10 essential ways to update your skin care routine for fall

Cooler, drier air is coming, and your skin will feel it before you do.

Quick answer: To update your skin care routine for fall, switch to a more hydrating cleanser and moisturizer, keep exfoliating but less often, wear SPF every day, and support your skin barrier as the air gets colder and drier.

Why does your skin care routine need to change in fall?

As temperatures drop and the heat comes on, skin loses moisture faster, your exfoliation needs to shift, and any sun damage from summer starts to show. Small changes to your products and habits help your skin stay hydrated and comfortable through the season. Here are 10 ways to do it.

1. Cleanse without stripping your skin with Gentle Rinse

Key ingredients: glycerin, vitamin B5, vitamin E, and botanical extracts

Most skin types need more hydration once the weather turns, even if you don’t usually deal with dryness or sensitivity. Gentle Rinse is a gentle cleanser that removes makeup, soothes irritation, and cleans without stripping your skin’s natural oils. For a deeper clean, pair it with Power Wash for a double cleanse.

2. Brighten and smooth your skin with Crystal Clear clarifying pads

Key ingredients: glycolic acid 5%, lactic acid 5%, salicylic acid 2%, and botanical extracts

Crystal Clear clarifying pads brighten skin after summer while treating breakouts and early signs of aging. Lactic and glycolic acid boost collagen and smooth texture. Salicylic acid controls oil and clears out pores. Licorice and white mulberry extracts are natural brighteners that calm inflammation and even out skin tone. If your skin starts to feel dry or sensitive as the weather cools, use them less often.

3. Reduce dark circles with Eye Sculpt

Key ingredients: peptides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide

Shorter days and busier schedules tend to show up under your eyes first. Eye Sculpt is a lightweight, peptide-rich eye cream that targets dark circles and puffiness while hydrating the eye area to soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

4. Switch to a richer, ceramide-rich moisturizer like Face Whip

Key ingredients: ceramides, peptides, and high-performance botanicals

Your moisturizer matters more in fall than in July, because skin loses moisture faster once temperatures drop and the heat comes on. Face Whip is packed with ceramides, which strengthen the skin barrier, plump the skin, and reduce moisture loss.

5. Repair summer sun damage with Night Watch

Key ingredients: hydroxypinacolone retinoate (HPR), melatonin, bisabolol, and vitamins C and E

If summer sun damage is starting to show, add Night Watch to your nighttime routine. It targets fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation like sun spots, and it speeds up cell turnover to keep your complexion bright.

6. Turn down your water temperature

A hot shower feels great once it’s cold out, but hot water works against your skin. The outermost layer of skin is made of lipids and proteins, and hot water breaks them down and strips away natural oils. Lukewarm water, for both washing your face and showering, keeps your barrier intact so your skin doesn’t feel tight, dry, or irritated afterward.

7. Don’t skip sunscreen

UV radiation is there year-round, even on cool, cloudy days, and chronic sun exposure is one of the main causes of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven texture. Sheer Defense SPF is a broad-spectrum SPF 46 with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, so it hydrates while it protects. Apply it as the last step in your routine, at least 30 minutes before going outside, and reapply every two hours (every 40 minutes if you’re sweating or swimming).

8. Add a humidifier as you turn on the heat

Indoor heating dries out the air in your home fast, and your skin feels it. Skin is most comfortable at around 40 to 60 percent humidity, and a small humidifier helps you get there. Empty it when you’re not using it and clean it regularly, since standing water can grow mold.

9. Protect your lips

Lips dry out in the cold too. A hydrating lip balm keeps them from cracking as the air gets colder.

10. Book a seasonal skin care treatment

Your in-clinic treatments can change with the seasons too. Chemical peels and microneedling (especially paired with PRP) work well as temperatures drop, since deeper exfoliation and collagen support pair naturally with a more hydrating fall routine. Many of these treatments work best as a series, so your provider may recommend a plan with more than one visit. Skin Pharm’s board-certified providers and advanced practice providers can build a plan based on what your skin needs this season. Book a skin consult to get started.

The bottom line

Your skin’s needs change with the seasons. Fall is the time to bring in more hydrating products, ease up on exfoliation, and protect your barrier as the air turns cooler and drier. Start with a few of these changes, or all 10, and give your skin time to adjust before adding anything else.

Frequently asked questions about fall skin care

1. What’s the best fall skin care routine for dry skin?
   Start with a hydrating, non-stripping cleanser like Gentle Rinse, follow with a ceramide-rich moisturizer like Face Whip, and don’t skip the SPF! Additionally, try using a humidifier in your bedroom or workspace once the heat is running.
2. How often should I exfoliate in the fall?
   It depends on your skin, so watch how it reacts as the weather cools. If your usual routine with Crystal Clear clarifying pads starts leaving your skin dry or sensitive, use them less often or switch to a gentler formula.
3. Do I still need sunscreen in the fall?
   Yes. UV radiation affects your skin year-round, no matter the temperature, so a broad-spectrum SPF like Sheer Defense SPF should stay in your routine even as it gets colder.
4. What skin care treatments are good to schedule in fall?
   Chemical peels and microneedling, with or without PRP, work especially well during the cooler months. A skin consultation with a Skin Pharm provider is the best way to find the right in-clinic treatment for your skin.
5. When should I update my skin care routine for fall?
   Start as soon as temperatures drop or your heat comes on. That’s the time to add more hydrating products and adjust how often you exfoliate.

Peer review

Julia Franklyn, PA-C, is a board-certified physician assistant and the Director of Clinical Training at Skin Pharm. Follow her on Instagram.