How to transition your skincare routine for fall

You can feel it: fall has truly arrived. The days are shorter, the air is brisker, and you’ve packed away your sandals in exchange for your favourite pair of riding boots.

While many of us switch up our wardrobes, hair and makeup when colder weather arrives, your skincare routine can also benefit from an overhaul.

Dr. Kucy Pon is a Toronto-based dermatologist and consultant to Olay. She says that when temperatures switch, so does our skin.

“We go from hot and humid to cool and dry, and that can make our skin itchy,” she explains. “So skincare should be more about moisturizing as we transition into fall and winter.”

“Moisturizers maintain water in the skin, and prevent water loss from the skin, something we call transepidermal waterloss,” she says.

Just how often should you be washing and moisturizing?

““Wash your face once a day, definitely at the end of the day to get your makeup off — never go to sleep with makeup on your face,” Pon says. “If you find that you’re waking up and oily, then washing your face in the morning is also beneficial. “

She recommends moisturizing immediately upon getting out of a shower or a bath because it helps to seal in some of the moisture from bathing. On top of that, if you’re prone to dry, itchy, flaky skin, moisturize an additional one or two times throughout the day.

Pon says that some people should also switch up the products they use.

“If your skin tends to get drier in the winter months then you might want to use a liquid makeup as opposed to a powder,” she says. “And a gentle cleanser is important. Try not to use a harsh cleanser that will strip your skin of oils.”

She also recommends moisturizers with glycerin or propylene glycol, because they tend to attract water from the environment to help keep the skin hydrated. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a facial moisturizer, stay away from ones with petrolatum or mineral oil, especially if you’re prone to breakouts.

And of course, don’t forget to wear sunscreen. As Pon explains, when people wear more clothes in the cooler months, they often forget there are still exposed areas of skin like your face, hands and scalp.

“Even when there’s cloud cover, people think it’s not sunny outside and they’re not getting UV rays. But there are still some rays that get through, even on a cloudy day,” says Pon, who advises wearing sunscreen 365 days a year on all exposed areas.

“Exfoliating is another thing that people tend to forget to do in the winter months,” Pon continues, “but gentle exfoliation regularly helps to remove that dead skin layer, which allows moisturizer to penetrate more easily.”

Pon also says that when it comes to drinking water, you should hydrate your skin from the outside in.

“Drinking lots of water and eating lots of fruits and vegetables is just good for our bodies,” she says, but it doesn’t really impact your skin as much as some would like you to believe. “There’s not a lot of evidence that the water that we drink helps to hydrate our skin – it’s better to hydrate from the outside in when it comes to our skin. So moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.”

What’s your go-to skincare routine?