Autumn is not a reason to overhaul your entire skincare routine — but it is a good moment to reassess your products and set priorities based on the current state of your skin.
Every September, we receive a wave of questions: "What should I replace my summer moisturiser with? Can I go back to acids and retinoids?" And our answer is less exciting than the marketing version: there is no such thing as a universal "autumn routine", and radical changes are rarely necessary. In fact, we do not cancel retinol in summer. The skin does not switch into a different mode on the 21st of September. But the conditions it operates in change gradually — and that can be a signal to make small, considered adjustments.
What do we typically revisit in autumn?
1. Reintroducing actives
If you reduced the frequency of acids or retinoids over the summer — because of sun exposure, heat, or increased sensitivity — now is the time to gradually bring them back. Not all at once. A sensible approach is to restore your regular retinoid routine first, and then reintroduce acids afterwards, if they are part of your programme.
2. Checking whether the skin has enough hydration
As temperature and air humidity change, some people notice increased dryness, tightness or reactivity. This is a good moment to look at your moisturiser: does it contain ingredients that support the barrier function — ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids, squalane — as well as humectants?
3. If you have pigmentation or post-acne — work on it systematically
After summer, we often see more unevenness in skin tone: tans fade unevenly, pigment spots become more visible, and post-acne marks can deepen. Autumn is the best time to start a targeted approach to pigmentation. Vitamin C, azelaic acid, niacinamide, retinoids, tranexamic acid and other actives can all be part of such a strategy — depending on the cause of pigmentation and the overall condition of the skin.
4. Do not forget SPF
This deserves a separate mention. The sun is still active. UV radiation does not disappear with the season, so if you spend time outdoors during the day, sun protection remains a non-negotiable part of your daily routine.
5. And most importantly — look at your skin, not the calendar
If after summer your skin is calm, well hydrated and you are happy with how it feels — you may not need to change anything at all. If dryness, tightness, sensitivity, pigmentation, breakouts or skin condition flare-ups have appeared — then it is time to revisit your routine.
This, in our view, is a far more intelligent approach than buying a new cream simply because the season has changed.
