Keep using sunscreen—and other essential tips for fall skin care

Formulated with shea butter, prebiotic thermal water, glycerine and niacinamide, Lipikar AP+ Gentle Foaming Cleansing Oil from La Roche Posay is great for both face and body. The fragrance-free cleanser easily dissolves everything from sunscreen to mascara without burning or irritating and leaves skin feeling soft and moisturized. I like to apply it with just a tiny bit of water, gently massaging it in in a circular motion for a minute or two before rinsing. The combination of an oil with the foaming action of a traditional cleanser is truly the best of both worlds!

This nourishing cream cleanser was love at first wash. It’s creamy without being greasy, cleanses without stripping, and hydrates without overwhelming my pores. The formula is packed with plant-derived ingredients like Olive Leaf Extract to moisturize and firm, Plantago Extract and Beta-glucan from Oat to help soothe and even Niacinamide to help reduce the appearance of pores and re-invigorate dull skin. The subtle ylang ylang scent is comforting without overpowering and the aluminum tube means not so much as a drop gets wasted.

This super popular drugstore cleanser is a gentle but effective way to wash the day off (or get it started!) The lotion-like wash is formulated with three essential ceramides to help reinforce your skin’s barrier and lock in moisture without stripping skin or making your face feel tight after drying. The addition of hyaluronic acid helps to improve skin texture and keep it looking fresh, plump and ready to glow. And you can use it on your hands and body as well!

To call the Motif Plumping Phytoceramide Cleanser just a cleanser is like calling a gorgeous, gold dusted French macaron a cookie. The dermatologist-developed and tested formula, which has accurately been described as a “facial in a bottle,” turns washing your face into a mini ritual–with maximum payoff. Unlike a traditional cleanser which you wash right off, gently massage a thin layer all over your face and leave on for about 60 seconds. (Texturally, it reminds me of a whipped clay mask and leverages tiny bits of dried luffa fruits to help exfoliate.) As it sits, a collection of exotic, but effective ingredients go to work. Monkey fruit wood and fermented rice help brighten while white orchid and licorice root can assist in fading pigmentation. A powerhouse of pineapple ceramides plumps and hydrates, and what you’re left with is the softest skin you’ll get outside of time in your facialist’s chair.

For gentle exfoliation, we love these soft silicone scrubbies. They give your face a little massage and are super easy to clean. You can also use them to more effectively apply creams and serums!

If you’ve ever turned your face bright red trying to scrub off makeup that wouldn’t budge, please don’t do that again. You deserve better. You deserve this pile of ridiculously soft reusable cloths. Like mini minkey blankets, they can not only take your makeup off as gentle as kitty licks, they can do it with just water.

If you’ve spent even 30 seconds searching for face sunscreen, you’ve most definitely stumbled upon Supergoop. Their uber-popular formulas are a favorite among skincare addicts and novices alike with an ever-expanding lineup of sun-protective products. I’ve tried several, but my absolute favorite is the Unseen Sunscreen.

The silky gel-like formula glides on like nothing else, leaving a velvety finish that is somehow not at all drying. (Sorcery!) It leaves my skin perfectly primed for make-up and doesn’t come back to haunt me with grease or slippage when the temps rise throughout the day. It also blends seamlessly into all skin tones which (though all sunscreens should) is not often the case.

As a commerce editor and skincare enthusiast, I test an embarrassing amount of products–and very rarely does a brand stand out to me the way MDSolarSciences does. Their entire product line is developed by a dermatologist and made in small batches and there’s not a single one I haven’t been totally smitten with. I’d recommend any of their face sunscreens, but my ride or die is their Gleam+ Glow Sunscreen. The gentle formula gives me a healthy glow that’s not glittery or greasy–two no no’s I’ve encountered with other glow sunscreens.

It’s award-winning, it’s French, and it’s a whopping SPF 60. The La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Fluid Facial Sunscreen is a popular (and personal) favorite for all those reasons and more. It’s incredibly sheer and lightweight, never stings or irritates and doesn’t leave you feeling greasy at all either. The formula is on the thin side which helps it sink in super fast and since the applicator tip is quite small you don’t have to worry about too much coming out.

