If you're like me, fall is usually when we start thinking about changing our wardrobes. The shorts get put away, sweaters and jackets come back into rotation - and morning coffee suddenly tastes better since it's colder outside!
But there's another seasonal transition that's worth paying attention to: our skin.
As temperatures drop and the air becomes cooler and drier, you may notice your skin starting to feel different. Maybe it feels a little tighter after washing your face. Your lips start getting dry. Or that lightweight moisturizer that worked perfectly well all summer suddenly doesn't seem to be doing enough.
Just like you adjust what you're wearing for the weather, your skincare routine can use a few small adjustments heading into fall.
The good news is that men's skincare doesn't need to be complicated. You don't need a bathroom cabinet full of serums, toners and products you can't pronounce. For most guys, getting the basics right and doing them consistently is a pretty good place to start.
Why Your Skin Can Feel Different in the Fall
Summer and fall put your skin through very different environments.
During warmer months, heat and humidity can leave your skin feeling oilier and sweatier. As fall arrives, cooler temperatures and lower humidity can contribute to skin feeling drier. Indoor heating can add to that dryness as the season progresses.
That means the products and habits that worked well in July might not feel quite as effective by October - November (hint: you don't necessarily need to replace your entire skincare routine).
Instead, think of it like transitioning your wardrobe from summer to fall: keep the essentials that are working and make a few strategic changes for the conditions ahead.
1. Start With a Gentle Cleanser
The foundation of a basic men's skincare routine is pretty simple: wash your face and what you choose to wash it with matters. If you've been using a harsh cleanser (or worse, whatever bar of soap happens to be sitting beside the sink), fall is a good time to switch to something gentler.
Look for a facial cleanser that removes sweat, excess oil and everyday grime without leaving your face feeling uncomfortably tight afterward. For many guys, cleansing at night is particularly useful for washing away everything that has accumulated throughout the day. Depending on your skin type and routine, you may also choose to cleanse in the morning. The important part is paying attention to how your skin responds.
If your face feels extremely tight or uncomfortable every time you wash it, your routine may be too harsh.
The takeaway here: Clean skin shouldn't have to mean reddish or stripped feeling skin.
2. Take Moisturizing More Seriously
If there's one skincare product I'd encourage almost every guy to have heading into fall, it's a good moisturizer.
As the weather becomes cooler and drier, moisturizing helps support the skin barrier and reduce moisture loss. If you've been using a very lightweight gel or lotion throughout summer, you may find that you prefer something a little richer during fall. Ingredients commonly found in moisturizers include things like ceramides, glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which can help support hydration. You don't necessarily need the heaviest cream you can find, either. Someone with naturally oily skin will probably want something different from someone whose skin becomes very dry.
The goal is simply to find a moisturizer that leaves your skin feeling comfortable rather than greasy or tight. Apply it after cleansing, ideally while your skin still has a little moisture. It's a small habit that can make a noticeable difference as the weather changes.
3. Yes, You Still Need Sunscreen in Fall
It's easy to associate sunscreen with beaches, patios and 30-degree afternoons, but sun protection isn't exclusively a summer habit. For everyday use, look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and apply it to exposed skin before heading outside.
This is one of those habits that's much easier when it simply becomes part of your morning routine rather than something you decide whether you "need" each day.
Cleanse. Moisturize. Sunscreen.
That's already a pretty solid morning skincare routine. And yes, this still applies when you're wearing a great fall jacket.
4. Ease Up on Exfoliation
Exfoliating can help remove dead skin cells, but more isn't necessarily better. This is particularly worth remembering as your skin starts dealing with cooler, drier conditions.
If you're already using an exfoliating product, pay attention to how frequently you're using it and how your skin feels afterward. Overdoing exfoliation can contribute to irritation, especially if you're combining multiple products containing active ingredients. You don't need to chase that aggressively scrubbed, squeaky-clean feeling.
Skincare is one of those situations where doing more isn't automatically doing better. If your skin becomes persistently irritated, painful or unusually dry, that's also a good reason to stop experimenting and speak with a healthcare professional or dermatologist.
5. Don't Forget Your Lips
Dry lips have a way of announcing that fall has arrived before the leaves do. A basic lip balm is one of the easiest things you can add to your fall routine.
