Your skin feels the seasons too. 🍂 The good news is that you probably don’t need a new routine. You need a few small adjustments.
You know that moisturiser you loved all summer? The one that felt perfect in August but suddenly doesn’t seem quite enough? Perhaps your skin feels tight after cleansing, your foundation clings to dry patches, or a serum you’ve used for months has started to sting.
Welcome to autumn. The temperature drops, the heating comes on, and your skin starts behaving differently. Before you replace your whole shelf, here is what the research says is happening, what to change, and what to keep.
Why does your skin feel different in autumn?
Your skin’s outer layer is a barrier. Its job is to keep water in and irritants out. Cold, dry air makes that job harder. A 2016 review of the research concluded that low humidity and low temperatures generally weaken the skin barrier and make skin more reactive to irritants.
The skin itself changes too. One study found that the main barrier lipids in facial skin, ceramides included, were lower in winter than in spring and summer. Another, in 80 adults, found lower levels of the skin’s natural moisturising factors on the cheeks in winter.
When that happens, you might notice:
- Tightness after washing your face
- Dry or flaky patches, often around the nose and mouth
- Products that suddenly sting
- Dull-looking skin, or make-up that doesn’t sit quite right
This is not only a dry skin problem. Oily and combination skin can feel tight and uncomfortable too.
Start with the fixes that cost nothing
Before you buy anything, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests a few habits for dry skin:
- Use warm water, not hot. Keep showers and baths to five to ten minutes.
- Moisturise while your skin is still damp. This helps hold in the water that is already there.
- Choose a cream over a lotion. Creams and ointments are more effective than lotions.
- Try a humidifier in the bedroom if the heating dries the air at home.
If your face feels tight straight after washing, look at your cleanser first.
HARUHARU WONDER Black Rice Moisture 5.5 Soft Cleansing Gel
A mildly acidic gel cleanser, balanced to pH 5.5, that removes impurities while keeping your skin hydrated and comfortable. A good swap if your summer foam now leaves your skin feeling stripped.
BEAUTY OF JOSEON Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser
A low-pH gel cleanser with 24.5% green plum water and mung bean extract. It removes impurities and excess oil and leaves skin feeling clean yet hydrated, never tight.
1. Hydration: give your skin water
Hydration means helping the skin attract and hold water. This is where Korean skincare’s light, watery layers earn their place.
- Glycerin. The best studied of the group. A 2008 review in the British Journal of Dermatology reports that it improves skin hydration and barrier function.
- Hyaluronic acid. In a 60-day study of 76 women, creams with 0.1% hyaluronic acid improved hydration and elasticity around the eyes.
- Beta-glucan. A favourite in Korean formulas, loved for its soothing, comforting feel.
You don’t need three toners and four serums. Start with one hydrating product, see how your skin responds, and build from there.
HARUHARU WONDER Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner
A gentle, fragrance-free toner with fermented black rice and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, calm sensitivity and smooth the skin. The easiest first step if your routine has no hydrating toner.
iUNIK Beta Glucan Power Moisture Serum
Ten ingredients, one hero: mushroom-derived beta-glucan. The light gel absorbs without stickiness, so it sits happily under any moisturiser.
Myth: hyaluronic acid dries your skin out in cold weather
You will see this all over social media. The theory is that in dry air a humectant pulls water up from deeper in the skin. We could not find a human study showing that hyaluronic acid makes skin drier.
The practical answer is the same either way: put a cream on top.
2. Barrier support: help your skin hold on to that water
Hydration is only half the story. If your skin can’t hold on to the water, it will feel tight again by lunchtime. These are the ingredients that help.
- Ceramides. Lipids that are a natural part of your skin barrier, and the very ones that drop in winter. That is why they are such a popular choice in moisturisers for dry or stressed skin. In one study, a cream made to mimic the skin’s own lipids raised hydration and reduced water loss for 24 hours.
- Panthenol. Also known as provitamin B5. In studies, panthenol creams raised skin hydration by 38% to 72% after 28 days of use.
- Squalane. A lightweight emollient that softens and smooths the skin and gives a cream its silky, comfortable feel.
- Centella asiatica. One of the best-loved ingredients in Korean skincare, treasured for calming stressed skin. Our new CENTELLIAN24 Madeca Cream is built on TECA, a purified extract of centella.
If your usual skincare starts stinging, give your skin a gentle reset. The American Academy of Dermatology advises stopping products with alcohol, fragrance or retinoids while your skin is dry. Barrier-loving ingredients like these are what it needs most.
