After years of experimenting, you’ve finally landed on The Perfect Skincare Routine: that foolproof combination of skincare products combined with a tried-and-tested regimen that really works… Until one day, it doesn’t. You move to a new city, your diet changes, you get older – and suddenly, the face oil you thought you could always count on is giving you breakouts, and your go-to moisturiser just isn’t hydrating your skin like it used to. That’s not to say you’ll have to completely overhaul your regimen every few months—but chances are, you’ll need to make small tweaks to your skincare routine as your skin, hormones, and surroundings change. Unless you live in a city where the climate stays relatively constant all year long, shifts in season are the most common reason you’ll need to change up your skincare products. As we transition from summer to fall (and winter soon after that), here are 8 fall skincare tips that can help you keep your skin healthy and glowing throughout the coldest months of the year.
WHATEVER IT IS, MAKE SURE IT’S MOISTURISING
It’s not just the drop in humidity that can cause dry, irritated, or flaky skin in fall and winter. Indoor heating (at home or in your office) can make it hard for your skin barrier to hold on to water, causing it to crack, chap, or feel unnaturally tight. Dry skin also makes fine lines and wrinkles more visible, more vulnerable to irritation, and can aggravate certain skin conditions like eczema. To protect your skin barrier, opt for skincare products that contain moisturising ingredients like hyaluronic acid, colloidal oatmeal, or ceramides. The most obvious product to work into your fall routine is a rich moisturiser—ideally, one that contains both humectants (ingredients that draw moisture into skin) and occlusives (ingredients that seal moisture into skin). Ceramides are particularly helpful for preventing moisture loss and protecting the skin barrier, making them ideal for sensitive, redness-prone skin. Even cleansers can help keep skin hydrated: opt for ones that contain a powerful humectant like hyaluronic acid.