I’d also be remiss not to mention the award-winning Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex SPF 50. A viral favorite, I only recently gave the award-winning Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection formula a try and have to agree with every bit of hype. The lightweight mineral formula is made with their patented EnviroScreen Technology which blocks not only UVA and UVB rays but also helps defend skin against blue light, pollution and infared radiation. And while it comes out white, it’s packed with the tiniest iron oxide pigments that transform into color coverage which adapt to your skin tone. (It’s plain sorcery if you ask me!) I love the fresh-faced look it gives even without make-up over top and it’s not the least bit greasy or stingy. Choose from four different shades and per the brand’s recommendation, if you’re between shades, go lighter.

This fan favorite is gentle enough for sensitive skin but strong enough to give you that dewy glow. A 3-in-1 powerhouse, it uses pumpkin puree and enzymes along with Vitamins C and E to give you spa-like results right at home. It’s at once a peel, exfoliator and mask to smooth and tighten skin in just five minutes. It also smells as delicious as you’d expect!

This gentle cleansing oil easily melts away makeup while hydrating and helping balance the skin’s pH levels.

If your skin is in need of a quick pick-me-up, this exfoliating mask from Bliss is an affordable favorite. For those who grew up tormenting their skin with St. Ives Apricot scrub, consider this her more mature (and better informed) older sister. The gritty formula is powered by pumpkin puree and lemon and rice powder to slough off dry skin without being too abrasive. The results are instantly noticeable in both appearance and baby soft feel.

From the gorgeous packaging to the divine formulas, it’s not hard to fall in love with Versine. Launched by a mom who struggled to find clear guidance on what exactly was considered safe when it came to caring for her skin while pregnant, their multi-tasking Gentle Actives Clarity Crème-Serum addresses a host of common pregnancy and nursing-related skin issues without a drop of worry about the ingredients. The lightweight formula is really a hybrid between a traditional serum and a moisturizer and meant to be used AM and PM to refine and moisturize with pregnancy-safe and efficient ingredients like vitamin c, kakadu plum, niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate and squalane. (If you’re battling oily or acne-prone skin, opt for the Gentle Actives Clarity Crème-Serum + Azelaic Acid formula instead!) Besides the fact it offers your skin exactly what it needs to stay balanced and happy, we LOVE that it’s truly scentless. And just because they’re made with pregnant moms in mind, they’re a great option for any stage!

The all-in-one Mountain Glow Serum from Ursa Major is like superfood for your face. Launched this summer, it’s a true powerhouse that we’ve been hooked on since the first application. The expertly-crafted formula is packed with 44 clean active ingredients you’ve probably never even heard of including Star-Tipped Lichen, Honey Locust Seed and Golden Aspen Bark to smooth away those fine lines, gently exfoliate and nourish skin day or night. The cream to oil consistency is easily absorbed and can even help restore and repair your skin barrier. The result? A truly glowing complexion that is bound to get you more than a few compliments.

I’ve been guilty of overcomplicating my skincare routine when the weather changes. But the truth is, my face is so much happier when I keep things simple–which is only one of the reasons I love the recently launched Dualist Balancing Oil Serum. The thoughtfully-formulated powerhouse soothes, smooths, and softens thanks to botanical ingredients like avocado, jojoba and pataua oils as well as low molecular hyaluronic acid. It sinks in beautifully and leaves my skin feeling insanely soft and supple all day long without being greasy or heavy. Most days, it’s the only product I use besides face wash and sunscreen and haven’t been this happy with my skin in ages. In fact, it gives a lovely glow that I’m now totally addicted to.

I’ve slathered my face with everything from $300 serums to drug store moisturizers and can tell you that spending more doesn’t always equal better results. Case in point? The $10.90 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil from The Ordinary. I started using it several months ago after a terrible eczema flare sent me into an internet rabbit hole. Turns out, rose hip seed oil is a real powerhouse. Not only is it gentle on sensitive skin, but it’s also loaded with essential fatty acids and vitamins such as A, C, and E that hydrate, plump, repair, and brighten skin. Even at my skin’s worst, it didn’t burn and as soon as the flare passed, my skin literally looked better than ever. I’m on my second bottle now and expect I’ll keep it in my routine for a long, long time.