Many people count fall as their favorite season (me included!). But with the beautiful colors of fall comes crisp, cool air which may lead to dry skin. Now is the time to switch up your skincare routine by adding in products that boost hydration.

Were you using a strong facial cleanser to wash away the sweaty grime of the summer? Now is the time to ease off and use a more gentle option. LaRoche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser ($17.99) is a wonderful drugstore option and works like a dream.  If you want to be an overachiever, try Dr. Sturm’s Super Anti-Aging Cleansing Cream ($55) – a super hydrating cleanser with anti-aging properties (encourages cell renewal and skin firmness).

Believe it or not, gentle exfoliation is a good thing as the weather gets colder. It’s important to slough away dead skin cells so that your moisturizer can penetrate your skin. Typically done at night, a liquid exfoliator like Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA ($35) (or my personal favorite Lumiellé Glass Skin Liquid Exfoliant ($53)) really sets the table for your moisturizer. Just a little bit on a cotton pad (these are also a fav- Shiseido Facial Cotton Pads ($16) makes application super easy).

Now for the biggie – your moisturizer. Switching from a lighter summer formula, to a richer more hydrating moisturizer will help stave off the dreaded winter dullness. One of the best anti-aging moisturizers you can use is SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 – but it’s gonna cost you ($155). It has everything you could possibly want- super hydrating and anti-aging but in a lightweight, fast-absorbing formula. Just dreamy. Another really good option is InnBeauty Project Extreme Cream ($48) which also has anti-aging, firming and lifting qualities. This brand is “plastic negative”, with sustainability as a core value offering refillable packaging, which makes me feel like I’m helping the earth in my own little way.

Now, don’t forget your body! While you’re in the shower, using a glycolic body wash will help with gentle exfoliation - Naturium’s The Smoother Glycolic Acid Body Wash ($16) is a great product and is very gentle and helps smooth out any roughness. After the shower, while your skin is still a little damp, apply your heavier moisturizer - you don’t need to use any fancy stuff here! Two great ones that you can get at the drugstore or on Amazon - NIVEA Essentially Enriched Body Lotion with Deep Nourishing Serum and Almond Oil ($6.29) or Eucerin Advanced Repair Body Cream ($14.99) will get the job done. Goodbye flaky legs!!

Lastly, and most importantly, don’t ever skip sunscreen no matter the season! Not only does it help prevent wrinkles, it protects against skin cancer. Elta MD UV Clear Tinted Sunscreen SPF 46  ($45) is a gold-standard and a dermatologist favorite. I’ve tried many, many facial sunscreens and I keep coming back to this one  KraveBeauty Beet The Sun SPF 40 PA+++ ($20). This barely there sunscreen is lightweight and non-greasy and contains the antioxidant beetroot. It lays so nicely on the skin and acts as a great primer for your makeup. Love a good two-for-one!

P.S. Don’t forget your lips! Every bedside table needs a good lip balm. The one currently sitting on my nightstand is Nuxe Ultra Nourishing Lip Balm with Honey ($18). It’s 100% natural and penetrates your lips without being too sticky or lipgloss-like, which I appreciate. If you do like a little bit more “gloss” the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask ($24) is also very nice.