There's a reason why beauty writers talk about how to transition your skincare behaviours at this time every single year: not enough people are pro-active about the change. Too many ladies and gents only look for the winter-to-spring wisdom after their first major breakout or when a friend tells them their foundation looks chalky, but the logic behind transitional changes is that they need to be introduced into your regimen early enough that your skin can adapt to the changes in both environment and products. If it's when August when you suddenly remember, "man, I haven't worn SPF in three months," reach for some sunscreen stat and make a mental note to start much earlier with your summer-to-winter transition next year.
Leave some work for the night shift
In the warmer months, we use less moisturizer (or at least lighter moisturizers) than we do in the colder months, but that doesn’t mean your skin isn’t still thirsty. Skin repairs itself at night and it’s important for it to be encased in a cocoon of moisture throughout the process; this way, you can wake up with happy skin, and it’ll stay supple for most of the day even if all you put on is sunscreen. Sleeping masks are great at sealing in moisture, but I would recommend using one of those creams that promise a whole day’s worth of hydration instead, like the wildly popular The true cream – aqua bomb ($47) from Belif. After a night of hopefully restful sleep while covered with an extended performance moisturizer, you’ll find that your skin is much more receptive to the day’s demands, from the first wash when you wake up to your eventual make-up application: if you manage to set this as part of your routine, it’s likely that you’ll start needing less day cream as the months go by too.
