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If your skin suddenly feels drier, tighter, or more irritated once fall rolls around, your summer skincare routine could be partly to blame. The lightweight moisturizers, oil-controlling cleansers and exfoliating acids that got you through months of heat and humidity may not give your skin what it needs once temperatures and humidity levels start to drop.
- Best fall hydrating face wash: Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
- Esthetician-loved lightweight barrier cream: Atwater Skin Heavy Armor Facial Moisturizer
- Top gentle exfoliant: By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid Gentle Exfoliating Toner
“Summer routines lean heavy on lightweight, oil-controlling products,” licensed esthetician Jennifer Adell tells E!. But as the air gets drier and indoor heating comes into play, she says some of those products can start working against your skin. That doesn't mean you need to replace everything on your bathroom shelf.
A few strategic swaps can help keep your skin hydrated, smooth and comfortable throughout fall and into winter.
We asked Adell what to scale back on, which ingredients to add and the seasonal skincare mistake you definitely don't want to make. Plus, we've rounded up products to help make the transition easier.
1. Swap Oil-Control Cleansers for Gentle, Hydrating Formulas
The cleanser that worked perfectly during sweaty July days may be too much for your skin by cool and breezy October.
“Summer routines lean heavy on lightweight, oil-controlling products—think gel cleansers, lightweight moisturizers, oil control and high-SPF, water-based sunscreens designed to survive sweat and humidity," Adell said.
"As the air begins to dry out, these can start working against you, stripping skin that's already losing moisture to lower humidity and indoor heating.”
Editor's Pick
Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
Gentle Facial Cleanser is created for those who need or want to avoid common chemical irritants found in ordinary skin care products. This sensitive skin formula is effective, yet gentle in helping remove dirt, oil and makeup without drying the skin. It is sulfate-free, betaine-free, soap-free and leaves skin feeling soft and clean.
COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
Formulated with purifying botanical ingredients, this low pH formula works to soothe, refresh, and soften the skin without the stripping feeling.
2. Trade Lightweight Moisturizers for Barrier-Supporting Creams
“The AC-to-heater transition is harder on skin than summer heat itself. Indoor heating systems can drop indoor humidity lower than outdoor winter air. So the real barrier damage often happens indoors, at your desk or in bed, not outside," she explained.
As temperatures drop, Adell recommends reaching for richer textures and barrier-supporting ingredients, particularly ceramides and hyaluronic acid. She says ceramides “help to rebuild the lipid barrier that dry, cold air compromises,” while hyaluronic acid helps support hydration.
Atwater Skin Heavy Armor Facial Moisturizer
This barrier-supporting moisturizer is lightweight for all-day comfort with no heavy, greasy feeling. Shea butter, sunflower oil and jojoba oil deliver deep hydration to relieve tight, rough, flaky-feeling skin, while niacinamide (vitamin B3) helps strengthen the skin barrier and brighten dull skin.
Editor's Pick
Dr. Althea PDRN Reju 5000 Cream
This K-Beauty cream absorbs quickly and helps improve skin texture and firmness.
3. Scale Back Strong Exfoliants as Your Skin Gets Drier
Adell adds that skin may not need the same exfoliation routine once summer ends. Rather than eliminating exfoliation altogether, she recommends moving toward gentler exfoliation and using those products only a few times per week.
“It’s also a good time to scale back on the heaviest exfoliating acids used to combat summer congestion—excess oil, sweat, sunscreen buildup," she explains.
Skin Armor Face Scrub Cleanser
This scrubbing cleanser provides effective exfoliation without causing micro-tears or irritation. Unclogs pores and removes impurities, reducing the occurrence of breakouts.
By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid Gentle Exfoliating Toner
A toner formulated with almond-derived mandelic acid gently exfoliates to help reveal healthy, smooth skin. Its lightweight, non-sticky texture is gentle enough for sensitive skin.
4. Add a Hydrating Serum to Help With Fall Dryness and Dullness
“Fall is really a ‘repair and rebuild’ season—it’s when a lot of the summer’s cumulative sun exposure starts showing up as texture, dullness or fine lines," she says.
For hydration, Adell recommends looking for hyaluronic acid, while she points to peptides for shoppers who are also concerned about the appearance of fine lines and texture.
“I recommend a peptide-rich serum like the Dr. Brandt Wrinkle Release Serum, since fall is when people start focusing more on fine lines and texture rather than just oil control.”
Dr. Brandt Wrinkle Release Serum
An at-home needle-free serum that delivers an immediate smoothing effect to the look of expression lines and creases- Skin appears firmer and more lifted upon application, with results that continue to improve over the hours and with continued use, helping defend against future expression lines.
Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum
Encapsulating all ingredients including PDRN, Hyaluronic acid and Collagen, this highly concentrated serum effectively hydrates the skin.
5. Layer on Squalane or Facial Oil When Moisturizer Isn't Cutting It
If your regular moisturizer suddenly doesn't seem to be cutting it, you don't necessarily need to overhaul your entire routine. Adding a facial oil or squalane as a final moisturizing step may give dry skin the extra support it needs.
“Dehydration and flaking—swap in ceramide/HA-rich moisturizers, add a hydrating essence or facial oil," she says.
Dr. Althea Aqua Marine Jelly Mist
A jelly mist that delivers a burst of hydration for a dewy, radiant complexion.
6. Don't Stop Wearing SPF Just Because Summer Is Over
“Don’t drop SPF just because it’s cooler. UV damage accumulates year-round; it’s just less top-of-mind in fall.”
We suggest an E! reader-loved option below.
EltaMD UV Clear Face Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide
This tinted face sunscreen with transparent Zinc Oxide provides broad spectrum SPF 46 protection and helps protect normal and sensitive skin types from UVA and UVB damage without leaving behind residue.
How We Choose
The E! Insider Shop editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews, and use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think our readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not E!. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
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