Cuffing season trades are being made, thigh-high boots are in heavy rotation, and pumpkin spice consumption has pushed Starbucks to record Q4 sales - It’s FALL, baby! This means it's also time to revise what is in your skincare routine. Spring and summer weather is kinder to your skin because there is more moisture in the air. As the temperatures drop, the air where we spend most of our time becomes dryer, and you have to work a bit harder to keep your glow about you. In addition, cell turnover slows, so skin can look dull and lifeless. Here's how to build a fall skincare routine so you can glow right into the holiday season and beyond.

Cleansers

One of the first things I do when temps dip is to switch out my cleansers. Some foaming cleansers can be drying, so keeping them in the routine and using them every day may be counter-protective. You can have a foaming cleanser; it just means you look for ones that are easy on the skin. Here's what I'm currently using.

Nichole Avonie Blue Chamomile Cleansing Oil

I made this cleanser to remove makeup and rinse clean, but it's also perfect to use in the mornings. The Blue Chamomile aroma is instantly calming, allowing you to relax and center yourself while you cleanse. According to this study, "Chamomile has a calming effect and is effective in relieving anxiety and stress.“ so it’s a perfect way to start or end your day. The key with all cleansing oils and balms is to massage into dry skin, rinse with water or wipe away with a damp cloth. Using a wet cloth works great to get off eye makeup. (Use code FACEFLAWLESSSKIN to save 15% )

Beauty RX Cream Cleanser

This soothing, calming cleanser is excellent for all skin types. While the directions call for you to moisten your skin before applying the cleanser, I like to massage it into dry skin to remove dirt and impurities. I then rinse and follow with a toner.

Hyper Skin Gentle Brightening Gel Cleanser with Mandelic Acid

This cleanser has a somewhat unique texture. It hugs the skin as it cleans. Leaving the face refreshed without feeling stripped. It has gentle foam and is perfect to use alone or as the second step in your double cleanse routine. It contains alpha hydroxy acids and other actives, so I like to let it sit on my face for a few minutes to give those ingredients some time to do the work.

Toners

Toners are always optional, but I always opt to use them. Especially in Fall/Winter when I like to layer on my moisture. Here are the three currently in rotation:

Paula's Choice Calm Nourishing Milky Toner

This is fantastic after any mask or at-home peel. It calms and balances skin while delivering first-level hydration. Use after any facial mask or peel to help calm and soothe the skin.

Bolden Glycolic Acid Brightening Toner

In addition to sweeping away any impurities your cleanser may have missed, this toner delivers hydration and mild exfoliation to keep skin bright. It contains hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, licorice root extract, and more. (Use Code FACEFLAWLESS to save.)

Face Front Skin Skin Hydro

Skin Hydro is packed full of vitamins, minerals, and contains organic Irish moss extract, hyaluronic acid, and sea marine botanicals. Not only do I use it to soothe and hydrate my skin after cleansing, but I also do a spritz before and after my makeup application. (Use code FACEFLAWLESSSKIN to get free shipping on your order.)

Serums

Serums are the heavy hitters in my skincare routine, and fall is the perfect time to add those actives. This means I have one active serum for the day, usually Vitamin C, and one for the night, retinol. So, when winter hits and I have to switch to nourishing hydration and protection over everything, I'm heading in with skin that's probably looking the best it's looked all year. If you are fighting wrinkles, age spots, dry skin, fine lines, wrinkles, sallowness, or any other skin issue, find a serum that addresses that issue and build your routine around it. Here are some options to consider.

Retinol

Are you a 70s or 80s baby? Then, it may be time for retinol. It is one of the most researched skincare ingredients around. It has been found to increase cell turnover, decrease the appearance of pore size, and boost collagen production to give skin a firmer appearance. For more about retinol, click here.

I've been faithful to Paula's Choice 1% Retinol. However, I just discovered the Sunday Riley A+ in my beauty closet and started using that one. It has more moisture than Paula's Choice serum, though I'm not sure of the retinol percentage.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an excellent antioxidant and can be used all year round. Like retinol, it is widely studied and available in various strengths in myriad of formulations. In addition, vitamin C boosts collagen production, reverses photoaging, and can also help to boost moisture levels in the skin. I just wrote a post on vitamin C, so I have a few options in this category. The one I'm using most right now is REN Glow and Protect Serum. Click HERE for some other excellent options.

Exfoliate + Brighten

Beauty RX Tetrafoliant 15% Peel Solution

I received the Beauty RX Tetrafoliant 15% Peel Serum in my Dermy Doc Box and was in love after the first few uses. It combines Glycolic, Salicylic, Phytic, and Lactic Acids. This blend of AHAs and BHA means its works on the surface level of the skin as well as in the pore lining to refine skin and improve skin tone and texture. It also contains antioxidants, so there's some free radical scavenging as well.

