This Is The Easiest Fall Skincare Routine

Having a fall skincare routine is important to maintaining your skin health during the changing seasons. I know I always have to change up my routine a bit when the weather starts to get colder. Especially because my eczema starts to flare up a little bit on my face and my hands. 

Even though fall can sometimes wreak a bit of havoc on my skin, it’s my second favorite season of the bunch. Summer has replaced it as number one in the last few years. Not only is my birthday in early November, but my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. Plus, you really can’t beat the gorgeous, changing leaves on the East Coast every autumn.

The Best Fall Skincare Routine to Follow

In this fall skincare routine blog post, I will share my fall skincare tips and discuss the products I like to swap out when the weather starts to get chillier. I will also go over the steps you should take in your fall skincare routine. Finally, I will be talking about why you should be switching up your skincare routine for the season.

Should You Switch Up Your Skincare Routine With The Season?

Yes, I definitely think you should change up your skincare routine for every season, actually. And adding hydrating skincare products (along with drinking plenty of water to keep your skin hydrating internally) into your fall skincare routine is important. It’s amazing how much cooler weather impacts my skin and my hair. And I find that my eczema, perioral dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis start to wreak havoc once the fall rolls around and the humidity in the air drops. 

Changing up your skincare routine for the fall can definitely help keep your complexion in tip top shape. See below for the steps that I like to take when doing my fall skincare routine. 

How To Take Care Of Your Skin In The Fall

Step 1 – Cleanse your skin

One of the most important parts of your skincare routine is to cleanse your skin, morning and night. Some folks like to skip cleansing in the morning. But I have found that my skin gets itchy and irritated if I don’t cleanse it in the AM as well. 

I like to use my Vanicream Cleanser ($10) during the fall because I think it’s a super gentle formula that won’t flare up or exacerbate the dermatitis on my face. It’s a bare-bones formula and that gently removes makeup at the end of the day, too. Another skincare tip is to avoid washing your face with hot water, as this will really dry out your skin during the colder months. 

Step 2 – Apply toner

I think this is an important step that often gets overlooked. I notice a huge difference in my skin when I apply toner versus when I don’t. There are a few different toners that I like to use when the weather starts to cool down. I just discovered the Rhode Skin Glazing Milk ($30) and am absolutely loving it. It’s a great toner for your fall skincare routine because it adds a nice amount of hydration without overdoing it. I also like that it adds a slight sheen to the skin.  

Another tried and true toner that I love for dry skin/cooler weather is the Paula’s Choice CALM Nourishing Milky Toner ($26). This pick has a similar consistency to the Rhode Skin Glazing Milk, but it’s a little thicker and a bit more hydrating. It doesn’t really leave the sheen on your skin like the Glazing Milk does. This formula does a great job of calming my irritated skin and just feels so lovely on my face.  

Step 3 – Apply serum

I love a good serum. I think they are a great product to add to your fall skincare routine. There are a few different serums I like to use during the cooler months. These include the Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Hydration Serum ($22), the Rhode Skin Peptide Glazing Fluid ($30), and the Skinfix barrier+ Triple Lipid + Niacinamide Activating Serum ($69). I know that Skinfix pick is hella expensive, but I think it’s lovely, effective, and worth the price. 

Step 4 – Apply acne-fighting product

If you are like me and struggle with acne, I would definitely recommend incorporating an acne-fighting product into your skincare routine. I like to use this product in my nighttime fall skincare routine. Sometimes I find that using an acne product during the day, under makeup, doesn’t look great. 

I am obsessed with mandelic acid these days. And I’m pretty sure it’s completely transformed my skin. I specifically love the Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Serum ($54), and think it’s well worth the price. I’ve gone through bottles of this stuff. I think it’s a great formula for those with acne-prone skin who also have sensitive skin, too. It helps turn over dead skin cells and is also a good pick to target dark spots as well. 

Step 5 – Apply moisturizer

This is the second-to-last step in my fall skincare routine. There’s nothing I love more than a thick, creamy moisturizer. And the colder months are the perfect time to break out a moisturizer that’s a bit more on the thick side. 

My tried-and-true moisturizer has been the Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream ($54) for years (and I’ve included it in my roundup of best skincare products for dry skin). It is the perfect amount of moisture for dry, acne-prone skin, and it doesn’t break me out at all. 

Another combo I’ve been loving to apply at night is the Rhode Skin Barrier Butter ($38) and the Rhode Skin Barrier Restore Cream ($30). In the mornings, I will apply just the Restore Cream to my entire face. And in the evenings, I will apply the Barrier Butter to my cheeks, forehead, and nose, and then apply the Restore Cream to my chin area. I break out mostly on my chin, and I think the Barrier Butter is too thick to use on acne-prone skin.  

Step 6 – Apply eye cream

I used to think eye cream was B.S. But I’ve since changed my tune on this little fall skincare routine step. Now that I’m in my 30s, I’ve noticed a difference in my crows feet and the fine lines and wrinkles around my eyes since using eye cream daily. 

Personally, I like to use eye cream at night. I find that eye cream can make my mascara smudge if I use it in the morning. I love a thick, creamy eye cream. And the ones I can’t live without are the Skinfix barrier+ Triple Lipid Brightening Eye Cream ($54) and the Cocokind Revitalizing Eye Cream ($19). Both of these help lock in moisture and keep my skin hydrated throughout the night. 

Step 7 – Apply self-tanner

This is a nice little addition to your fall skincare routine. Because who doesn’t want to add an extra boost to their skin tone and look like they just got back from the beach in the fall and winter months? My favorite facial self-tanner (that doesn’t make me break out) is the Saltyface Tanning Water ($44). I definitely don’t use this every night. But I like to use it a few times a week to add a bit of color to my face.

Step 8 – Apply sunscreen

I’ll admit that I’m not the best at applying sunscreen every day. Especially in the fall and winter months. Oops! That being said, it’s really important to protect your skin from sun damage all year long, and that means applying a sunscreen daily. Some of the sunscreens that I like are the Face Reality Daily SPF 30 Lotion ($33) and the Babo Botanicals Daily Sheer Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Fluid SPF50 ($21). 

Interested in checking out some other skincare brands that I like? Byoma Skincare and Tula Skincare are two brands worth the money!