7 CHANGES YOUR ROUTINE ACTUALLY NEEDS
There is something about September that makes us want to change everything. The clothes start changing, the colors get deeper, pumpkin spice starts popping up everywhere, and suddenly we are convinced that our entire beauty routine needs an overhaul. It doesn't.
Your skin does not know that Labor Day has passed, and your makeup bag doesn't need to be thrown away because summer is over. But after months of heat, humidity, sun exposure, sweating, swimming, protective styles and all the other things that come with summer, there are a few changes worth making.
Think of it as a reset, not a reinvention.
Here are seven changes your beauty routine may actually need as we head into fall.
1. Bring the Moisture Back
Summer beauty is usually all about keeping things light. Lightweight moisturizers, gels and anything that won't feel like it's melting off our faces by noon. But as the weather starts cooling down and the air becomes drier, your skin may start asking for a little more.
That doesn't mean you need to slather the heaviest cream you can find onto your face. Pay attention to your skin first. If it starts feeling tight after cleansing, looks dull or suddenly feels dry in places that weren't dry a month ago, it may be time to increase the hydration.
A good fall moisturizer should help support your skin barrier while keeping moisture where it belongs. Look for ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin and niacinamide.
TRY THIS: CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream
At about $21.99, this is a solid mid-priced option without wandering into luxury-skincare territory. It contains hyaluronic acid, three essential ceramides and peptides and is formulated to help lock in moisture and support the skin barrier overnight.
Shop CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream
And remember, more expensive does not automatically mean better. Your skin cares about the formula, not the logo on the jar.
2. Exfoliate the Summer Away, But Don't Get Carried Away
Between sunscreen, sweat, makeup and everything else we've put our skin through this summer, September is a good time to address dullness and uneven texture. But some of y'all exfoliate like you're trying to remove an entire layer of your face.
Please stop. Over-exfoliating can leave the skin irritated and compromise the very barrier you're trying to repair. Start slowly, particularly if you're introducing an acid into your routine.
BUDGET BEAUTY PICK: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner
At around $9, this one proves again that effective skincare doesn't have to cost a small fortune. The 7% glycolic acid formula exfoliates the surface of the skin.
Shop The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner
If you've never used chemical exfoliants before, you do not have to jump straight into frequent use. Give your skin time to tell you what it can tolerate.
3. Don't Put the Sunscreen Away
This one needs its own section because some of us act like sunscreen expires on September 1st. It doesn't.
UVA and UVB exposure doesn't disappear because you traded your sandals for boots. Sunscreen should remain part of your morning skincare routine throughout fall and winter, particularly if you're using exfoliating acids, retinoids or products targeting hyperpigmentation. And yes, Black and Brown skin needs sunscreen too.
Melanin doesn't make us immune to sun damage. And if you're already trying to correct the appearance of dark spots and uneven pigmentation, sun protection deserves a permanent place in the routine.
Look for a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher that works with your skin type and, most importantly, one you'll actually wear consistently. If your sunscreen leaves you looking like you've been dusted in flour, keep looking. There are too many options available now for us to still be walking around with that gray cast.
4. Give Your Hair Some Post-Summer Attention
We spend so much time talking about transitioning our skincare into fall that our hair sometimes gets forgotten.
Sun exposure, swimming, heat styling, braids, wigs, sew-ins and protective styles can all leave hair needing some attention by September. This is the perfect time to take inventory.
Does your hair need moisture? A trim? Less heat? Is your scalp dry? Have you been keeping that protective style in a little longer than you know you should? You know the answer.
BUDGET PICK: Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Hair Masque
At about $9.99, this nutrient-rich masque is formulated to provide deep moisture for dry hair and contains ingredients including rosemary, honey and coconut oil.
Shop Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Hair Masque
ANOTHER QSM PICK: SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Masque
This is another option for dry or damaged hair that needs a serious moisture moment. SheaMoisture describes it as an intensive conditioning treatment particularly suited for thirsty, curly, over-processed, damaged or color-treated hair.
