A fall skin reset for after the long, sun-soaked summer: slough, replenish, hydrate—and then a few makeup go-tos I’m reaching for all season.
I spent the summer in Europe, and my skin has the receipts. Months of salt water, late dinners, long-haul flights and a truly committed relationship with the sun will do that. It was worth every freckle. But somewhere between unpacking and the first cool morning back home, I looked in the mirror and thought: it’s time.
Fall has always felt like the real new year to me. The light gets softer, the pace slows down, and there’s a pull toward ritual again.
So this month’s edit is a skin one, built around three things my skin was asking for: lifting away what summer left behind, putting moisture back, and keeping it there. And because a new season deserves a new face, I finished with the fall makeup I’m actually wearing.
Everything here is something I’d hand to a friend. Where I have a code for you, I’ve shared it.
The Edit at a Glance
RESET
Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask · HigherDOSE Daily Dose Ritual · OSEA Salts of the Earth Body Scrub · Colorescience Barrier Pro 1-Step Cleanser
REPLENISH
OSEA Undaria Algae Body Butter · CLEARSTEM Skin Perfecting Duo · Westman Atelier Petite Activator Duo · CLEARSTEM HYDRAGLOW · Colorescience Face Shield Flex SPF 50 · Primally Pure Holiday Body Wash · Glasshouse Fragrances Kyoto in Bloom
FALL MAKEUP GO-TOS
Gisou Honey Glaze Collagen Therapy Lip Mask · Gisou Lip Oil in Cherry Chocolate · rhode Highlight Milk in 04 · Primally Pure Lip + Cheek Tint in Cinnamon · Westman Atelier The Eyeshadow Holiday Edit · Nailberry Pumpkin Pie
CODES
DWELL10 — 10% off at OSEA
DwellRefine — 15% off sitewide at HigherDOSE, excluding bundles, subscriptions and full saunas
First, the Reset
Summer skin is layered skin: sunscreen, salt, a tan that’s starting to go patchy. Before anything hydrating can do its job, the old has to go.
Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask
If October had a face mask, this is it. It’s made with real pumpkin purée and smells exactly like you hope it will. Underneath the cozy part is a serious three-in-one resurfacing treatment.
Why you’ll love it
- Best for: Dull, congested post-summer skin
- What it does: Exfoliates, resurfaces + physically polishes
- Key ingredients: Pumpkin enzymes, AHAs, vitamins C + E
- How I use it: Once a week when my skin is looking flat after travel
- The result: Noticeably smoother, brighter skin—the kind of glow that makes you want to skip foundation
Good to know: It’s a strong one. Start with a few minutes and follow with SPF the next morning.
HigherDOSE Daily Dose Ritual
For the body, I’ve gone back to dry brushing, and honestly, it’s the ritual I missed most while living out of a suitcase.
The Daily Dose Ritual pairs HigherDOSE’s Supercharge Copper Dry Brush with its Daily Body Oil. The brush is made with beechwood, soft horsehair and rows of fine copper bristles, so it gives you a proper exfoliation without feeling scratchy.
Why you’ll love it
- Best for: Dry, dull body skin that needs a reset
- What it does: Physically exfoliates + preps skin for body oil
- The ritual: Dry brush, shower, then massage in the oil
- Time commitment: About five minutes
- The result: Softer, smoother-looking skin with that post-summer glow
How I Dry Brush
- Start with a light, gentle pump at the lymph nodes: ankles, behind the knees, groin, armpits, above the collarbone, up the neck and under the jaw.
- Brush upward from the feet in long, gentle strokes, covering the front, back and sides of each leg.
- Circle clockwise on the stomach.
- Finish with the arms, brushing up toward the armpits.
- Shower, then massage in the body oil following the same path.
HigherDOSE also describes the copper bristles as ion-charged and energy-balancing. I can’t speak to the ions, but I can speak to the glow. On rushed mornings, the oil alone after a shower still does plenty.
Dwell Refine perk: Use DwellRefine for 15% off sitewide at HigherDOSE, excluding bundles, subscriptions and full saunas.
OSEA Salts of the Earth Body Scrub
Not a dry brusher? This is the lower-effort route to the same place—and honestly, I alternate between the two.
