10 Fall Skincare Essentials

Fall is here and as the seasons change so do our skincare needs. I always notice how the change in weather starts to affect my skin this time of year. As the weather gets colder and the air gets drier what my skin needs now is different from what my summer skin needed a few months ago.

My skin used to be a mess with the changing of the seasons but what I didn’t realize is I wasn’t taking the proper steps to adapt with the seasonal transition. Once I found a good esthetician she helped me figure out what products and skincare steps I could take to avoid breakouts and dry patches. These are some of my favorites for fall, and today I’m sharing a roundup of skincare essentials and tips to help your skin adapt to the cooler and drier season.

10 Fall Skincare Essentials

Cleansing balm

With the changing of the seasons and cooler drier air, it’s a great time to switch up your cleanser to something creamier and more hydrating. My holy grail cleanser is the Naturopathica Manuka Honey Cleansing Balm. It’s soothing, melts away makeup and leaves my skin feeling so hydrated. This cleanser is good for all skin types including acne prone skin with its soothing properties like manuka honey, royal jelly peptides, sodium hyaluronate (helps skin retain moisture). I only use this at night so the jar lasts a long time.

lip scrub

It may feel counter intuitive to exfoliate your lips when they’re feeling dry but I discovered this lip polish from French Girl Organics a few winters ago and it was a total game changer. It’s very gentle and leaves lips feeling smooth and soft. A little goes a long way and the jar lasts forever. For dry, chapped lips all fall and winter this stuff is great.

lip balm

After you exfoliate protect those lips with a soothing lip balm. Kosas Hyaluronic Acid Lip Balm is one of my favorites for winter. It’s sheer but has a slight glossy look to it. It also comes in a few tinted shades that leave a nice subtle flush of color. The winter trio is a great value for the set.

vitamin C serum

I use vitamin C serum year round but if you are new to it, now is a great time to try one. Follain’s Brightening Serum is my favorite with 5% Vitamin C and Niacinamide. Vitamin C serum can help brighten dull skin and this one goes on light without being sticky. All it takes is one pump. I apply in the morning before sunscreen and makeup.

hydrating moisturizer

I have been searching for a rich and creamy overnight moisturizer and I finally found one I really love. Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum in Cream Treatment is basically a do it all overnight moisturizer. While it’s more expensive, I use this as my nightly serum, moisturizer and oil in one. It’s very rich so a little goes a long way. This product is definitely geared towards dry, mature skin. If you think it might be too much for your skin I recommend this moisturizer with bakuchiol and squalane from alpyn beauty.

Sunscreen

Just because summer’s over doesn’t mean you can skip the sunscreen. SPF is year-round and should be worn everyday. My go to is Saie Sunvisor which is a dewy, moisturizing SPF that gives skin a hydrated glow. It has Vitamin C help to brighten and protect against free radicals while Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E, and Aloe Vera hydrate and nourish.

hand cream

The colder weather brings the cracked, dry hands and mine are particularly parched during fall and winter. I love Necessaire’s Hand Cream because it’s non-scented, absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave hands feeling greasy but it does the job. I keep one in my purse at all times. It’s great for feet and elbows too!

exfoliant

Don’t skip the exfoliant in fall and winter but you can do it less often. I really like the Dr Dennis Gross Alpa Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel. I use it once a week during the fall and winter to help brighten and exfoliate dead skin.

eye cream

The skin around your eyes is delicate and can be prone to dryness even more in the fall and winter months. Try a creamy and moisturizing eye cream like this one from Biossance. It’s hydrating, brightening, soothing and melts into your skin.

body cream

My skin can get so itchy and dry during fall and winter so I have to moisturize every inch of my body. I tried the Biossance toning body cream during their summer sale and I love it. It’s rich and creamy and absorbs fast. My other favorite for fall and winter is First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream. It lasts long and is also good for eczema.

Fall Skincare Tips

Wear spf every day

Now is not the time to start skipping SPF! It’s important to wear sunscreen year round and especially during the fall and winter months when doing outdoor activities. If you ski/snowboard it’s so important to wear SPF on the mountain as the reflection of the sun on the snow is very strong. Find one you like and incorporate it into your fall skincare routine.

use a hydrating cleanser

Colder weather means drier skin. The heat is on and the indoor air is dry, our skin typically needs more moisture and a hydrating, soothing cleanser is the way to go. In the mornings I only wash my face with water and use a hydrating cleanser at night.

add a vitamin c serum

Vitamin C serum can help fight free radicals and protect the skin barrier during the fall and winter. It can also help prevent UV damage from the sun which is why it’s so good to use with an SPF. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables with Vitamin C can also help your skin (and health).

gently exfoliate weekly

It’s still good to exfoliate during the fall but keep it to a minimum. Pay attention to how your skin feels and what it needs but no need to go overboard with exfoliating. For me once a week is usually enough and I do a moisturizing mask afterwards.

skip the scorching hot water

Hot showers feel so good as the temps drop (guilty as charged) but it’s not great for your skin. Hot water will dry out your skin and scalp so try and keep showers short and don’t go too hot with the water.

clean your makeup brushes

When’s the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes? If you can’t remember, then now is probably a good time to do that. It doesn’t have to be anything complicated. Just a tiny bit of soap and water and rinse the brush until the water runs clear, then let them air dry.