A Foolproof Plan for Keeping Skin Great This Fall-Winter

Choose An Oil-Based Cleanser

Hydration is the name of the game the minute the temperature dips, which means you need to incorporate moisturizing elements into every step of your skincare routine. “If you’re not using one already, now is the time to start using an oil-based cleanser,” says Dr. Sarkar. “They remove sunscreen, dirt, oil, and makeup really well, and they tend to be less drying than foaming cleansers.” Try the Whamisa Organic Flowers Cleansing Oil, which has a blend of hydrating botanical oils including Hazel Seeds, Avocado, and Olive Fruit.

Time For (Gentle!) Chemical Exfoliation

All summer long you’ve been sweating, SPF-ing, sweating some more, getting oilier, and generally building up a lot of dead skin and debris on your skin. The best way to slough off all that dullness and reveal glowing skin underneath is through chemical exfoliation. While you might be tempted to use every acid you can get your hands on, you want to go easy on your skin. Too much of the harsh stuff can cause redness and sensitivity. Instead, opt for a gentle, hydrating exfoliator like The Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask — it contains amino acid-rich Watermelon extract and hydrating Hyaluronic Acid for a glow-restoring treatment without the irritation.

Try A Toner Or Essence

Treat residual breakouts and oiliness caused by summer’s hot, humid weather (and the sweat and sunscreen-buildup that went along with it) with a blemish-busting toner. The non-drying Leegeehaam Grow Tea Tree 70 BHA Toner has acne-fighting Tea Tree extract and Willow Bark extract to sweep away impurities and declog gunked-up pores.. If your skin feels more dry than oily, though, Dr. Sarkar recommends a hydrating essence instead. We like the ID.AZ Dermtastic Essence for its lightweight moisturizing mix of Tremella Mushroom and Hyaluronic Acid.

Fade Dark Spots With A Brightening Serum

Despite your best efforts, you probably got a little too much sun these past few months. You can’t do much about that now, but you can go into repair mode to avoid sun spots. But, the longer you wait to treat sun damage, the worse it can become. Get rid of fresh hyperpigmentation, a.k.a. those annoying sunspots, with a brightening product like the Ascorbic Acid-packed Liz K First C Serum Pure Vitamin C 13%.

Step Up Your Moisturizer

“That light, watery moisturizer you favored a few months ago won’t do the trick now,” says Dr. Sarkar. “Switch to something heavier with ingredients like Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, and Ceramides. If you’re really dry, mix a few drops of facial oil into your moisturizer to make it richer and give it more staying power.” One to try: Make P:rem Cicapro Refresh Light Cream — it has healing Centella Asiatica, moisturizing Glycerin, and nourishing Probiotics. Can’t bear to part with your beloved gels and emulsions? While it won’t be enough hydration on its own, you can use a lightweight hydrator like our Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer as a serum. Just pat it on to your skin like usual, then layer your heavier moisturizer on top. The mix of hydrating Hyaluronic Acid, soothing Jasmine and Peony Extracts, and skin-fortifying Watermelon seals in moisture, giving your skin extra protection against cold-weather dryness.

Stick To Your Sunscreen Habit

Just because you’ve traded your sleeveless shirts for scarves and sweaters doesn’t mean you can retire your sunscreen. Your skin still needs SPF even when it’s cool and cloudy outside. The Make P:rem Capsule Sun Gel pulls double duty by simultaneously protecting and hydrating the skin.

Add On A Lightweight Primer

If you’re anything like us, you probably up your makeup game come fall — there are way too many cool shadows and bold lipsticks to play with. Keep foundation, bronzers, and more from clogging pores by prepping skin with a lightweight primer like the Blithe InBetween Hydro Priming Cream. Bonus: It’s infused with Squalane, which Dr. Sarkar loves for extra hydration.

Indulge With A Masking Ritual

Masks should be part of your weekly skincare maintenance, no matter what season it is. Start using them two to three times a week to help repair any summer damage, restore lost moisture, and prep the skin for the colder months ahead. We like to rotate between the MD’s Pick Aqua Moist Water Rubber Mask, the Watermelon Glow Jelly Sheet Mask and the Jullai Super 12 Bounce in Oil Mask.

So, don’t be sad to see summer go, be psyched about how great your skin is going to look this fall. Also, it’s booties and leather weather — we’re very excited to bring those out of hibernation.