How to Transition Your Skincare Routine for Fall/Winter

Keep your skin hydrated and healthy even in the dry winter months. 

 You know how everyone's skin is totally different, and we all have that one product or step that really can make or break our routine? Well, there is one thing we can all agree on: winter totally leaves our skin feeling drier than ever.

When the natural moisture starts to vanish from the air, those cold, harsh winds roll in, sucking any leftover hydration right out of our skin. That’s why it’s super important to tweak your skincare routine—especially ditching those lighter summer products—because it can really change things up as we move from the end of fall into the thick of winter. At this point, our skin totally needs some extra love and care. The secret to getting through the season? Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

It can be complicated to navigate what works for you, so L'OFFICIEL asked Dr. Courtney Rubin, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Fig.1 Skincare, to share the best tips and tricks for transitioning your skincare routine from summer into fall and winter.

First things first: Dr. Rubin says you should ditch those lighter gel or lotion moisturizers that are great for summer and give thicker creams and balms a shot.

"Dr. Rubin says the best way to fight dry skin in the winter is to use skincare that helps your skin barrier. So, you wanna go for a gentle cleanser, like a cream or oil, that won’t strip your skin. And don’t forget a treatment or serum with hyaluronic acid for some hydration, plus a good moisturizing cream."

According to Dr. Rubin, you want to check out moisturizers that contain ingredients like glycerin, squalane, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid because they are amazing for hydrating and softening your skin. But try avoiding more hardcore ingredients like retinol, glycolic acid, and L-ascorbic acid. Want to really amp up the moisture? Use a facial oil to lock that moisture in, applied as the last step to your nighttime routine. And don't forget: Dr. Rubin also recommends having a humidifier nearby as you sleep.

Hey, if you ran out of all your winter skincare from last season and need to restock, check out Dr. Rubin's Fig.1 Skincare brand. They have solid, clinically proven products for every skin type!

"The Gentle Cream Cleanser is the perfect gentle, soft, nonstripping skin cleanser for dry winter skin," Dr. Rubin says. "The Hydrating & Balancing Toner is great as an additional hydrating treatment over moisturizer. The Ceramide Moisturizer provides 24-hour hydration; it just has so much goodness filled with ceramides, peptides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to give ultimate skin hydration."

Hey, after you are done switching up your summer clothes, don't forget to switch up your skincare too.