Top Dermatologists on How to Transition Your Skin Care Routine Between Seasons

“I always tell my patients that fall is a great time to adjust your skin care,” says Dr. Anne Chapas, who counts celebrities like Rachael Ray as clients. “If you change your products now and prepare your skin for winter, you’ll have less chance for the irritation that winter brings.”

We asked Chapas and three other celebrity dermatologists for the tips they’re giving to their A-list clientele so we can also live the glowy, radiant skin life.

Reverse Damage

It’s not a matter of if, but rather a question of how much the summer sun affected your skin. “After summer, my patients are always seeking to repair the damage done all season long by the sun’s UV rays and city pollution,” says top NYC dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe. Keep restoration top of mind when considering new skin care products for fall, which means looking for products packed with antioxidants. 

“Layer your skin care,” says Dr. Bowe. “Use an antioxidant-packed serum underneath your daily face cream and start using a cream with richer moisturizing ingredients, rather than the lightweight formulas that are perfect for summer.”

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

“Winter comes on suddenly with plummeting humidity—it goes from 80 percent in summer to a mere 20 percent in winter,” says celebrity dermatologist, thrice Harvard-educated, and Yale Medical School professor, Dr. Macrene Alexiades. “This means you must be on deck to change to a more hydrating and moisturizing regimen.” Look for products heavy with healthy lipids and ingredients like Vitamin B, jojoba esters and cocoa glycerides, which work to seal in moisture. 

Switch Up Your Cleanser

“The most important skin care move from summer to fall is to decrease the intensity of your cleanser,” says DC-based dermatologist Dr. Lily Talakoub, who has treated former and current White House politicos (special back office door included for discreet Secret Service agents). “Cleansers, by nature, are products that lather up and strip oil, bacteria and grime off the top level, and you want a heavier one in summer. But in the dry winter months, you want to use a cream-to-oil cleanser.” A great rule of thumb, according to Dr. Talakoub, is “the less lather, the better.”

Cool It

Turn down the temp when washing your face, says Dr. Macrene. “When it’s cold, we tend to spike up the water temperature to compensate,” she says. “And this causes the blood vessels in the skin to dilate in order to release heat; this also results in more water evaporation from your skin contributing to dry skin in winter.” Major no-no.

Introduce an Oil

“Another key change is to use products that have oil contents in them to re-hydrate the skin,” says Dr. Talakoub. “Anything labeled ‘lotion’ is a water-based product with just a little bit of oil, which is good for the summer, but a ‘cream’ label is oil-based, with just a dash of water and much more hydrating, not just for your face, but for your whole body and will make a huge difference.” Labels are key here, so know what to look for.

Shelve Harsh Acids and Retinols

Beware the seriously stripping skin care - you don't need the extra irritation. "Get rid of your acids and high potency retinoids, which will excessively peel the skin and break down your skin barrier," says Dr. Macrene. Instead, rely on nourishing, heavy creams that combat the cold air and wind.