Labor Day is the ultimate sign that summer is over. With the change in seasons comes several changes in our lives. You say goodbye to summer Fridays. You start shifting over to your fall wardrobe. Some of you might be starting a new semester of classes. But one thing most guys forget to adjust is their skin care routine. Fall represents a new set of challenges for your skin that you also need to prepare for. Your skin is in a state of transition. You’ve still got the same amount of oil production taking place, but now you’ve also got an increase in the amount of dead skin cells. Without proper care, you’re more likely to trap bacteria and buildup in your skin. But with these fall skin care tips for men, you can avoid the usual pitfalls and keep your skin looking fresh all season.

Cleanse With A Light Daily Face Wash

During the summer, you sweat a lot more. In addition to your normal oil production, you have a lot more dirt and grime on your skin than usual. So gel cleansers and foaming washes are a godsend. But when the temperature drops, those same washes can actually dry out your skin. Instead, use fall as an opportunity to switch to a milder, two-pronged approach. In the morning, use a non-drying cleanser like Preface Daily Face Wash For Men. This type of cleanser will give you the same deep pore cleaning without stripping your skin of moisture. At night, use a lotion-based daily face wash to refresh your skin and dissolve any stubborn dirt.

Start Using An Alcohol-Free Toner

Like the rest of your body, your skin needs hydration. Water is a necessary ingredient to ensure that all your skin cells live. Wiping your entire face with an alcohol-free toner helps you get water to every part of your skin without any harmful effects. Our Double-Deal Post-Shave Moisturizer does, as the name suggests, double duty. The seaweed-based aftershave works as a toner, hydrates and softens skin while also canceling out shaving irritation.

Incorporate An Oil-Free Moisturizer

The key here is to step up your moisturizer to the next level once the weather changes. The air dries out, and the moisturizer for men you’ve been using all summer will no longer be enough. If you’ve relied on light moisturizer all season, it’s time to switch to a lotion. If you’ve relied on a lotion, it’s time to move on to a cream. And so on and so forth. You should use an oil-free moisturizer, with a hyaluronic acid base, a la O/Zero because it helps seal in moisture without going overboard for normal and oily skin types.

Repair Your Summer UV Damage

You’ve undoubtedly spent a lot of time in the sun the last few months. With increased sun exposure comes increased sun damage. It’s important to spend fall working on UV repair so you can start over fresh next year. It’s also important to protect against new damage since UVA rays are still just as intense in early fall. C-Strand Vitamin C cream can help dramatically reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and spots caused by the sun. Additionally, Vitamin C cream can help you achieve younger-looking skin.

Exfoliate!

Though a lot of guys see this as an extra step, it’s actually a really necessary one. Especially in fall. An exfoliating facial scrub should absolutely be a part of your fall skin care routine. Exfoliating is key because it removes the dead skin cells that trap oil. And unlike summer, dead skin cells will rear their ugly heads more often during the fall. Plus, your skin will be less sensitive to regular exfoliation since you aren’t exposing it to sun, heat, and chlorine on a regular basis. Our Particle + Exfoliating Cleanser is one of the best exfoliation products for men. It’s specially formulated with honey to capture the moisture in the surrounding air and keep your skin smooth without drying out.

Fall skin care is arguably the most important skin care of the year. It’s the perfect time to repair summer’s damage and close out the year with smooth, clear, youthful skin.

The idea of changing up your entire skin care routine might seem intimidating, but if you simply follow these fall skin care tips for men, it’s not less difficult than you’d imagine. The fact is, fall skin care is less about completely rebooting and more about subtle tweaks.