Why you’ll love it
- Best for: Rough, dry or flaky body skin
- What it does: Buffs away roughness while putting moisture back
- Key ingredients: Mineral-rich salts, shea butter + wild Gigartina seaweed
- The texture: Starts rich, then transforms into a gentle exfoliator as you work it in
- The scent: Soft, dreamy lavender
- The result: Smooth skin without that squeaky, stripped feeling
This is Sunday-night-bath material.
Dwell Refine perk: Use DWELL10 for 10% off.
Shop Osea Salts of the Earth Body Scrub
Colorescience Barrier Pro 1-Step Cleanser
The unglamorous hero of any reset is a good cleanse. And anyone who wears zinc daily knows that removing mineral sunscreen in one step is no small thing.
Why you’ll love it
- Best for: Daily cleansing, especially if you wear mineral SPF or makeup
- What it does: Removes makeup + sunscreen while gently exfoliating and hydrating
- Barrier bonus: Designed to support the skin barrier and microbiome rather than leaving skin feeling stripped
- Why I reach for it: One step at the sink and skin is ready for everything that comes next
Shop Barrier Pro 1-Step Cleanser
Then, replenish
Freshly exfoliated skin is thirsty skin. This is the part of the edit I care about most, because hydration is what makes everything else look good.
OSEA Undaria Algae Body Butter in Bergamot & Vanilla Bean
OSEA’s bestselling body butter, dressed for fall.
The limited-edition scent blends creamy vanilla bean, tonka and just enough bergamot to keep it from going too sweet. It smells like the first night you light a candle and put on a sweater.
Why you’ll love it
- Best for: Dry, crepey or post-summer body skin
- What it does: Deeply hydrates + helps skin look firmer
- The texture: Ultra-rich, but absorbs quickly
- The scent: Bergamot + vanilla bean with warm tonka
- How I use it: Straight out of the shower, especially on shins, elbows and anywhere my tan is fading unevenly
- The claim: OSEA’s clinical testing reports hydration for up to 72 hours
Good to know: Because the ingredients are naturally derived, the color can vary slightly from jar to jar. It’s also limited edition, so this isn’t one I’d wait on if the scent is calling your name.
Dwell Refine perk: Use DWELL10 for 10% off your order.
CLEARSTEM Skin Perfecting Duo
If I had to rebuild a face routine from two products, it would be this pair.
GENTLECLEAN Barrier Cleanser washes away makeup and the day while adding hydration back, so skin never gets that tight, squeaky feeling. BOUNCEBACK “No Tox” Serum is the step after: a plumping serum aimed at fine lines and the dark spots a summer in the sun tends to leave behind.
Why you’ll love it
- Best for: Skin that looks tired, dehydrated or uneven after summer
- The duo: GENTLECLEAN Barrier Cleanser + BOUNCEBACK “No Tox” Serum
- What it does: Cleanses without stripping, then targets fine lines, plumping + dark spots
- The claim: CLEARSTEM reports visibly reduced fine lines and plumper, more radiant skin in a 28-day clinical study
- My take: On my own face, this is the duo that made skin look rested again
Good to know: The study included 30 women with moderate to severe wrinkles and was conducted by the brand. I like that they tell you exactly what it was.
Westman Atelier The Petite Activator Duo
The one I wish I’d had in my carry-on all summer.
This is a travel-sized pair of all-in-one serums, one for face and one for eyes, packed with 12 potent-yet-gentle actives and no fragrance.
Why you’ll love it
- Best for: Travel, streamlined routines + trying the line before committing to full sizes
- Skin Activator: Softens lines, firms + hydrates
- Eye Activator: Brightens, depuffs + firms
- The claim: The brand points to visible results in four weeks
- How I use it: Skin Activator on cleansed skin before moisturizer; Eye Activator tapped gently upward along the under-eye and brow bone
It’s a whole routine in two small bottles.
CLEARSTEM HYDRAGLOW Plant Stem Cell Moisturizer
For the face, I wanted something that hydrates without undoing the work of the mask.
HYDRAGLOW is a lightweight daily moisturizer designed with both breakouts and aging in mind, which is a rare combination and exactly where a lot of us live in our thirties.