Keep one somewhere you'll actually use it: your jacket pocket, desk, bag or beside your bed. If you're spending significant time outside, you can also look for a lip balm with SPF protection. And try not to constantly lick dry lips. It might feel helpful for approximately three seconds, but it can ultimately leave them feeling even drier.
6. Pay Attention to Shaving
Shaving can become another source of irritation when your skin is already feeling dry.
If you shave regularly, make sure you're giving your skin a little care before and afterward. Using warm water and a proper shaving cream or gel can help provide lubrication, while moisturizing afterward can help keep your skin comfortable (and change your razor blades regularly, when possible). Dragging a tired blade across your face repeatedly isn't exactly doing your skin any favours.
If you grow out your facial hair during the cooler months, don't forget that the skin underneath your beard still needs attention. Continue cleansing your face and moisturizing rather than treating the beard as a convenient replacement for skincare.
7. Your Hands Need Some Attention Too
Your face isn't the only thing that can become dry when temperatures drop. Between colder weather and frequent handwashing, your hands can start feeling rough or dry surprisingly quickly.
Keep a hand cream somewhere convenient and use it when needed, particularly after washing your hands. It's one of those small grooming habits that doesn't seem particularly important until your knuckles suddenly feel like sandpaper. Consider it the skincare equivalent of carrying an umbrella: you're always glad you have it when you need it.
8. Be Careful With Very Hot Showers
When it's cold outside, an extremely hot shower can feel incredible but our skin may disagree. Longer, hot showers can contribute to dryness, so consider keeping the temperature warm rather than scorching and avoiding unnecessarily long showers.
Afterward, apply moisturizer to your body while your skin is still slightly damp. This becomes especially useful for areas that tend to get dry during fall and winter, such as your hands, elbows and legs.
9. Don't Change Everything at Once
Walk into the skincare aisle and it's easy to feel like you've somehow been neglecting 14 essential steps your entire life.
Despite what you may be led to believe, you probably haven't. If you're building your first proper men's skincare routine, start simple.
Morning: Moisturizer + broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher.
Evening: Gentle cleanser + moisturizer.
That's it.
Once you've consistently followed the basics, you can decide whether your skin actually needs anything else. Introducing one new product at a time also makes it easier to figure out what works for you and what might be causing irritation.
A simple routine you'll follow every day is considerably more useful than an elaborate routine you'll abandon by Thursday.
10. Adjust Your Routine to Your Skin
There isn't one perfect skincare routine for every man. Your skin type, climate, shaving habits, time spent outdoors and the products you're already using all make a difference.
Someone with oily or acne-prone skin may want lightweight, non-comedogenic products, while someone dealing with dry skin may benefit from richer moisturizers. Sensitive skin may require an even simpler approach with gentle, fragrance-free products.
The important thing is to pay attention to your own skin rather than blindly following someone else's routine. If a product consistently burns, stings or leaves your skin irritated, don't assume that's proof it's "working."
And if you're dealing with ongoing acne, rashes, eczema, significant irritation or another persistent skin concern, consider speaking with a dermatologist or healthcare professional rather than trying to solve everything through trial and error.
TL;DR: The Basic Men's Fall Skincare Routine
If you've made it this far and just want me to tell you what you actually need, here's the condensed version:
Morning
Moisturizer → Broad-spectrum SPF 30+
Evening
Gentle cleanser → Moisturizer
As needed
Lip balm → Hand cream → Body moisturizer
That's a perfectly reasonable place to start.
You can add other products later if there's something specific you want to address, but you don't need a complicated routine simply because the skincare industry has given you enough products to fill an entire medicine cabinet.
Remember: Fall Is a Good Time to Reset and Get the Basics Right
Good grooming has never really been about having the most products, it's about taking care of yourself consistently.
Fall is a natural time to reassess those little routines. We're already pulling sweaters out of storage, changing what we wear and adjusting to shorter, cooler days. Your skincare routine deserves the same seasonal check-in.
Start with a gentle cleanser. Moisturize. Wear sunscreen. Take care of your lips and hands. Pay attention to what your skin is telling you. Remember to keep it simple enough that you'll actually stick with it.
Because much like building a good wardrobe, getting the fundamentals right will take you a lot further than chasing every new trend.