How to Transition Your Skincare Routine for Fall

Your skin barrier is the outermost layer of your skin, and it has an important job: helping keep moisture in while protecting your skin from the outside environment. When the weather becomes cooler and the air holds less moisture, your skin can lose water more easily, which may leave it feeling dry, tight, rough or irritated.

And it’s not only the weather. Long, hot showers, harsh cleansers and over-exfoliating can also contribute to dryness and disrupt the skin barrier. That’s why transitioning your routine for fall isn’t necessarily about using more products, it’s about being a little more intentional with the ones you choose.

Look for gentle cleansers that won’t leave your skin feeling stripped, moisturize regularly, and consider products with ingredients such as ceramides, glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which can help support hydration and the skin barrier. Think of it as helping your skin do what it already does naturally: protect and hold onto the moisture it needs.

When the weather cools down, it can be tempting to simply reach for the thickest moisturizer on the shelf, but texture doesn’t tell the whole story. What matters is how the ingredients in your moisturizer help your skin get and hold onto the moisture it needs.

You may come across terms like humectants, emollients and occlusives, but they’re easier to understand than they sound. Humectants, such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, help attract water to the skin. Emollients help soften and smooth the skin, while occlusives create a layer that helps slow moisture from escaping.

The key? You don’t necessarily need the heaviest cream, you need a formula that suits your skin’s needs. If your skin feels comfortable with lightweight hydration, you may not need to make a dramatic switch. But if you’re noticing more dryness, roughness or tightness as the season changes, it may be time to look for a moisturizer that offers a little more support.

Think of your fall routine as an adjustment, not an overhaul. Pay attention to how your skin feels, then choose your moisture accordingly.

You don’t need a completely different skincare routine just because the temperature drops. Instead, pay attention to the steps where your skin may be asking for something different.

Start with your cleanser. If your skin regularly feels tight or uncomfortable after washing, consider switching to a gentler cleanser and using lukewarm rather than hot water. Your skin should feel clean, not stripped.

Then, check your moisturizer. If the one you loved all summer suddenly doesn’t feel like enough, this is where a small seasonal switch can help. Remember those humectants, emollients and occlusives we talked about? Look for a formula that gives your skin the kind of moisture support it needs rather than simply choosing the thickest cream you can find.

One thing that doesn’t need a seasonal switch? Your SPF. UV rays are present year-round, including during cooler and cloudy days, so sunscreen should continue to be part of your daytime routine.

Ultimately, transitioning your skincare for fall is less about following a whole new set of rules and more about noticing what has changed for your skin and responding to it. And if your routine could use a few thoughtful updates, you can enjoy 20% off skincare during Cloré’s Thanksgiving promotion, now through October 18.