One of the most important things I’ve learned about skincare is that your routine needs to change with the season. Heck, I’d even recommend changing your skincare routine based on how your skin is feeling that day and especially during times of the month! I do! I know skincare can be overwhelming so I’m going to break down a few products to start incorporating now that colder and drier weather is ahead!
I’m going to go over both skin and body products in today’s post because I wanted to have one resource where you could refer back to all the things you might want to incorporate for fall. I will also caveat and say that if you have very oily facial skin, you might not need all of these products. I WOULD 100% recommend face oil for you though! Read this post for more information on why (even though it might seem counterintuitive)!
I said this in my nightly skincare routine series that I shared on Instagram but when the weather turns, look for products with the words “melt”, “balm”, and “cream” in them. They’re typically more hydrating than the products that we love to use in summer! Don’t think of this as a one for one swap either. You probably just need to swap in these products a couple nights a week with what you’re already using. Use your best judgement and try to take note of what your skin feels like daily. Make a choice about what products to use based on that! I’ll explain more about specific products below.
To make it easy on you, I’ve shared some of my favorites from Nordstrom. They have a clean beauty section on their website that continues to grow which makes me happier than ever! I love the detail on products, completeness of ingredient lists, and ability to read reviews especially if you’re new to a product or a brand!
1. Discovery Kits.
I’m cheating a little bit before I dive into specific products but I got so excited about these 2 discovery kits I found at Nordstrom. They’re incredibly budget friendly and they are both by brands that I absolutely love. This Indie Lee Clarity Set is an absolute must for $29 for anyone who loves clean beauty. I first tried this brand a few months ago and fell in love. This is a GREAT opportunity to try face oil whether you haven’t tried it before or if you’re new to the brand!
The second set that I wanted to share is this Wrapped in Cococnut set by Kopari. I’ve purchased all 3 of these products in full sizes separately and that this set is an amazing deal at $32. I love the coconut melt for my legs because it protects them from the cold Chicago winters. The same could be said of the lip gloss. I also LOVE the deodorant because it glides on extremely well. It literally glides on (no irritation) and is clear.
I strongly recommend grabbing both of these kits! None of the products overlap so you are looking for something really budget friendly that doesn’t require a huge commitment, you get 7 new products for $61. That is unheard of!!
2. Cleansing Balm and Cleansing Oil.
Cleansing balms and cleansing oils are a great solution for anyone that struggles with dry skin. They don’t dry out your face like some regular cleanser can. I usually mix and match throughout the week between my cleansing oil, cleansing balm, and cream cleanser. Sunday Riley makes this Blue Moon Tranquility Cleansing Balm that would be great to use 1-2 times a week instead of your regular cleanser. The great thing about it is that you can also use it to remove your makeup.
I also recommend this pre-cleanse oil which is a hydrating way to remove your makeup. For anyone that has watched my skin highlights on Instagram, you know I strongly encourage you to remove your makeup before cleansing! I know it seems like an extra step but trust me, 100% of your makeup doesn’t come off with just one cleanse! The residue then sits in your pores and causes breakouts which is way worse than adding an extra step!
3. Face Oil.
If you’re not using a face oil, fall and winter is the time to start! I use face oil year round and have seen first hand results of how it makes your skin glow. Trust me! It’s a must. If you’re going to splurge in one place of your skincare journey, make it face oil. It’s so worth it! I wish I had a penny for every time someone DMed me saying they’ve started using face oil and saw the results. I shared a budget friendly option here but if you can swing it, the effectiveness of this face oil by Indie Lee is noticeably better without being at the price point of a luxury face oil (which has even more effectiveness)! They also make a day face oil with vitamin c for brightening and firming.
4. Recovery Balm.
Hand down, this REN Recovery Balm is one of my favorite products. Put it on at night and I guarantee your skin will still feel hydrated when you wake up. It’s one of the few products I’ve ever used that I can say this about. It’s under $50 and will last you through the entire season. It should only be used 1-3 nights a week in place of your night cream and face oil mixture. If your skin is extremely dry (i.e. peeling), you can use it more often until your skin heals. Now if only I found a lip balm that did the same thing!
5. Face Exfoliation.
This one goes right along with the previous tip and is something I do year round which is exfoliate! Make sure you don’t over-exfoliate (more on the impact of that here). But it’s great to use a gentle face scrub like this konjac sponge in the shower a few times a week. It’s very gentle and won’t irritate even the most sensitive skin. You can use it with your regular face wash!
If you’re used to exfoliating regularly, you can use a more traditional scrub! Just make sure you’re not using it too often.
6. Body Scrub.
A good body scrub was one of the most critical things that helped me get rid of the red rashes on my legs during winter. I use this once a week in the shower (it’s less messy). I’ve been experimenting with a few lately and the options above are very gentle options. The granules in the product aren’t overly abrasive so they are great for sensitive skin. I’m currently using this one by Kopari!
7. Body Lotion and Body Oil.
I put these in the same category because you shouldn’t use one without the other (just like face lotion)! Pump a few drops of body oil (this one is under $50!) into your body lotion to make sure your legs don’t get ashy during the winter. I love products like this Whipped Body Butter too instead of regular lotions because they hydrate your body skin so much better.
8. Hair Care.
A great conditioner, hair mask, leave in conditioner, and hair oil are crucial for winter especially if your hair tends to break off. I know mine gets brittle when it starts to get below freezing so I end up using these more and more often! I can usually tell when my hair needs more moisture so I will amp up the frequency with which I’m using these things. I try to use a hair mask 1-2 times a week as well as this Deep Conditioning Mask. I know it’s called a mask but it’s really a deep conditioner. I try to leave it on for 10 minutes in the shower!
I also alternate days that I use this Leave In Spray (when I wash my hair) and this Hair Oil (I usually use this on dry hair). Can you tell I love Briogeo? Their hair care products are cleaner and they work incredibly well. I also use their shampoo!
I’m also a huge fan of Rahua Hair Balm and this conditioner for colored hair. If you can’t tell already, I don’t like to use the same shampoo or conditioner every single day. I noticed such an improvement in my hair and it’s health when I alternated!
How do you usually switch up your routine for colder months? Have you tried any of these products before? A face oil? A cleansing balm?
*This post was sponsored by Nordstrom but as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Let me know what you think!