How Your Skin Changes in Fall, and What to Do About It

Fall makes small changes feel noticeable. A sweater by the door. The light arriving at a different angle. Apples on the trees. The first evening you reach to turn on the heat.

In upstate New York, the season changes the way we move through the day. It can change what feels comfortable on our skin, too.

A new season, not a new shelf.

I love the idea of a seasonal ritual. I'm less interested in the idea that September requires an entirely new set of products.

We first made our formulas for ourselves and the people close to us, and I've used them through a lot of New York falls. What I've learned is that the season matters less than paying attention to what your skin is actually telling you.

What tends to change in fall

Why does skin feel drier in fall?

Your skin is a living boundary between you and the world. Its outermost layer, thinner than a sheet of paper, holds onto water and helps keep it from escaping. When the weather shifts, keeping that balance gets harder.

Low humidity is one of the main reasons skin gets dry. Cold weather and indoor heating bring that into everyday life, and long, hot showers and harsh cleansers can add to it. Dryness can show up as roughness, flaking, itching, or that tight feeling after washing. Read the AAD's dry skin tips.

That doesn't mean everyone's skin changes on the same date. A warm, humid October and a cold, dry October are very different places to live. Your skin, your home, and your habits matter more than the name of the month.

What have researchers actually observed?

A study of 80 healthy adults measured skin on the cheeks and the backs of the hands in winter and in summer. On the cheeks, levels of natural moisturizing factor, the water-binding substances your outer skin layer makes on its own, were lower in winter, and the surface texture of skin cells changed. The hands showed the opposite pattern: their natural moisturizing factor was higher in winter. Read the seasonal skin study.

I love that detail because it refuses to be tidy. Skin responds to the seasons, but not the same way everywhere on your body.

One note, because I think you deserve precision: this was an observational comparison, not a trial of a fall skincare routine. It can't tell you which cream to buy, or prove that autumn itself causes a particular change. It does give us a good reason to pay attention, instead of assuming the same routine will always feel the same.

Start with the moment your skin feels uncomfortable

Before changing everything, notice when the problem shows up.

Does your face feel tight right after washing? Does a product sting when it used to feel fine? Are your hands rough by the end of the day? Or does everything still feel good?

Those answers are a better starting point than a seasonal shopping list. I'd change one part of the routine at a time, so you have a chance of knowing what made the difference.

Small adjustments that make a difference

Make washing gentler. Keep showers short and the water warm, not hot. Pat dry, then moisturize while your skin still holds a little water. You don't need a squeaky-clean feeling to know you've washed your face. (If that tight feeling is familiar, oil cleansing is one gentler option.)

Give your moisturizer a fair chance. A moisturizer that felt lovely in July may feel too light in November. A richer texture can help, but the heaviest product isn't automatically the best fit, especially if you're prone to breakouts.

Keep toner optional. If you enjoy one, keep it. If you don't, fall doesn't make it mandatory. Our guide to skin flooding explains the difference between adding water and helping it stay put.

Go easy on scrubbing away flakes. Dry, flaky skin makes exfoliating tempting, but repeated exfoliation can add irritation to skin that's already uncomfortable. Give moisturizing a chance first. If you use a prescription treatment, ask your clinician before changing how you use it.

Keep sunscreen in the routine. A cool day is still a day outdoors. The AAD recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin, reapplied about every two hours outdoors. Mushroom extracts and facial oils don't replace sunscreen. Read the AAD's sunscreen guidance.

Look beyond your face. Hands and lips need attention too. Keep a hand cream by the sink and choose a simple lip balm that doesn't sting.

Where mushrooms fit into a fall routine

Mushrooms are at the center of Hongo because they invite a closer look at nature and at the ingredients we choose. Fall happens to be their season, too: walk through the woods after a few days of rain and they seem to appear everywhere at once. But they don't need a seasonal rescue story to be interesting.

Our Mushroom Face Cream pairs reishi and shiitake with oils, fats, and cocoa butter, a richer texture many people reach for when the air turns dry. Tremella, the water-holding snow mushroom, is in our Hydrating Mushroom Toner and Botanical Mushroom Cleansing Oil. Each one belongs to a complete formula, carefully blended in small batches so every ingredient has a reason to be there. Together, they're made to help your skin feel soft, comfortable, and cared for, even when the seasons turn.

Note: If your skin is reactive, read the full ingredient list. 

For the research behind the ingredients, read our guide to mushroom skincare.

A season for paying attention

Go back to that sweater by the door for a second. You didn't need to rebuild your wardrobe to put it on. You noticed the air had changed, and you adjusted.

Skin can work the same way. If your routine still feels good, keep it. If something feels uncomfortable, make one small change. And if dryness hangs on, or skin becomes painful or cracked, see a dermatologist.

That's the point of a simple ritual: it leaves room to pay attention to yourself, and to the world beyond the bathroom mirror. Back to simple.

Mush love,
Krystina

Fall skincare FAQ

Why does my skin get dry in the fall?

Colder, drier air, indoor heating, and longer, hotter showers can all make it harder for skin to hold onto water. Research also shows that some skin, like the cheeks, has less natural moisturizing factor in colder months.

Do I need a new skincare routine for fall?

Not necessarily. Notice when your skin feels uncomfortable and make one change at a time, such as gentler washing or a richer moisturizer. If your routine still feels good, keep it.

Should I switch to a heavier moisturizer in fall?

It can help if your skin feels tight or rough, but heavier isn't automatically better, especially for breakout-prone skin. Applying moisturizer to damp skin makes a difference, too.

Should I exfoliate dry, flaky skin?

Go easy. Exfoliating skin that's already dry and irritated can make it worse. Try gentler cleansing and consistent moisturizing first.

References

• Engebretsen et al. (2018). Changes in filaggrin degradation products and corneocyte surface texture by season. British Journal of Dermatology. University of Copenhagen record
• American Academy of Dermatology. Dermatologists' tips for relieving dry skin. aad.org

Originally published October 1, 2024 · Updated October 2026. This article is for educational purposes only. Hongo skincare products are cosmetics and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Patch test new products before full use.