The changing of seasons shouldn’t just signal a switch in your wardrobe — it’s also the time to make a few tweaks to your skin-care routine. Namely, when the muggy, hot temperatures of summer start to give way to crisp and chilly fall air, your skin (and by that, we mean everyone’s skin) can use some extra TLC.
Why? Not only does dry skin feel uncomfortable, but if left unaddressed for too long, it can lead to issues like irritation, redness, flakiness, and even a compromised skin barrier. This is precisely why the best fall season skin-care tip, regardless of your skin type, is to replenish what gets lost when summer turns to fall.
“[With] cooler temperatures and less humidity, it’s important to adjust your skin-care routine to incorporate more hydrating and moisturizing ingredients,” NYC-based dermatologist Marisa Garshick, M.D., advises. “Adding moisture back into the skin helps to strengthen the skin barrier,” retaining moisture and fending off external irritants. In other words, it’s your complexion’s first line of both defense and offense, so keeping it hydrated and intact is paramount to overall skin health.
To do so when the weather changes, you’ll want to incorporate a quality facial moisturizer. According to Allure editors, there are a few top-notch topicals to seek out. Buzzy ingredients such as brightening vitamin C, hydrating niacinamide, and smoothing retinoids (a vitamin A derivative) are well-known for a reason; they’ve earned their skin-boosting reputations because they really work.
Here, four Allure editors — each with a different skin type — put an assortment of Olay’s newest and most beloved facial moisturizers to the test, incorporating them into their fall skin-care routine. Keep reading to learn more about how each product (spoiler alert!) truly lived up to the hype.
A potent antioxidant that boasts free-radical-fighting and skin-brightening benefits, vitamin C is one of my all-time favorite skin-care ingredients. So, when Olay’s new Vitamin C Facial Moisturizer (available exclusively at Target) landed on my desk, naturally I was eager to test it out.
By now, we’ve all heard about vitamin C, but this topical has proven to be much more than just a buzzword — it’s an ingredient that comes highly recommended, time and time again, by top dermatologists. This is due in large part to its antioxidant properties, which are said to help ward off dullness and brighten the complexion.
After using this moisturizer for just a couple of weeks, I’m happy to report I noticed all of these benefits and then some; my dry skin looked plump, supple, and best of all, brighter. I also loved the moisturizer's bouncy texture, which absorbed quickly — exactly what my skin needs as the colder temperatures roll in. In the past, I’ve often used vitamin C serum, but my skin type responded so well to this vitamin-C–infused moisturizer that I definitely plan to stick with it. “If you have dry or combination skin, or if it’s wintertime or you live in a dry climate, a vitamin C moisturizer will help you get the benefits while also helping to lock moisture into your skin,” explains dermatologist Joyce Park, M.D. Per my own experience, Olay’s new Vitamin C Facial Moisturizer does exactly that. — Sara Tan, Contributing Writer
This fall, I’m scaling back my usual skin-care routine and partaking in Korea’s “Skin-Care Diet”; only giving my complexion exactly what it needs — nothing more, nothing less. Since I plan to use fewer products, each one has to really pack a punch.
Here’s how my current fall skin-care routine goes: After cleansing and toning every night, I slather on the Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Face Moisturizer. That’s it! The fragrance-free cream is spiked with the ingredients I usually seek out in serums, making it the equivalent of several steps in one. Bonus: It’s pretty much the easiest way to incorporate retinoids into my product lineup.
Retinoids, for those unfamiliar, are a powerful vitamin A derivative that can smooth, brighten, and even out skin tone and texture by stimulating cell turnover. Typically, if you have sensitive skin, dermatologists recommend sandwiching retinol between layers of moisturizer to offset any potential irritation. The Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Face Moisturizer takes a smoothie approach, if you will, by combining hydrating ingredients with retinol in just one step.
At first glance, this moisturizer looks deceptively thick, so I was hesitant to use it on my oily skin. However, as soon as I rubbed it on, it instantly absorbed and created a lightweight layer of hydration. I didn’t wake up with pools of oil on my face — just smoother, softer skin — and my skin felt hydrated all day long. — Devon Abelman, Digital Beauty Editor
When fall rolls around, I typically switch out my go-to lightweight gel-moisturizer for something more hydrating and heavy-duty. The only catch: Since I have textbook combination skin — super oily in some areas, and incredibly dry in others — I need a facial moisturizer that is both lightweight and supremely hydrating. Big bonus if it can also stave off fine lines and wrinkles, which are of increasing concern.
Before getting my hands on it, I had heard plenty of good things about the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, so my hopes were high. This creamy yet ultra-fast-absorbing moisturizer is a perennial beauty editor (and Allure reader favorite), and over the years the small red jar has earned cult-like status among beauty lovers.
After using it only a handful of times, I could understand why it’s garnered such a following: It is simultaneously light in texture and very moisturizing (likely thanks to its hero ingredient, niacinamide, aka vitamin B3). Its pleasant, slightly floral scent quickly dissipates as it soaks into the skin, and it doesn’t leave any greasiness behind. Better yet, after testing it out for almost three straight weeks, I happily noticed that my eleven lines and smile lines were slightly more plumped and a bit less noticeable.
All in all, as many others before me also attest, it’s pretty much the ideal fall facial moisturizer. Not too heavy, not too light, plus all the skin-boosting benefits of a serum — making it just right for my combination skin. — Rebecca Dancer, Contributing Writer
When building a fall skin-care routine, moisturizer is always where I get stuck, thanks to my sensitive skin. But I cut through all the clutter with Olay’s Regenerist Ultra Rich Moisturizer.
As far as ingredients go, this one hits all the check marks on my must-have list, namely glycerin and niacinamide to hydrate and soothe. Although it’s solid and thick at first swipe, Ultra-Rich melts to the touch and transforms into a lightweight gel. Put simply: This moisturizer works. Its rich and creamy texture might intimidate you at first, but once its hydrating and brightening ingredients get to work, you’ll be convinced of its powers. — Nicola Dall’Asen, Staff Writer
No matter our skin type, it behooves all of us to switch up our skin-care routines with the seasons. Just like you wouldn’t slather on an ultra-thick moisturizer on a humid, 95-degree summer day, using a moisturizer that’s too lightweight in the face of frigid temperatures and dry air won’t do your complexion any favors. This fall, add one of these go-to options from Olay to your target.com shopping bag, and keep your skin bright, hydrated, smooth, and protected from the elements.