How to Tweak Your Skin-Care Routine for Fall, Depending on Your Skin Type

Every skin type would be smart to slather on sunscreen year-round.

What’s more, this lack of humidity means that people who found they could skip moisturizer in the summer suddenly need to start using one now — or step up to a heavier one.hat’s why for fall, the biggest adjustment will likely be to your moisturizing routine, no matter your skin type. Depending on if you’re oily, dry, or somewhere in between, you’ll be looking for a lotion (made with a large water content, making it a lightweight hydrator), cream (the next step), or an ointment (the strongest option).

If you abused your skin this summer [in terms of sun exposure] or now have bad breakouts from constant sweat and sunscreen application, then peeling off that top layer of skin with a treatment like a chemical peel or laser resurfacing can help try to reverse the damage.

For Oily Skin, Focus on Skin Care That Sops Up Sebum

There’s a lot of good news with the switch of the seasons: “Fall can be a great time for patients with oilier skin. They are at a lower risk of a breakout than during spring and summer. It’s almost like the environment is appropriately medicating their skin, which is a beautiful thing”. After washing with a gentle cleanser , he suggests applying a moisturizer containing hyaluronic acid, which acts as a humectant to attract water to skin, and can appropriately hydrate acne-prone complexions without prompting breakouts,

If You Have Dry Skin, Find a Rich Ointment

“Dry skin can change from a nuisance to a disaster during the fall,”. “As humidity levels drop, evaporation of water from the skin increases, and this can sneak up on people. Fall is ‘eczema season’ for this reason; dry skin cannot protect itself from factors causing inflammation, resulting in dry, cracked, irritated skin.

Still, there are several tweaks you can make to your routine to preserve your skin’s barrier in the autumn. Make sure you’re not damaging the epidermis (top layer) with your existing skin-care routine. If you’re still using a facial brush or scrub to cleanse skin, give them up now, says Hollmig. You should also make the switch to a thicker moisturizer, preferably an ointment like Aquaphor Healing Ointment.

For Managing Combination Skin, Adopt a Two-Pronged Approach

Combination skin types often notice that they have an oily T-zone with drier cheeks. What seems like a complexion challenge is actually straightforward.For combination skin, you’ll need to reach for two levels of moisturizer. Now that drier fall weather is here, your T-zone might be far less oily than it was in the summer, and you may be more willing to moisturize. In the T-zone area, apply a lightweight moisturizer (these are lotion-based, not creams) labeled noncomedogenic or none at all.

If You Have Signs of Aging, Bring Back Retinoids

Retinoids and retinols, vitamin A derivatives, have been the gold-standard in preventing fine lines and wrinkles because, as Harvard points out, they stimulate collagen production, the most commonly present protein in the skin that helps maintain its smooth texture, per the Cleveland Clinic.
Here’s the rub: Retinoids exfoliate the top layer of skin, and are known to increase sun sensitivity.
As long as your skin type allows (meaning: You don’t have exceptionally dry, eczema-prone skin), this is a good opportunity to bring back a retinoid in your nightly routine, like Skinbetter Science's AlphaRet Overnight Cream , which contains a combination retinoid and alpha hydroxy acid (AHA).

Best Ways to Make Over Your Skin-Care Routine for Fall and Winter

The best way to keep your skin hydrated and moisturized in the cool-weather months depends on your skin type and skin condition.

It's the height of fall, and in some places winter is well underway. You've probably already changed up your wardrobe. But what does your skin-care routine look like?

When switching over your skin-care products for colder weather, it’s important to take your skin type into account. Whether you’ve got dry, oily, or combination skin — or a skin condition like psoriasis — here’s how to winterize your routine, adding key ingredients to the mix, so you can keep your skin healthy and radiant all season long.

Sea Buckthorn Oil Can Help Combat Dry Skin

Dealing with dry skin that only seems to get worse in the winter? After washing your face (ideally with a soap-free cleanser or micellar water), apply a thin coat of an antioxidant-rich serum and allow it to soak in for several minutes, suggests Dr. Levine. Then, apply a creamy moisturizer to help lock in hydration.
You can also put a drop of rose, marula, or sea buckthorn oil directly onto the skin or add it to your face cream for even more moisture, suggests Francesca Fusco, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.
Sea buckthorn, an increasingly popular ingredient in skin-care products, is loaded with an array of fatty acids and vitamins that stimulate skin regeneration and repair, according to a study published May 2017 in Lipids Health and Disease. A few drops of the oil itself packs a hefty dose of hydration for parched, flaky skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Hyaluronic Acid Serum to Hydrate Oily Skin

“Even oily skin needs moisture,” says Levine. The trick to hydrating an oily complexion is to first apply a toner containing salicylic acid, which will help dry up excess oil. Next, use an oil-free moisturizer or a gel-based or serum moisturizer.
“Look for those containing ingredients such as glycerin, D-glucuronic acid, Aloe barbadensis leaf extract, L-limonene, and sodium PCA,” says Dr. Fusco, as they provide moisture without the heaviness of oils.
Another popular choice is a hyaluronic acid serum, which packs a powerful punch without clogging pores. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, hyaluronic acid is one of the best topical products to combat wrinkles, increase firmness and elasticity, and retain the skin’s natural moisture, which is doubly important when home and office heating systems start firing up.

Try a Combination Strategy for Combination Skin

There’s nothing worse than skin that’s dry and oily at the same time. To hydrate combination skin, you’ve got to be strategic. “Try using a toning pad with glycolic and salicylic acid that you can apply to just your oily T-zone areas,” says Levine. Then follow up with a lotion-based moisturizer on your cheeks and neck, suggests Fusco.

Glycolic and salicylic acids are both incredibly popular and effective chemical exfoliators. While they each work differently, when used in tandem they provide far-reaching benefits. Research shows that these two popular hydroxy acids do everything from exfoliate to hydrate and even regenerate skin cells, creating overall healthier, more radiant skin.

Ceramides for Skin Conditions like Psoriasis, Eczema, and Rosacea

People with psoriasis may experience dry, flaking skin, especially along their scalp line or in their T-zone, says Levine. If this is the case, “look for moisturizers that are soothing and calming,” she says. “Those with ceramides can provide extra hydration, while hydrocortisone can be helpful in areas of inflammation.”

You’ve probably heard the word "ceramides" thrown around a lot. Ceramides are lipids, or fat molecules, that are an essential component of the skin’s barrier function and help keep your skin feeling soft and hydrated, according to a study published July 2016 in the journal Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. Ceramides can also help protect skin from environmental stressors like pollution and seasonal changes, like dry air.

Additionally, research shows that low ceramide levels have been linked to atopic dermatitis or eczema.

For eczema-prone skin, Levine recommends a thick moisturizer — either a ceramide-based cream or an ointment like Aquaphor or Vaseline. And be sure to avoid anything with harsh chemicals or fragrances.

People with rosacea should look for products with anti-inflammatory agents. “Green tea creams are especially good for rosacea,”