HARUHARU WONDER Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence
A milky essence designed to bring a tired moisture barrier back to comfort. Fermented black rice and probiotic ferments hydrate, while five ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids sit in the skin’s own 3:1:1 ratio. It is unscented. I tried it myself recently and loved the texture.
3. Moisture: adjust the texture, not the whole routine
The gel moisturiser that worked beautifully in July might still suit your T-zone, but not your cheeks in October. The answer isn’t the thickest cream you can find. Change the texture where your skin asks for it.
Oily or combination skin: DR. ALTHEA 147 Barrier Cream
Ectoin, ceramide NP, squalane and seven types of hyaluronic acid in a silky cream that sinks in with no residue. I have used it on my own combination skin when my barrier needed help.
Want something even lighter? SOME BY MI Beta Panthenol Repair Cream gives deep yet breathable hydration in a comfortable, non-greasy texture.
Any skin type, or not sure: PURITO Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream
Our go-to for this time of year. A cushiony yet breathable moisturiser with 10% panthenol, squalane, centella and bamboo extract. It hydrates without feeling heavy, even on combination or oily skin in winter. Combination skin can also use it only on the drier areas.
Dry or dehydrated skin: ABIB Jericho Rose Creme Nutrition Tube
A nourishing cream designed to replenish moisture and support the skin barrier without feeling heavy. Jericho rose extract, chaga mushroom, shea butter and plant oils give it a rich, creamy texture that melts in smoothly. My aunt has really dry skin, and this is the cream she loves.
Prefer a balm-like texture? ROUND LAB 1025 Dokdo Cream pairs deep sea water with three forms of hyaluronic acid and five ceramides.
A night cream that does more: CENTELLIAN24 Madeca Cream Time Reverse
New in. A nourishing night cream with TECA and madecassoside from centella, plus niacinamide, panthenol, ceramide NP and retinol. It moisturises and cares for the first signs of ageing in one step. The texture is rich, with a herbal scent from essential oils. Because it contains retinol, use it at night, wear SPF in the morning and pause it if your skin is irritated. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your doctor first.
Sensitive skin: PURITO Oat-in Calming Gel Cream
A refreshing gel cream built on 77% oat seed water to calm dry, sensitive skin. The clear, light texture melts in fast, and there is no fragrance or essential oil in the ingredient list. Introduce one new product at a time, so you know what your skin likes.
Want the full guide to textures? Read Your Moisturiser Has One Job.
Myth: flaky patches need scrubbing off
The American Academy of Dermatology warns that over-exfoliating can leave skin red and irritated. If your skin is already dry or sore, another acid is unlikely to help.
Autumn doesn’t mean giving up your actives. It means checking that your skin still tolerates them as well as it did in summer. If it doesn’t, exfoliate less often and review your retinoid until your skin feels comfortable again. You don’t need to exfoliate just because the calendar says so.
We cover this in detail in Why Your Actives Suddenly Sting (and How to Get Back on Them).
The autumn extras worth keeping nearby
A facial mist for midday comfort
If your skin feels tight at your desk when the heating is on, a mist is a lovely quick refresh. There is no good research either way on whether mists hydrate the skin. So treat one as comfort, not as a replacement for moisturiser.
d’Alba White Truffle First Spray Serum. A dual-layer oil and serum mist with Italian white truffle and vitamin E to hydrate and boost glow, before or after make-up. It is fragranced.
DR. ALTHEA Aqua Marine Jelly Mist. A jelly-textured mist for instant hydration and a dewy glow at any time of day, with no added fragrance in the ingredient list.
Don’t forget your lips
Lip skin is thinner than the rest of your face and has no oil glands, so it dries out fast. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests balms with ingredients such as shea butter or petroleum jelly. It also suggests avoiding fragrance, flavourings and menthol on chapped lips. Start before they crack.
MIXSOON Vegan Melting Lip Balm. A vegan, fragrance-free melting balm that smooths and conditions lips with a soft, glossy layer. The one to reach for when lips feel sore.
TOCOBO Vita Glazed Lip Mask. A rich, glossy overnight mask with botanical oils and vitamin E for very dry lips.
TOCOBO Collagen Boosting Lip Mask. Collagen, a peptide, jojoba and olive oils and vitamin E for soft, plump-looking lips.
TOCOBO Lemon Sugar Scrub Lip Mask. A sugar scrub that buffs away dry flakes while nourishing oils and vitamin E soften. Use it gently, once or twice a week.
