With the first cold weather, many rush to replace light creams with rich ones, but this is not always necessary. The main thing is to maintain hydration and protection for the skin, rather than adhering to stereotypes about the 'correct texture' for autumn.
Myth #1: In Autumn, Skin Requires Thick Creams
In fact, what is more important for the skin is deep hydration and maintaining the microbiome, rather than a thick texture. Cold wind and heating destroy the protective barrier, and the primary task is to help the skin retain moisture. Ceramides, peptides, and hyaluronic acid in light fluids, gels, or soufflé creams perform this just as well as in rich creams. Choose a texture based on your own feelings: do you feel comfortable after applying the product? If not, prefer lighter formulas.
Myth #2: Light Textures Do Not Protect Against Cold and Wind
The efficacy of a product depends not on its texture but on its composition. Modern gels and emulsions contain the same active ingredients as thick creams. A serum or cream-gel with niacinamide and squalane can provide the same protection as a thick balm, but without the feeling of a film on the skin.
Myth #3: Peeling Is a Signal That a Rich Cream Is Needed
Peeling indicates a disruption of the skin's barrier function, not a lack of nourishment. Sometimes, it is enough to add an essence with panthenol or a toner with sodium lactate. A thick cream may only temporarily mask the problem but will not solve it. However, this does not exclude the use of rich textures where they are truly needed.
Who Should Use Thick Creams
Thick textures are relevant under certain circumstances:
- Mature skin after 45–50 years, when natural lipid production slows down;
- Residents of cold climates and windy regions who need creams with glycerin, waxes, and oils;
- People with atopic skin during flare-ups;
- Recovery after cosmetic procedures (laser resurfacing, chemical peels, aggressive cleansing).
In these cases, rich creams create a protective barrier and support skin recovery.
Time for Adaptation, Not Revolution
Autumn is a season for adaptation, not a complete change of skincare products. It is important to enhance antioxidant protection: vitamins C and E, ferulic acid, resveratrol, extracts of centella and green tea help neutralize free radicals and prevent dullness and pigmentation of the skin.
It is also important to support the microbiome: a balanced skin flora facilitates its adaptation to the cold. Use probiotic products and avoid aggressive cleansing: prefer hydrophilic balms, foams, and milks for washing.
And most importantly, autumn skincare should be flexible. On windy days, you can add a nourishing oil, while on office days, focus on hydration. Monitor your skin's reaction and adjust your ritual based on its actual needs, not the calendar.
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