These 5 Products Will Stop Your Skin from Freaking Out This Fall, Promise

Let me guess: In the past couple weeks your complexion has done a 180, swapping the dewy glow it had going all summer long for something a lot less luminous.

We both know what's to blame: autumn. Or, more specifically, the season’s sudden dip in humidity that leaves skin dry, flaky, and as dull as that work friend who just can’t stop talking about the amazing juice cleanse that’s totally changed her life.

The good news: It doesn’t take much to correct skin’s bad behavior and keep your complexion looking as fresh in October as it did in August, says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in the Department of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. And lucky for us, he's sharing a small handful of product swaps that will help skin keep calm and carry on all autumn.

“Ultra-gentle, hydrating cleansers are so important in fall,” since dry autumn air can suck moisture from skin, says Dr. Zeichner. His seasonal swap: trade your standard cleanser for a cleansing oil. “L’Occitane’s version removes dirt and oil without disrupting the outer skin layer and forms it a protective seal over the skin,” he says, helping to lock in moisture hours after you’ve cleansed.

“This gentle scrub offers mild manual exfoliation to help remove dead cells that accumulate on the surface of the skin and interfere with light reflection,” he says. The result: Smoother, glowing skin. Plus, pink lemon and orange extract help brighten your complexion without irritating the outer skin layer and making dryness worse.

Clarins top-selling serum is a fan-favorite for a reason. Not only does it work wonders on almost any skin type in almost any climate, it’s powered with actives that are proven to brighten and plump skin naturally. “Ingredients like turmeric help fade dark spots and promote healthy collagen production,” explains Dr. Zeichner.

“As you move into cold weather, your skin may start to show brown spots that develop as a delayed result of sun exposure during the summer,” says Dr. Zeichner, “but this broad-spectrum sunscreen enhanced with skin brightening soy complex blocks UV light exposure from penetrating into the skin,” protecting skin from age spots and other pigmentation problems.

“This rich cream contains rose extract which helps protect, hydrate, and maintain a strong skin foundation,” says Dr. Zeichner, keeping skin protected as you sleep.