Good Molecules Discoloration Serum

Dark spots got you down? Any of the above serums would be an excellent addition to your routine. However, consider also adding something like Good Molecules Discoloration Serum to your regimen. It contains niacinamide, a skin brightener (among other things), and 3% tranexamic acid— used to target skin pigmentation.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Dark Spot Serum Vitamin C Alternative

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Dark Spot Serum Vitamin C Alternative has been a long-time favorite. It's a gentle brightening and moisturizing formulation. It can be used day and night and pairs well with every sunscreen and night cream I have.

Hydrate and Calm

Fall is peeling season, and we are getting ready to head into a frozen tundra, so having great moisture-booting products with calming effects is critical. When you peel, especially as it's getting colder, you want something that hydrates, calms, and nourishes the skin. So I generally look for products containing ceramides and peptides. Ceramides help to strengthen the skin barrier, and peptides are amino acids that help to rebuild damaged cells.

Sulwhasoo First Care Serum

I've used the First Care Serum since we featured it in the Face Flawless Skin Box. It is lightweight but does a fantastic job of hydrating the skin. It is lovely to use after a mini peel or to slather over the face while micro-needling. It can be used day and night, and unlike Champagne Papi, it's unproblematic, no matter what you pair it with.

Youth to the People Moisturizer Polypeptide 121 Future Cream

I love the texture of the Youth to the People Moisturizer Polypeptide 121 Future Cream. The name makes it seem like 12 continuous hours of sleep with optimal hydration and a balanced diet. While it falls short of delivering that, it does provide an impressive amount of long-lasting moisture to the skin — it's silky with slip without being greasy. I particularly love it under my makeup when I head out for a night on the town.

Face Oils

Nichole Avonie Rejuvenating Face Elixir

I have grown to love to face oils over the last several years. So when I launched Nichole Avonie, it seemed natural to include one in the line. The Rejuvenating Face Elixir is perfect for skin like mine — combination oily and breakout prone. The Elixir is a blend of nine fixed cold-pressed plant oils, including hemp, black cumin, pumpkin, and Argan, with less than 1% essential oil. It is lightweight, luxe, and made to lock in hydration, calm, smooth, and soothe the skin. You can press a few drops into the skin as the final step in your routine or mix a couple of drops into your favorite moisturizer before adding it to your skin. (Use code FACEFLAWLESSSKIN to save 15% )

Khalm Overnight Oil Elixir

I don't usually love heavily fragrant products, but I like the Khalm Overnight Oil Elixir with its Oud Infusion. The base is a lightweight blend of botanically rich oils such as prickly pear (cactus), meadowfoam, and avocado. This might be it if you want face oil with a rich and luxurious fragrance.

Treatments, Masks, and Devices

Phoebe Skin Stay Chill

With all the actives in my skincare routine during this time, I need something that can restore balance to my skin. Enter the Stay Chill Facial Mask from Felicia's long-awaited skincare brand, Phoebe Skin. Stay Chill is formulated with aloe, rose, chamomile and more to calm, soothe and balance the skin. It's perfect to use alone or after doing a clay mask or a mini at-home peel.

In theory, I want to get a professional peel and drop layers of skin in a couple of weeks. However, in practice, I like to stick to the rivers and lakes I am used to — in other words, at-home peels. So here are two options you can use once or twice weekly.

Versed Doctor's Visit Instant Resurfacing Mask

Versed Doctor's Visit Instant Resurfacing Mask is a blend of alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, and enzymes that gently smooth skin and give you a radiant glow. New to at home peels? This formula doesn’t sting on first application so this may be a good place to start.

Urban Skin RX Even Tone Resurfacing At Home Peel Pads

This is a no-brainer peeling solution that can be used 1-2 times per week. It contains alpha hydroxy acids, retinol, and arbutin to refine skin texture and reduce hyperpigmentation and phytic acid to fend off free radical damage.

Ziip GX Series Nano Current Device

My Ziip device has been getting a little workout here and there for the last few months. It's about to go into overdrive because although we got an hour back, I'm getting less sleep. Less sleep means I must work harder to look "refreshed." Enter the Ziip. It uses nano and micro current to firm and tighten the skin. My skin look better after every use! The App has several short tutorials designed for everything that ails your face. (Use CARRZIIP to save 20% on your order)

This is everything (except sunscreen) that you need for your fall daytime, nighttime and once weekly mini at-home facial. Mix and match products from each of the segments above, make your adjustments and get ready to glow right into the new year.

Still need more? Try Virtual Skincare Coaching.

Fall Skincare Routine to Help You GLOW Right Into the New Year