The Best Tips for Transitioning Your Skincare Routine for the Fall and Winter

Making edits to your wardrobe is a typical to-do project come fall. Out go the sundresses, shorts, and sandals (well, into a bin under your bed) and in go the chunky knits, denim, and boots. But much like your wardrobe, your skincare can benefit from some seasonal rearranging.

While some skin types are more susceptible to side effects than others, cooler temps and dry air can do a number on your skin without the right type of care and product reinforcements in your routine. 

Here are a few simple tips that will help you transition your skincare routine for cooler weather and ward off dry, flaky, aggravated skin. 

7 Tips for Transitioning Your Skincare Routine for the Fall and Winter

1. Avoid Over-Exfoliating 

Exfoliation can be game-changing for your skin. When performed with the right formula for your skin type and at the right cadence, sloughing off dead skin cells can reveal smoother, more radiant skin and can even help prevent clogged pores that lead to breakouts. But too much of a good thing — especially when it comes to exfoliation — can lead to undesirable side effects like dryness and irritation. This is one mistake you’ll definitely want to avoid when cooler weather rolls in. Joni, an RMS Artist Expert, recommends limiting exfoliation to two or three times a week. Of course, your skin type and the type of exfoliator you’re using will also come into play when it comes to figuring out how often to exfoliate. When in doubt, check in with a dermatologist for advice. 

2. Skip the Scalding Hot Shower 

We know, we know. A steaming hot shower or bath can feel so glorious and relaxing, but it’s actually not a great practice for your skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), hot water can strip skin of moisture which can then dry skin out even more. Yikes! Instead, the AAD recommends using warm water for baths or showers. You’ll also want to avoid using hot water to cleanse your face. 

3. Swap in Richer Moisturizers 

The moisturizer you swear by in the spring or summer might not cut it in the fall and winter. If your skin tends to need more moisture in cooler weather, swap out your lightweight lotions for thicker, richer creams. “During warmer weather, I only need to use the Kakadu Beauty Oil and the SuperSerum Hydrating Mist to prep my skin in the morning,” says Joni. “But when the weather turns cooler, I Switch to the Kakadu Luxe Cream in my morning prep.” Our Kakadu Luxe Cream has a rich, luxurious consistency but still feels lightweight on the skin. Powered by our skin-firming GlowPlex™, vitamin C-rich Kakadu plum, and nourishing shea butter, the fragrance-free formula deeply hydrates the skin, plumps fine lines, and boosts radiance.

4. Spritz on a Face Mist 

Spritzing on a face mist is an easy way to treat parched skin to an extra boost of hydration. The key is to find a formula with a super fine mist that delivers a light veil of hydration and doesn’t leave your skin dripping wet. Enter: SuperSerum Hydrating Mist. The hydrating, fast-absorbing formula can be used after cleansing in the morning or at night, or even throughout the day over makeup. It refreshes and revitalizes the skin, delivering a radiant, dewy finish. 

Pro Tip: Because our SuperSerum Hydrating Mist has a bi-phrase formula infused with mineral-rich seawater and nourishing oils, our founder and master makeup artist Rose-Marie Swift recommends giving the bottle a good shake before lightly misting it on your skin. 

5. Layer on a Face Oil

Whether you’re using it as your main moisturizer or choose to layer it on top of your go-to cream, face oil can give dry, dehydrated skin the extra oomph of moisture it needs to get through the winter season. Our Kakadu Beauty Oil is a lightweight, non-comedogenic formula, (so you don’t have to worry about it clogging your pores!) that softens, soothes, brightens, protects, and delivers up to 24 hours of hydration. 

Pro Tip: If your makeup is starting to look a little dry, Rose-Marie recommends applying a few drops of the Beauty Oil to your hands and lightly pressing it into the skin. “It brings life back and also in a way just slightly redistributes the foundation that’s already on,” she says. 

6. Invest in a Hydrating Lip Mask

Are chapped lips your biggest seasonal beauty woe? We’ve been there. And as we’re sure you’ve noticed, there are so many products out there that do absolutely nothing to remedy the problem. Sometimes, they even seem to make matters worse. But adding a quality lip mask to your evening routine can help prevent some of the flakiness—all while you catch up on your beauty sleep. Our vanilla-flavored Lipnights Overnight Lip Mask, infused with Peptides, Kakadu Plum Seed Oil, Pomegranate Extract, and Chamomile Oil, delivers 24-hour hydration, barrier repair benefits, and provides a subtle lip-plumping effect.

7. Don’t Forget Your SPF 

Fact: Sunscreen is a year-long skincare essential. And if your goal is to prevent irritation and dryness this fall and winter, you definitely don’t want to skip this crucial skincare step. Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least an SPF 30 to protect your skin from UVA/UVB rays, added skincare benefits, and an elegant texture you won’t mind layering on every day. Our SuperNatural Radiance Serum Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen utilizes non-nano zinc oxide to physically shield your skin from the sun and is offered in three sheer, glowy tints that blend seamlessly into the skin without a white cast.