5 Red Flags Your Skin Is Screaming for A Fall Skincare Switch
sorry, your skin can’t come to the phone right now…
why?
…because she’s dead
The second Starbucks rolls out the pumpkin spice,
the skincare industry acts like you need to toss out everything you own…
seems like a scam
That’s not real life and most people don’t need a complete seasonal overhaul.
but like… there is some truth there. fall air actually is different.
The temperature drops, the air gets drier, and your skin starts leaking water faster than it can pull it in.
So yeah... your skin is going to notice. sometimes it's subtle, but sometimes… not so much.
And if you don’t know how to read your skin, you’ll always be guessing. So how do you know???
fall skincare 101: the unofficial guide to reading your skin
red flag #1:
your skin feels thirsty even after you moisturize
You start your nighttime routine and it feels like your morning moisturizer didn’t even happen.
Your skin doesn’t look cracked or flaky… but it does feel tight, cardboard flat, and like the glow has been sucked out.
like your face drank up all it’s products but still wants more.
why it happens:
Once Fall hits, humidity in the air drops.
The air is even more dry than your skin, so your skin starts leaking water out instead of pulling water in.
how to fix it:
♡ bring water in: ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe, urea do the heavy lifting. they all attract and can carry water. they never miss squat day.
♡ seal it: dont let all that water get away. seal it in with ceramides, squalane, jojoba, and shea to stop/slow the leaking.
♡ shield it: If needed at night, finish with a thin layer of cell protection balm on the driest spots before you go to bed. extra locked in.
♡ my fave combo: this hydrating serum and this hydrating moisturizer together cover all three ^^
red flag #2:
your routine suddenly feels stingly
You’ve been using the same products for months without a problem, and now out of nowhere, you’re noticing a faint sting.
It's not painful or like a full-on burn.
It kinda stings but not really. It feels spicy.
Sometimes you don’t notice it right away, maybe not even until the middle of the day, but it wasn’t happening before.
why it happens:
When your skin is juicy and cushioned, there’s space between your products and your nerve endings that pick up sensation.
In the fall, when your skin starts losing water, it’s also losing cushion.
So, your products and nerve endings end up hanging out more than they were before…
and that’s why something that once felt fine can suddenly feel a little spicy.
They tend to get along better with some space 😏
how to fix it:
♡ push pause: pause or scale back exfoliation and other strong actives.
♡ focus on barrier-support: beta glucan, panthenol, ceramides. < comfort cream, cell protection serum
♡ reintroduce your stronger products slowly only once skin feels calm again.
♡ my fave combo: Protective Skin Serum with Ceramides ( ⇠ changed my skin and smells amazing) + Comfort Cream
want to skip the guesswork?
book a custom Signature Facial at New Moon Aesthetics
I’ll read your skin for you and send you home with a fall game plan that actually fits your skin and your life
(not Instagram’s)
⤵ continue reading red flags
red flag #3:
new flaking or rough patches show up
Out of nowhere, little flakes start showing up around your nose, cheeks, or chin.
Sometimes you can see them, sometimes you just feel them when you run your hand across your skin.
It can feel rough like sandpaper (or a nail file for my other basic bitches 💁🏻♀️)
why it happens:
Some cells get so dry they start to curl up at the edges, kinda like when an acrylic nail starts lifting.
That curling is what causes the visible flakes and the rough, sandpapery texture you can feel.
Other cells are dead skin cells that get stuck in your skin’s natural “glue.”
Normally, enzymes come in to break down the glue so the cells can actually fall off,
leaving you smooth and glowy.
But enzymes can’t work without water.
stay with me here.
You know the kids’ different-shaped pastas?
Okay, that. But make it Pac-Man.
Pac-Man eating little ghosties = enzymes in our skin.
Dry pasta Pac-Man is stiff and useless. like his mouth can’t even open to eat his ghosts.
That’s what happens to him in the fall when he loses water.
😢 Poor Pac-Man. He deserves his little treat.
If you want Pac-Man to have his treat, just add water.
When you do, Pac-Man softens, gets flexy, and can finally move to chase his ghosties around for a little snacky snack all day. In summer, with all that humidity in the air, he’s thriving.
So if your skin is experiencing flaking or crusty little patches, your Pac-Men are basically sending an SOS…
they need more hydration STAT.
how to fix it:
♡ get locked in: lock in your hydrating products with rich, creamy ingredients that keep the water from escaping.
♡ add extra pac-men: add enzymes to step in when your natural Pac-Men are too dried out to work.