Shop SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Masque
But remember: products cannot repair split ends. Sometimes the beauty treatment you actually need is an appointment with the scissors.
5. Let Your Makeup Get a Little Moodier
Now THIS is where fall gets fun. You don't need to replace your entire makeup collection when the seasons change. Sometimes changing two or three things can completely shift your look.
Trade that bright summer pink for a berry, wine, chocolate or deep nude lip. Try a warm terracotta or plum blush. Pull out the chocolate-brown liner instead of automatically reaching for black. And don't be afraid of a little bronze around the eyes.
Fall makeup doesn't have to mean a full beat every day either. Beautiful skin, groomed brows, mascara and a rich lip can do all the talking.
SAVE: NYX Professional Makeup Fat Oil Lip Drip
At $10, NYX's Fat Oil Lip Drip gives you the high-shine look of a gloss with the conditioning benefits of a lip oil. It's currently available in 22 shades, making this an easy place to experiment with your fall lip without spending a lot.
SPLURGE A LITTLE: Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shine Gloss Stick
If you want more pigment, Fenty's Gloss Bomb Stix gives you medium, buildable color with serious shine. The formula includes squalane, vitamin E and shea butter. And for fall, shades like Hot Chocolit and Black'r Berry are definitely worth a look.
Shop Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Stix - A chocolate, berry or deep neutral shade instantly says fall without requiring you to learn an entirely new makeup routine.
6. Don't Forget the Skin Below Your Neck
Facial skincare gets all the glory, but your face isn't the only skin you have. And we're going to talk about something beauty magazines don't discuss nearly enough: folds, friction and sweat.
For many plus-size women, under-breast sweat, thigh chafing, irritation where skin rubs together and moisture trapped in folds are year-round concerns—not just summer problems. Cooler weather doesn't necessarily make them disappear, especially once we're layering clothes.
The goal is not to be embarrassed by what bodies naturally do. The goal is to keep your skin comfortable.
Keep areas clean and thoroughly dry, moisturize where appropriate and pay attention to recurring irritation instead of simply covering it up.
QSM BEAUTY PICK: Megababe Thigh Rescue Anti-Friction Stick
This one is specifically made to help prevent the friction that happens when thighs rub together, and the balm-like formula is designed to glide over the skin.
ANOTHER OPTION: Dove Whole Body Deo Anti-Chafe Stick
Dove's Whole Body Deo line includes an anti-chafe stick that combines odor control with friction protection. The brand says the stick can be used on areas such as the thighs, underarms and toes where friction occurs.
One important note: persistent rashes, broken skin, significant discoloration, itching, pain or recurring irritation shouldn't simply be treated as a cosmetic issue. That's when it's time to talk to a dermatologist or healthcare professional.
7. Clean Out That Beauty Bag
Be honest. How long has that mascara been in there? September is a perfect time to do a beauty-bag audit. Throw away products that smell different, have changed texture or color, or have been hanging around much longer than recommended after opening.
And while you're at it, wash your makeup brushes. Yes, today!
Brushes and sponges collect makeup, oils and debris with repeated use, so keeping your tools clean needs to be part of your beauty routine, not something you remember to do twice a year.
This is also a good time to stop buying products simply because TikTok told you to. Take inventory before you shop. You may already own three versions of the exact thing you're about to buy.
Fall Beauty Doesn't Require a Whole New You
Here's the thing about seasonal beauty that we sometimes forget: you don't have to become a different woman every three months. Fall doesn't require a new face, a 12-step skincare routine or a $400 beauty haul.
Pay attention to what changed over the summer. Give your skin some moisture back. Show your hair a little love. Keep wearing your sunscreen. Clean out that makeup bag. Pull out a gorgeous deep lip and keep it moving.
Beauty should be something we enjoy, not another impossible standard we're constantly trying to keep up with.
So as we fall back into beauty this season, don't ask yourself what the internet says you need.
Take a look in the mirror, pay attention to what your body is telling you and ask a much better question:
What does my beauty routine actually need right now?
Chances are, it's a lot less than you think.
