My Exact Skincare Swaps for Fall
You’ve probably noticed that I like to keep things with my skincare pretty simple. Tbh as long as I am wearing SPF everyday, I am happy. With that, one of the areas I like to be a little “extra” when it comes to skincare, is I do like to tailor my routine for the seasons (as so should you). For example, as we transition out of summer and enter fall, I like to do a little check in with my skin and make some subtle swaps to my routine. Here are all the swaps I make:
Wait by why…
I could do a whole separate blog on why one should change up their routine for seasonal changes in general, but for this specific one, I will make it simply about why you should make shifts for the transition from summer to fall. Cooler temperatures, lower humidity, and indoor heating all increase transepidermal water loss (TEWL) — meaning your skin loses more water and becomes prone to dryness, irritation, and sensitivity. I also find that wind and the fluctuating temperatures can weaken the barrier, making it less tolerant of actives like retinoids and exfoliants.
Ok now let’s get into the steps…
1. Cleanser → Go Creamier
During the summer, I loveee a lighter gel or foaming cleanser, but in fall, I swap to cream or milk cleansers with barrier-supportive ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, or oat extract. These can help replenish lipids and attract water into the skin (aka exactly what we need when cooler weather and indoor heating start pulling hydration away from our barrier).
At night, I also love adding a balm as my first cleanse. Tbh this tends to be my first cleanse year round, but if you’re someone who uses micellar water or an oil cleanser, balm just feels extra rich and nourishing when temps dip.
Here are some of my favorite cleansing balms!
2. Hydration ≠ Moisturizing (You Need Both!)
This is the adjustment I emphasize most in colder months. Many people use “hydration” and “moisturization” interchangeably, but they’re not the same (you can read my whole blog post on this topic):
Hydration = adding water into the skin. Think of humectants (like hyaluronic acid and glycerin) as little magnets that pull in water.
Moisturization = locking that hydration in and replenishing lost lipids with ceramides, squalane, fatty acids, and occlusives.
Without hydration, your skin can feel tight and dehydrated even if you’re using the thickest cream. Without moisturization, hydration evaporates before it does any good. You need BOTH!
How I add hydration in fall:
Ok I am going to get this out of the way, drinking water is not going to magically hydrate the skin. Obviously super important for your health, but it isn’t going to provide a 180 for your skin. When it comes to skin hydration, I focus on two factors, topical and supplemental. Let’s cover each:
Topical: One ingredient I always recommend looking for is hyaluronic acid. It’s especially valuable in colder months when the environment is working against your barrier. I love PCA’s Skin Hyaluronic Acid Serum — it layers beautifully under moisturizers, but here are some of my other favorites!
Supplemental: I take supplements very seriously, so you better believe I will only use it if it’s the real deal. I’ve been taking HyaCera, an ingestible supplement that supports skin hydration from within. Studies show hyaluronic acid supplements can increase skin elasticity.
Once I’ve added hydration, I always seal it in with my moisturizer, but we will cover that in the next point..
3. Moisturizer → A Touch Richer
Before we get into the specific moisturizer you use, I want to cover what you shouldn’t do. You absolutely shouldn’t just take your everyday moisturizer and lather on a thick layer. Prioritize a thin layer of your favorite rich moisturizer. Your skin should feel comfortable and flexible, not greasy or overwhelmed.
This is why I suggest moving from lightweight gel-creams to cream formulas that contain barrier-replenishing lipids. Even most of my patients with oily or acne-prone skin often benefit from a slightly richer moisturizer when humidity drops.
Here is a roundup of my favorite moisturizers for colder months!
4. Retinoid → DON’T ditch it
There’s a persistent myth that you need to stop using retinoids when the air turns cold. I rarely recommend stopping unless you’re pregnant or a specific skin condition flares up. Retinoids are too beneficial for collagen support, cell turnover, and pigment management to shelve for months at a time.
I know some people will incorporate a buffer method in colder months (moisturizer → petroleum jelly on extra sensitive spots → retinoid), if their skin is more irritable this time of year. Other than that you can continue as usual.
My favorite retinoid for every skin type!
5. SPF → Non-Negotiable
This isn’t technically a swap, but it’s worth repeating: just because the temps dip and the clouds roll in, daily SPF is still absolutely necessary.
UV rays penetrate clouds, windows, and even on overcast days still account for skin aging and pigment changes. In fact, I often see melasma and redness worsen in fall and winter because people let sunscreen slide.
I recommend tinted mineral SPFs with iron oxides, since they provide protection against visible light.
6. Entering Slugging Seasons
You already know that your girl loves an occasional slugging moment when it’s cold out. On extra-dry or windy days, I will finish my PM skin routine with a thin layer of petroleum (this one from Prequel is my fav). You can think about it like strategically locking in hydration.
Pro Tip: While I love petroleum as a buffer post moisturizer and pre retinoid, never ever apply it after an active. As someone who has woken up with super red and irritated skin from doing this, trust me!
2nd Pro Tip: Use it on your lips! It’s the best lip mask you could ask for!
7. Bonuses
Some of these are on topic, some are off topic, but I thought it would be fun to do a section on some additional changes you can make. For example, it might sound overkill, but I love using a humidifier during this time of year. Once heaters kick on, the air indoors becomes desert-level dry. Running a humidifier in the bedroom while you sleep helps maintain ambient moisture.
I also think it’s important that we don’t forget about our body skin (even though I do all the time). Keep a nourishing hand cream in your bag, use an extra nourishing body wash, layer a body cream with ceramides right after you shower (when your skin is still a little damp), and consider finishing with a body oil if you’re extra dry.
Alright, I think those are all the swaps I will personally be making! Let me know which ones you will be doing (or if there are any I missed). As always, DM me with questions or blog topic requests!
xx Amy
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