♡ my faves: sensitive skin? stick to the Hydrating Masque with Enzymes. if you want to be in chocolate heaven, Chocolate Masque with Enzymes
♡ If flakes cluster around brows, nose, or beardline, that may be seborrheic dermatitis. zinc or sulfur 2–3x/week can help. If it sticks around or gets angry, go see a pro.
red flag #4:
redness that hangs out longer than usual
You’re noticing redness hanging around your cheeks longer than you want it to be.
on top of that, through the summer your skin felt plump and glowy, and now it just feels… flat. Kinda dull.
why it happens:
When the air dries out, so does your skin. Think of your skin like a water balloon, kay?
in July it’s full of water and bouncy, but by October it’s half-deflated.
When your skin shrinks down like that, the blood vessels underneath your skin are easier to see.
That’s why redness could suddenly look like it’s sticking around for no reason.
how to fix it:
♡ cool things down: Glide an ice cube around the red areas for about 60 seconds, keeping it moving (don’t park it in one spot). This temporarily constricts blood vessels so they shrink down and calm faster.
♡ plump your cushion: adding hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or beta glucan, work to make skin look fuller (because it is), so less see-through.
♡ keep redness from overstaying: Niacinamide, licorice root, or green tea extract help blood vessels stay calm so they don’t overreact and leave redness hanging around.
♡ my fave combo: CBD Age Delay Dew (niacinamide & anti-inflammatory cbd) + Comfort Cream (for the licorice, aloe and hydration)
red flag #5:
makeup or SPF suddenly doesn’t sit right
Even if your products haven’t changed, suddenly your skin and makeup feel like they’re not getting along.
Your foundation that used to glide on now goes on cakey and clings in random spots.
Or your sunscreen that used to sink in smoothly starts balling up into little rolls when you rub it on.
why it happens:
When dead skin cells pile up unevenly (remember Pac-Man from Sign #3?), the surface of your skin gets bumpy and rough.
Your makeup can’t go on evenly because your canvas isn’t even. it’s hanging onto the dead/dry skin cells.
Aka patchy clingy makeup.
how to fix it:
♡ layer hydration first: hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or beta glucan help products spread evenly instead of catching.
♡ smooth the surface: use a gentle enzyme mask like the Hydrating Masque with Enzymes once a week. ⇢ I usually give a sample of this to clients who have big events coming up, because makeup goes on soooo smoothly after using it.
♡ apply sunscreen in thin layers: massage it in about 80% of the way, then press the rest in instead of rubbing hard.
♡ switch matte makeup products for lighter, dewier textures that flex with your natural skin.
your skin probably isn’t asking for a full fall wardrobe change, just a comfy teddy jacket.
Don’t overcomplicate it.
Give it water, give it cushion, and quit letting the industry convince you it’s a skin crisis every season.
when your skin chills out, so do you
So no, you don’t need to haul your whole bathroom counter to the trash just because the leaves changed.
but if your skin has been bothering you lately and you’re ready to take control, it’s so worth it
your mornings stop feeling like a fight with your own face. you actually get to just… get ready
no more piling on concealer only to make it worse.
no more double-checking the mirror, or completely avoiding it.
you feel like yourself again ♡
If your skin’s quiet? Great, keep doing your thing.
and if it’s screaming? Now you know how to shut it up.
or… skip playing skin detective
book a custom signature facial and come lay down in my super comfy, heated, memory foam treatment bed with mesmerizing galaxy lights.
I’ll do all the thinking for you. just show up, relax, and leave glowing (with everything you need to keep it that way).
easy peezy
fall skincare q+a’s, answered
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Because it’s dehydrated.
When fall air pulls out water, your skin feels tight and dull.
your oil glands try to overcompensate and kick into high gear, so you end up both shiny and flaky.
That’s why fall skincare routines usually focus on hydration first.
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There aren’t ingredients that are automatically “bad” in fall. it totally depends on your skin.
For some, stronger actives, like glycolic acid or high-strength retinol, might feel harsher when the air is dry.
If your skin tolerates them, you don’t need to stop. The real red flag isn’t the ingredient, it’s how your skin reacts.
-
yup! still worth it!
as a licensed aesthetician with insurance, I have access to deeper professional grade products that you aren’t able to purchase for home
i like to think of facials as your skin check in + kick in the ass for even better results
kind of like brushing your teeth every day vs. going for a cleaning.
-
not the best idea.
If you swap everything overnight and irritation shows up, you can’t tell which product caused it. The smarter move is adding one change at a time, so your skin adjusts and you know what’s actually working, and where we need to fill in the gaps. -
Not in the way people think.
Staying hydrated is good for your body, but water you drink doesn’t go straight to your face.
Dry skin in fall is usually from barrier issues and low humidity. Topical hydration and sealing it in with the right products will do more than chugging extra water.
