Just like the weather, our skin changes with the seasons. My skin tends to be more oily during the summer due to the hot and humid weather, and gets drier as I begin spending more time inside in the dry air and the outside temperatures start to drop. Here are the products I’m swapping into my routine this season.
1. Moisturizer
In the summer I like to use a gel moisturizer like this one from Farmacy or this from Summer Fridays. In the colder months, I like something just a bit heavier. Tatcha’s Indigo Overnight Repair Serum-in-Cream Treatment is an excellent nighttime moisturizer. I also like to use Tatcha’s Dewy Skin Cream – this one is a bit thicker. If my skin is feeling a bit congested or acne-prone, I’ll use the Herbivore Aquarius Cream. It has BHA in it to help exfoliate, but is a thicker consistency than most moisturizers formulated for acne-prone skin.
2. Toner/Essence
I don’t always use a toner in my skincare routine, but when I do it’s because I notice my pores are more clogged than usual. I really love using something simple-yet-effective like these First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads. First Aid Beauty creates their formulas with sensitive skin in mind, so these don’t make my skin dry. Alternatively, I really like the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-Tight Toner. It’s almost like a combination of a toner and serum, and it works to both unclog pores and hydrate the skin. It really leaves me with glass skin after, too!
3. Serums
I find that dry skin tends to make my skin look extra dull, so I still like to use some kind of exfoliating serum. Typically I reach for Sunday Riley’s Good Genes to help me get rid of texture on my forehead or Topicals’ Faded serum to help fade dark spots and keep acne at bay. Neither of these ever cause dryness for me either.
4. Masks
When my skin is ultra dry, I love slathering on a good hydrating mask, and one that I can sleep in. I can always count on Summer Fridays’ Jet Lag mask to re-hydrate my skin. I really want to try Topicals’ Like Butter mask, too – it’s formulated for dry, sensitive & eczema-prone skin.
5. Treatments
Acne treatments can be really drying, so when my skin is parched I like to use pimple patches instead. I’ve tried a few different brands but the ones I keep going back to are Starface, Hero Cosmetics, and Cosrx. Sometimes I even wear them at work!!
When I have a zit that’s healing, I’ll reach for the Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm, which is formulated to re-hydrate skin that’s been dried out by acne treatments and help heal spots.
6. Humidifier
It’s humidifier season! Humidifiers are a must during the cooler months. I always get a winter cough, and humidifiers help with that as well as help keeping the skin on our face and bodies from drying out too much when inside with the heat blasting. I have a plain old Vicks like this one, but there are SO many out there.
7. Body care
My body tends to get even more dry and itchy than normal in the fall and winter. I always have to have First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream on hand. It’s unscented and super moisturizing without feeling too thick on the skin. It has colloidal ointment in it, which is excellent for soothing irritated skin. I literally keep a giant tube of it in my work bag so I have it in case I start getting itchy at work.
My new favorite hand cream is the Fenty Skin Hydra’Reset Intensive Recovery Glycerin Hand Mask. It is INCREDIBLE. It smells amazing, has great packaging, and really works overnight to moisturize hands. I’ve tried a lot of hand creams and this might be the best yet!
8. Lip balm
Lastly, my favorite category – lip balm! It seems like everyone suffers from chapped lips in the winter, but the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask has singlehandedly stopped me from getting chapped lips. Like, ever. I’m partial to the vanilla flavor. If I’m skiing or spending a long time outdoors, I’ll use something like Glossier Balm Dot Com – this is more occlusive and helps lock moisture in, even in cold weather or high winds. Obviously, I had to order the new Cookie Butter flavor.
I try to keep my skincare routine simple and hydrating, yet effective enough to keep my skin clear! To shop all my favorite skincare in one place, check out my ShopList page to shop my shelf. What do you add to your routine in the fall? Let me know in the comments!