Inherity

Now that the air is turning crisp with the emergence of fall, thoughts of apples, pumpkin spice, and cozy sweaters are at the forefront of your mind. Another thing to add to that list: the right skin care.

One of the biggest changes between summer and fall is the drop in humidity. “For this reason, we see more eczema and skin irritation in the fall and winter than any other time of year,” says S. Tyler Hollmig, MD, director of dermatologic surgery at UT Dell Medical School and Ascension Seton in Austin, Texas.

What’s more, this lack of humidity means that people who found they could skip moisturizer in the summer suddenly need to start using one now — or step up to a heavier one, says Rebecca Baxt, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Paramus, New Jersey. That’s why for fall, the biggest adjustment will likely be to your moisturizing routine, no matter your skin type. Depending on if you’re oily, dry, or somewhere in between, you’ll be looking for a lotion (made with a large water content, making it a lightweight hydrator), cream (the next step), or an ointment (the strongest option), she says.

Since fall is a season of new beginnings, this may be a great time for a skin reset, says Dr. Baxt. “If you abused your skin this summer [in terms of sun exposure] or now have bad breakouts from constant sweat and sunscreen application, then peeling off that top layer of skin with a treatment like a chemical peel or laser resurfacing can help try to reverse the damage,” she says.

Don’t forget that your skin thrives when you treat your body well with healthy habits. Just because there may not be as large of an abundance or variety of fresh fruits and veggies doesn’t mean you should stop eating them. After all, fall is the season for squash, which is packed with carotenoids, compounds that have been shown in previous research to give skin a healthy glow. Beyond that, here’s how to tweak your routine for fall, based on your skin type or goal: