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The secrets to preventing dry fall skin, according to dermatologists
Scaly skin, begone! Our experts found the best creams, balms and salves to keep your skin soft and smooth all season long.
Though summer technically ended just a few weeks ago, and temperatures remain warm in many parts of the country, we all know that cooler, drier fall and winter weather is just around the corner. That means it's time to start thinking about how to care for your skin now to avoid uncomfortable conditions later. "Colder, drier temperatures can cause transepidermal water loss, which can lead to dryness, irritation, and overall dullness in the skin," says San Diego board-certified dermatologist Dr. Melanie Palm. "To prevent this, I always recommend clients start changing their skin care routine — you need to make up for this water loss."
As a beauty editor, I talk to dozens of skin experts and dermatologists each year. Here are their best tips and recommendations for how to prevent dry, itchy, uncomfortable skin from now until spring has sprung.
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize
Dermatologists recommend moisturizing the skin on your face, body and lips at least twice a day — once in the morning and once before bed. However, if you're short on time and can only squeeze in one full-body treatment, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, the single best and most effective time to apply creams and lotions is directly after a shower or bath as hydrating products can better seal in moisture when your skin is already damp.
How to choose a moisturizer for fall and winter
Prioritize high-quality ingredients "One way to make up for water loss is by prioritizing hydrating topical skin care products that contain hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and peptides, followed by occlusive ingredients like squalene to seal in moisture and protect the skin barrier," says Palm.
Choose the right formulation Thicker creams typically contain more protective moisture than those that are watery and thin. A good rule of thumb when choosing fall and winter skin care is this: Look for moisturizers that are packaged in a tube or tub which tend to be heavier and more dense than those found in a pump bottle.
Know that different products serve different needs Though it would be a lot more convenient to use the same moisturizer all over one's physical form, it's important to know that the skin on your face is thinner, more sensitive and susceptible to breakouts and irritation than the rest of your body. Few products work effectively for both (though CeraVe's classic moisturizing cream and a few picks below are exceptions). As the weather grows more frigid, it's also a good idea to add products containing moisture-sealing ingredients like squalane and hyaluronic acid to your routine and change out your face cleansers to those that add natural oils and hydration instead of depleting them.
"This Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream hydrates for 48 hours," says board certified dermatologist Dr. Kiran Mian. "It's formulated with hydrating ingredients such as glycerin, niacinamide and panthenol that work to improve the resilience of sensitive skin."
Cetaphil's affordable cream is the perfect budget-friendly face moisturizer for fall and winter. It's made with the brand's HydroSensitiv Complex, a combination of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin B5 and vitamin E — a good checklist of ingredients you want in an ultra-hydrating cream. For those with sensitive skin, niacinamide does a great job of soothing, but we like how there's also blue daisy extract — this pretty, flower-bearing plant has antioxidant benefits that help with redness and discomfort.
This fast-absorbing, highly moisturizing cream repairs and hydrates while remaining gentle enough for sensitive skin and also fragrance free. It's especially good for slathering on itchy dry winter legs: the non-greasy formula won't make you feel slippery and weird in pants or tights.
"I like Eucerin Advanced Repair because it contains so many hydrating ingredients like ceramide-3, squalene, glycerin, triglycerides, along with other fat-derived ingredients that help repair and protect the skin barrier," explains Palm.
If you're looking for a 2-in-1 solution that's both expert-approved and affordable, try this CeraVe pick that can be used on both the face and body. "CeraVe Moisturizing Cream contains effective moisturizers like hyaluronic acid and ceramides that trap in moisture and prevent evaporation over the skin barrier," says Dr. Angela Lamb, a dermatologist and director of the Westside Mount Sinai Dermatology Practice in New York City.
Palm's pick for a potent, moisturizing way to protect your lips is this fragrance-free treatment by La Roche-Posay: "It's a great hydrating shea butter formula that soothes and softens dry lips. It's also great for sensitive skin types," she says.
This brand's formula is legendary for its heavy-duty hydration of even the driest feet. The texture is thick — more balm-like than a standard lotion. It's also unscented and nongreasy, a boon for this area of the body (I despise the sensation of greasy soles).
This salve is particularly good for stubborn cracked heels. It's also hypoallergenic and safe for both sensitive and diabetics' skin. A little goes a long way, and the cream doesn't go bad — this two-pack will last months.