SOME BY MI V10 Hyal Lip Sun Protector SPF15. A glossy, rosy-tinted balm for daytime, with SPF15.
The TOCOBO masks contain fragrance or essential oils, so save them for dry lips rather than cracked or sore ones.
Do you still need sunscreen in autumn?
Yes, and here is why. Cancer Research UK says the sun can be strong enough to damage skin in the UK from mid-March to mid-October, even when it is cold or cloudy. Over 90% of UV can pass through cloud. Later in the year, check the UV index. At 3 or above, protect your skin.
There are more good reasons to keep SPF in your routine this autumn:
- You are prone to dark spots or pigmentation. Visible light from the sun, especially blue-violet light, can cause pigmentation in darker skin tones. Standard UV filters don’t block it well. For melasma, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests a tinted sunscreen with iron oxide and SPF 30 or higher.
- You use exfoliating acids or a retinoid. AHAs and retinoids can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
- UVA doesn’t take the winter off. It falls less than UVB over the colder months and passes through window glass.
- You are travelling somewhere sunnier. Nearer the equator, UV stays strong all year.
A quick note on screens: the visible light studies used strong lamps, not phones or laptops. The sun is the one to protect against.
ROUND LAB Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++
A soft, moisturising sunscreen with birch sap and hyaluronic acid that hydrates and soothes, in a comfortable essence-like texture. It suits the cooler months well.
Want a tint? PURITO Wonder Releaf Centella BB Cream
Foundation-level coverage with tinted-moisturiser comfort, plus centella, niacinamide and panthenol. Purito confirms SPF30 PA+++ on every shade, and its colour comes from iron oxides. A lovely tinted layer on top of your daily sunscreen.
Sensitive skin: HARUHARU WONDER Black Rice Pure Mineral Relief Daily Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++
A pure mineral sunscreen made for skin that reacts easily. Non-nano zinc oxide is its only UV filter, with fermented black rice, ceramide NP and niacinamide to soothe and hydrate. The light fluid melts in to a soft satin finish, without the chalky feel.
For top-ups on the go: sun sticks
Short autumn days often mean leaving the house early and coming home late. A stick slips into your bag and lets you top up over make-up without messy hands.
HARUHARU WONDER Black Bamboo Daily Soothing Sun Shield SPF50+. A soft, powdery balm with ectoin, betaine and niacinamide that glides on cool with no white cast.
PURITO Daily Soft Touch Sunstick SPF50+. Non-greasy and pocket-sized, made for quick top-ups with no white cast.
BEAUTY OF JOSEON Matte Sun Stick SPF50+. Mugwort and camellia in a matte, non-greasy stick that sits comfortably under make-up.
TOCOBO Vita Waterproof Sun Stick SPF50+. Waterproof and matte, with centella and vitamin E. Ideal for walks, sport and rainy days.
A simple autumn skincare routine
| Morning | Evening |
|---|---|
| 1. Gentle cleanse, if needed | 1. Gently remove SPF, make-up and the day |
| 2. Hydrating toner or serum | 2. Hydrating toner or serum |
| 3. Moisturiser suited to your skin | 3. Your usual treatment, if your skin is tolerating it |
| 4. Sunscreen when the UV index is 3 or above, or if you use actives | 4. Moisturiser |
On evenings when your skin feels sensitive, a simple cleanse and moisturise may be all it needs.
The autumn skincare takeaway
The best autumn routine isn’t a longer or more expensive one. Keep the products that work. Adjust the ones that no longer feel right. Then add the one step your routine is missing, not all of them.
Not sure which step that is? Our free Skin Assessment will point you to the products and ingredients suited to your skin.
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Sources: Engebretsen et al., J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2016;30(2):223-249. Rogers et al., Arch Dermatol Res 1996;288(12):765-770. Engebretsen et al., Br J Dermatol 2018;178(5):1143-1150. “Glycerol and the skin”, Br J Dermatol 2008;159(1):23-34. Pavicic et al., J Drugs Dermatol 2011;10(9):990-1000. Spada et al., Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2018;11:491-497. Stettler et al., Cosmetics 2021;8(1):18. American Academy of Dermatology: tips for relieving dry skin, how to exfoliate safely and chapped lips. Cancer Research UK on the UV index. FDA on alpha hydroxy acids. NHS on topical retinoids. Hooke et al., Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2012;149(2):185-190. NICE guideline NG34. Cleveland Clinic on chapped lips. AAD on melasma self-care. “Visible light in photodermatology”, Photochem Photobiol Sci 2020.