transitioning your skincare routine from summer to fall doesn’t have to be complicated. “By working fall-friendly products into your skin care regimen, you can help repair, reinforce and rebalance your skin between summer and winter.”
Your Fall Skincare Routine Blueprint
Exfoliation
After you cleanse your skin, add exfoliation to your skin care routine if you don’t do it already.
“Exfoliation is important to remove the dead skin cell buildup and allow the moisture and products to penetrate. Putting serums on top of un-exfoliated skin is a waste and doesn’t allow for maximum penetration of active ingredients.”
Allison recommends using an at-home peel of finding exfoliation products with both AHAs and BHAs (look for ingredients such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, beta hydroxy acid, or salicylic acid).
ALLISON’S FAVORITES: Cosmedix Pure Enzymes Cranberry Exfoliating Mask mixed with Cosmedix Purity Detox Scrub for both chemical and physical exfoliation.
MY FAVORITES: Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Peel Pads, Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment, Drunk Elephant Babyfacial AHA + BHA Mask, and Beautycounter Counter+ Overnight Resurfacing Peel
Daytime
Thanks to dry heat from your heater and the drop in temperatures, skin can get dehydrated in the fall, even if you generally have normal skin.
During the day, add a hyaluronic acid serum to help increase moisture in dry skin. Hyaluronic acid carries 1,000 times its weight in water. It hydrates the skin on its own, but also attracts hydrating ingredients from other products to lock in moisture.
MY FAVORITES: Cosmedix Surge, Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster, and The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Nighttime Fall Skincare Routine Updates
“For nighttime, add a facial oil made for your skin type as the last step in your fall skincare routine.”
Allison also recommends adding in retinol. “Retinol is great at night, especially during the fall and winter seasons, to increase cellular turnover.” Start with a lower percentage or using every other day if it’s new to you, then work your way up to using it daily.
MY FAVORITES: Eve Lom Radiance Face Oil and Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum
Moisturizers
Most people’s first inclination is to purchase a thicker moisturizer for their fall skin care routine. And although you can always do this, there’s no need to immediately purchase one. You may feel that adding a hyaluronic acid serum and facial oil with your current moisturizer is enough. Start there, and if you’re still feeling dry or dehydrated, then add in a thicker moisturizer.
MY FAVORITES: Augustinus Bader The Cream and Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre
Keep Your SPF
Although you may add some new products to transition your skin care routine from summer to fall, there’s one you shouldn’t ever put away. “SPF always, in every season. Rain or shine,” says Allison.
Broad spectrum rays are present all year, meaning, they can still penetrate through clouds even on the grayest day, as well as glass.
I like Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen for under makeup since it’s a clear formula that also acts as a primer. On makeup-free days, I use EltaMD Tinted UV Clear SPF. The tinted formula helps to even out skin tone while keeping my skin protected. For more facial sunscreens, check out this post.
As always, when it comes to skin care, be sure to visit a board-certified dermatologist for any medical advice.
Looking for a simple skin care routine? Check out my complete guide on how to start a basic skin care routine.
About Allison
After completing the esthetics program at Paul Mitchell Skin Academy in Costa Mesa, Allison went on to work for various skincare and makeup brands where she worked in marketing and product development. She has a deep knowledge of ingredients and how they work with your skin.
She is the founder and owner of No Filter Beauty in Redondo Beach, CA and specializes in skincare, brows, and lashes.
