Tips for Transitioning Your Skincare Routine from Fall to Winter

While fall and winter skincare needs are very similar, there are some differences, and it may be important to boost your skincare routine as you transition from the fall to winter. In this blog, the DermSkincare team outlines the basics of transitioning from fall to winter and recommends some of our favorite skincare products for the winter season that are safe for use on all skin types.

How Should Winter Skincare Routines Differ from Fall?

Even though the fall does tend to become drier compared with the summer, it’s still not as dry as the winter months. During the winter, the weather outside dries the skin. Additionally, most buildings are running their heaters, which continue to strip moisture from the skin when people come inside. No matter where you go, your skin’s moisture is being stripped away, causing dryness, irritation, inflammation, and triggering flare-ups in chronic skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. During the winter, it’s essential to boost hydration and keep skin moisturized.

What Is a Good Morning Skincare Routine for Winter?

Morning skincare should be designed to protect the skin from damage caused by the sun, wind, rain, and other drying and damaging elements. The following basic morning skincare routine is a great place to start:

• Cleanser – Use a gentle cleanser with soothing and hydrating ingredients.
• Toner – Toner helps with pH balance, but it can also strip skin’s natural moisture. For this reason, you may not need to use toner every day during the winter months.
• Serums & treatments – During the day, use gentle serums, especially those with vitamin C to protect against sun damage. You should also keep up with any treatments for skin health concerns.
• Moisturizer & eye cream – Apply a deep moisturizer to increase hydration and avoid the drying effects of cold, wind, snow, and exposure to moisture-stripping heaters. Eye cream is also important as the skin around the eyes is sensitive and requires special care, especially during harsh winter weather.
• Sunblock – Don’t skip sunscreen just because the winter months are colder and darker. The sun can still damage skin, so it’s important to protect against this potential damage every day.

What Is a Good Evening Skincare Routine for Winter?

At nighttime, skincare is all about soothing and hydrating skin, especially during the drying winter months. For this reason, it’s important to focus on deep-moisturizing products during the dry winter season. A good basic skincare routine for winter nights should include the following:

• Cleanser – Use a gentle cleanser with soothing and hydrating ingredients.
• Serums & retinols – Use soothing skin oils and include gentle retinol in the evenings.
• Moisturizer & eye cream – At nighttime, it’s important to use a heavier moisturizer to soothe the skin and help restore the skin’s protective barrier. Nighttime eye creams can help avoid dark circles and puffiness and leave skin looking better overnight.

Best Products for Winter Skincare

In the remainder of this blog, we’ll outline our top recommended skincare products for the winter.  Each person has unique skincare needs, so it’s important to work with a dermatologist to find products to meet your unique needs.

ALASTIN Skincare Gentle Cleanser

During the winter months, even something as simple as cleansing the skin can lead to unnecessary dryness and irritation. Switching to a non-irritating cleanser during the winter can help avoid drying skin. ALASTIN Skincare Gentle Cleanser is an option that provides a thorough clean that won’t clog pores and reduces oiliness without stripping natural moisture from the skin. Instead, the blend of moisturizing agents and vitamins softens and soothes skin.

Revision Skincare Hydrating Serum

For those with oily skin, finding moisturizers that will help them maintain hydration without causing greasy, oily residue is a challenge. Revision Skincare Hydrating Serum is a lightweight, oil-free, fast-absorbing moisturizer that keeps skin hydrated without creating residue or making skin oily. This product is ideal for oily and acneic skin, but it’s safe and effective for all skin types.

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

During the winter months, skin is significantly more likely to be dry, so it’s essential to choose a moisturizer that will keep skin hydrated, especially at nighttime. Before going to sleep, you should apply a thick, cream-based moisturizer that will soothe and hydrate your skin after a long day. SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 is an excellent addition to your winter skincare routine in the evening and during the day if you have very dry or irritated skin. Designed to address signs of aging, it also hydrates and nourishes skin with a combination of ceramides, natural cholesterol, and fatty acids, leaving skin looking smooth, plump, and more youthful.

Sente Bio Complete Serum

Retinols are an essential part of skincare, especially as we age. They help to promote skin cell turnover, prevent breakouts, and keep skin looking youthful, vibrant, and healthy. Retinol can be difficult to use on dry winter skin, and it can make winter-time skin dryness worse. For this reason, it’s important to find a retinol that’s both gentle and effective. Sente Bio Complete Serum is a retinol that combines heparan sulfate analog (HSA) and prolonged-release retinols, so people receive all the benefits of retinols while minimizing potential side effects like severe skin dryness.

ISDIN Eryfotona Ageless Ultralight Emulsion  SPF 50

Many people don’t realize that sun protection is important even in the colder and often more overcast fall and winter months. The ISDIN Eryfotona Ageless Ultralight Emulsion SPF 50 sunblock is the ideal solution for sun protection all year long. This product is lightweight, 100% mineral-based, hydrating, and it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. The unique formula protects skin against free radical damage, reverses accumulated skin damage, and keeps skin healthier. This is a great option for just about every skin type, including aging skin.

EltaMD Lip Balm Broad Spectrum SPF 36

Don’t neglect your lips during the winter. As the rest of your skin gets drier, your lips are much more likely to be chapped as well. This is due to dry, winter weather and sun damage, so using a protective lip balm is beneficial. One great option is the EltaMD UV Lip Balm Broad Spectrum SPF 36. Not only does it keep skin hydrated, but it also prevents damage from winter wind and sun.

Work with a Skilled Dermatologist

If you want to develop your own skincare plan for the winter, talk to one of the trusted dermatologists at U.S. Dermatology Partners. These skilled professionals are dedicated to delivering exceptional dermatology treatments and helping patients improve their daily skincare routines all year. The board-certified dermatologists at U.S. Dermatology Partners can help you find the right skincare products for your winter routine. They also offer a range of dermatologic services to help you meet your skincare needs. If you’re interested in getting started, simply take a few moments to complete the online scheduling request form.