Temperatures drop, leaves change, and wardrobes become cozier. Fall brings many changes and your skincare routine should not be left out in the cold. With winds outside and furnaces inside stripping moisture from your face, it needs extra care this time of year. Make a few simple fall skincare swaps to prioritize your self-care this season.
There are a few areas where you should consider making a few simple swaps. Cleanser, serum, moisturizer. I also like to start retinol this time of year. With the sun not out as long or as intense I am more comfortable switching in these active ingredients. Also with a retinol I need more moisture which I need this time of year anyway so it simplifies product choice and I love anything that simplifies my routine.
1. Cleanser
I usually switch to something more delicate this time of year. I am not using as intense and waterproof of sunscreen so I can dial back the intensity of my cleanser. Something calm and soothing is the theme for this season.
Here are some of my favorites for fall
- Budget: Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser. I swear I cannot tell the difference between this and Tata Harper regenerating cleanser. It’s so incredibly similar with a way nicer price tag. Normally mud cleanser means dry, but this one is the perfect balance between cleansing and preserving the skin barrier. No stripped feeling here.
- Mid-Range: Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser. Feel like a French woman without breaking the bank. This gentle yet effective cleanser has been one of my go-to cleansers for years.
- Splurge: Eve Lom Cleanser. When I am having an indulgent self-care evening, this is it. I wish I could justify always spending this much on a cleanser. I get like one a year around Christmas as part of a holiday deal/sale/set something so it’s not full price.
2. Serum
Here is where you can have some fun. I usually use a retinol serum once or twice a week once I my skin is used to them again. And then you have extra luxurious ones for the rest of the fall evenings. Mornings get their own. It’s like a skin care cocktail party 😀
- Budget: The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane. I love squalene oil. All alone it increases cell turn over so pairing with a retinoid will make you a new person by spring!
- Mid-Range: Herbivore Bakuchiol. Please don’t ask me to pronounce this. But it’s a skincare superstar no matter its name. You need to know this serum. A gentler retinol alternative that is plant-based and more soothing. I have had fantastic luck with it.
- Splurge: Kate Somerville – +Retinol Vita C Power Serum. This is a nice little premixed serum cocktail. You know you pay more per ounce for the premixed cocktails at the store but sometimes a person just doesn’t have the time or skill to mix their own. If you have more money than time this is a great serum.
3. Moisturizer
This is a little more obvious. Most people realize in the fall winter they need a more robust moisturizer. I like to swap in rose hip oil myself. Or a cream that just feels more indulgent.
- Budget: The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil. There is a reason people keep coming back to this classic over the centuries. Now, this brand may not smell like roses but the results are very soothing and glowing skin by morning. And for $9.80 who can complain 🙂
- Mid-Range: Farsali Rose Gold elixir. I know this became a meme with how many girls dripped this on their face on Insta…. but stay with me. The oil is quite good. I like to use it at night and feel a bit fancy with the 24k gold flakes that do absolutely nothing but make you feel fancy.
- Splurge: Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream. Can I just say I love the dispenser? It’s got a push top the dispenses the product so it stays uncontaminated. And it works wonders on wind-whipped skin. It just feels healing. If fall winds or winter cold has made my skin a bit raw I reach for this.
4. Exfoliant
Fall skincare means I have to add a new step to my evening routine. With itchy dry skin you need to, let’s just say, encourage it to leave 😀 I like to do a little more exfoliating this time of year and from non-eco-friendly single-use wipes to crazy expensive. There is quite a lot to choose from. Here are some of my faves.
- Budget: A cheap washcloth. No really. I buy the 10-pack from Ikea for $3.99. They’re perfect. I use a fresh one each day and gently buff small circles all over my face. I go into more detail in this blog post on washing my face. Nice washcloths are too soft and don’t exfoliate as well so you gotta go cheap. Ikea ones strike the perfect balance between cheap and soft enough to enjoy using.
- Mid-Range: M-61 Power Glow Peel. I know they are single-use but they’re so good and an ingredient like that stays more active if kept away from oxygen until use. I also like Drunk Elephant T.L.C Framboos Glycolic night serum if you can’t do the wipes. Which has a great package that protects it from oxygen.
- Splurge: Kate Somerville ExfoliKate. This is super fast. Just 2 min of tingle then you wash it off. I like to put this on while my shower is warming up because I like to make sure I very thoroughly rinse off an exfoliating treatment that is intense like this one.
5. Lip Balm
You know I can’t make any list without bringing up lip balm 😀 I love lip balm and it doesn’t take much fall weather to make me switch my balm song. In the summer I tend to use one with an spf and it can be lighter. Fall tho…. It has to be thick.
- Budget: Softlips. I loved it in High School and it still works now. Really anything, just use something.
- Mid-Range: Bite Beauty Agave Lip mask. I know it’s called a mask but I use it all the time. I have one in my purse, one on my desk, one by my bed. Hands down favorite. Enough said.
- Splurge: La Mer The Balm. This is basically the definition of extra. But it is a big container of lip balm, it does work and smells so nice. I am glad I bought it once. And I will be sad once it’s all gone.
Those are some fall skincare swaps I make as soon as it becomes sweater weather. What are some of your favorite skincare products for fall/winter?