This ultra-nourishing salve is a favorite of professional makeup artists who often need to remove serious face paint without damaging their (often high-profile) clients' skin. It's filled to the brim with soothing ingredients like chamomile and lavender, and as the (many!) TikTok videos attest, it really works for both cleaning and plumping.
Oils can be an excellent way to treat dry, flaky skin. This one, by Brooke Shields-approved line Biossance is a particular standout. It's made of 100% pure, dermatologist-recommended squalane oil. It's also non-greasy, absorbs quickly and gives wherever you apply it (face, arms, etc) a seriously pretty, healthy glow.
I've interviewed approximately 7 million beauty experts in my life. The most honest usually say something along the lines of "You don't need expensive products; high-quality drugstore creams will do." Case in point: A few years ago, legendary beauty guru Jean Godfrey-June told me she uses this rich, all-natural, chamomile and calendula body cream on her face in the winter, that it's the best product she's found for protecting and treating chapped skin. It's also a gentle, non-irritating formula for dry hands, rough heels, scaly elbows or anywhere you might need a hydrating boost. I myself keep a tube by the kitchen sink to use after dishwashing duties. It's the best kind of product in that it's affordable but smells good and feels rich.
Get a humidifier, stat
"Beyond skincare products, I always recommend the use of humidifiers in the home to improve overall hydration during the drier months," says Palm. In the colder months, the extra dry air from indoor heat robs skin of moisture but these devices add the humidity back into your environment creating more balmy conditions that are extra beneficial for your skin (along with your plants and even your nasal passages). One caveat: Humidifiers can become moldy fast so it's important to follow the brand's instructions for cleaning and changing water on the regular.
Reviewers call Levoit's Smart Humidifier "the Cadillac of humidifiers," explaining: "I highly recommend. It's powerful, convenient and even a little bit fancy with all its high-tech features... go ahead and treat yourself (and your plants and baby) to a little extra moisture in the air. You won't regret it!"
This fast-working humidifier has loads going for it — it's ultra quiet and easy to clean with zero light emissions (better for sleep). Best of all, it works for 60 hours without needing a refill, which means you'll enjoy seven nights of sleep before needing to haul it over to the sink.
Limit hot showers
We all love a hot shower when it's cold outside, but dermatologists say they may be doing more harm to our skin than good: "Scalding hot showers can strip and compromise your skin barrier, limiting them will help maintain good skin health during the winter season," says Palm.
Additionally, if you live in an area with "hard" water, you may want to consider a shower filter. Minerals found in hard water can deplete skin of natural oils, exacerbate conditions like eczema and dandruff and make the whole cold-weather dermis situation drier, itchier and flakier.
AquaBliss's wildly well-reviewed shower filter (currently boasting nearly 40,000 5-star reviews on Amazon alone), is both easy to install and promises to "immediately" begin rejuvenating dry, itchy skin and reducing dandruff by filtering chlorinated, chemical ridden water and delivering up a cleaner, less harsh stream.
"Awesome product," raves one satisfied customer, "Super easy to install, and is wonderful for my hair and skin. Everything feels way softer. Very surprised and impressed by the results. Who knew such a simple change could have such a positive effect on my life?"
Protect your fall and winter skin
"Sun protection is important year-round, so I recommend applying broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or above daily — even in fall and winter," says Palm.
In the cooler months, you may also want to protect your face not just from the sun but from weather elements too; for example, the kinds of cold winds that cause wind burn. Skin protectants formulated with petroleum or an extra thick application of any quality face balm can all be effective.
Of all the sunscreens I've tested, EltaMD SPF is the most consistently top rated, especially by doctors who recommend a tinted mineral sunscreen like this one, which provides broad-spectrum physical coverage and hydration — and gives your skin a little bright color in the darkest (and palest!) months.
It's also made of natural ingredients zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and leaves a smooth finish, even on dry or sensitive skin.
Like me, you'd possibly forgotten all about Vaseline until a few years ago when the classic, dermatologist-recommended petroleum jelly went viral on TikTok for its use in "slugging" (essentially the last step in your skin care routine, to create a kind of seal for all your other products). Since then, I've used it to target dry, flaky spots on my forehead, to heal chapped skin on my elbows, to prep my legs before applying self tanner and to remove my tween's Halloween makeup.
It's ultra-versatile as not only a winter skin care staple, but a household one too: In a pinch, I've also employed straight-from-the-vat Vaseline to polish boots, remove clothing stains and even — with just a small dab — keep my razors sharp.