Why you’ll love it
- Best for: Skin that needs hydration without a heavy feel
- What it does: Hydrates, plumps + supports smoother-looking skin
- Key ingredients: Bakuchiol, plant stem cells + squalane
- When to use it: Morning and night, after serums and before SPF
- The claim: CLEARSTEM says skin looks visibly plumper within a week
It’s the quiet workhorse of this edit.
Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex SPF 50
The step that protects all the others.
After exfoliating, skin is more vulnerable to the sun, and the fall light is softer, but it still counts. Face Shield Flex combines 100% mineral SPF 50 protection with tint and medium coverage.
Why you’ll love it
- Best for: Anyone who wants sunscreen + complexion coverage in one step
- Protection: SPF 50 / PA++++ with zinc oxide for UVA + UVB
- Also helps protect against: Blue light with iron oxides + pollution with antioxidants
- The finish: Hydrating, tinted + medium coverage
- Why I reach for it: Encapsulated pigments adjust to your skin tone as you blend, so most days this is my base and sunscreen in one
- Bonus: Non-comedogenic, suitable for sensitive skin + 40 minutes of water and sweat resistance
Wear it alone or under foundation when you want more coverage.
Shop Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield
Primally Pure Holiday Body Wash
Yes, it’s a little early for holiday. But we all could use some festivity.
This creamy, low-suds body wash cleans without stripping, which matters once the heating goes on and skin starts to feel tight.
Why you’ll love it
- Best for: Dry fall and winter skin
- What it does: Cleanses without stripping + helps restore moisture
- Skin focus: Formulated to support the skin barrier and microbiome
- The scent: Icy sweet mint against warm, toasty vanilla
- The experience: A cool tingle that makes a morning shower feel like a small event
Glasshouse Fragrances Kyoto in Bloom
Cozy and warming, but still clean.
Kyoto in Bloom is an amber floral built around camellia and lotus, opening bright with citrus and a little pineapple before settling into sandalwood, amber, vanilla and tonka.
Why you’ll love it
- The scent: Warm amber floral
- The notes: Camellia, lotus, citrus, pineapple, sandalwood, amber, vanilla + tonka
- The vibe: Cozy and warming without feeling heavy
- My pick: The 14mL Eau de Parfum
- Why I love it: The smaller size slips straight into a purse or carry-on
After a summer of traveling light, a fragrance you can take everywhere feels like the right kind of luxury.
Good to know: The Kyoto in Bloom Body Bar recently caught Allure’s attention in the Best of Beauty Awards.
The Fall Makeup Go-Tos
My fall face is really just good skin with a little warmth on top. A small lineup, most of it doing double duty as skincare.
Gisou Honey Glaze Collagen Therapy Lip Mask
A buttery lip mask powered by Mirsalehi honey, collagen actives, ceramides and hyaluronic acid. The honey buttercream scent is a little dangerous.
Why you’ll love it
- Best for: Dry lips that need more than a basic balm
- What it does: Soothes + supports the lip barrier
- Key ingredients: Mirsalehi honey, collagen actives, ceramides + hyaluronic acid
- The finish: A glossy, glazed shine
- How I use it: Overnight and again under everything during the day
Good to know: It’s limited edition and only at Sephora.
Shop Gisou Cherry Chocolate Lip Mask
Gisou Honey Infused Hydrating Lip Oil in Cherry Chocolate
The shade name alone is fall.
Cherry Chocolate is a deep, wearable berry-brown in a high-shine, non-sticky oil. This will be the one living in my coat pocket.
Why you’ll love it
- The shade: Deep berry-brown
- The finish: High shine without the sticky feel
- Key ingredients: Mirsalehi honey, bee garden oils + hyaluronic acid
- What it does: Adds rich fall color while keeping lips hydrated
- Why I’m wearing it: It gives you that fall lip without committing to a full lipstick
Good to know: It’s limited edition and exclusive to Sephora.
rhode Highlight Milk in 04, Pearly Rich Bronze
A way to hold on to the summer glow without faking a tan.
Highlight Milk is a hybrid luminizer made with rhode’s Glazing Milk formula, so it hydrates while leaving a soft, pearly shimmer.
Why you’ll love it
- The shade: 04, Pearly Rich Bronze
- The finish: Soft, pearly + dimensional
- What it does: Hydrates while adding warm bronze glow
- How I use it: A few drops tapped onto bare skin over skincare and under SPF
- Try it this way: Mix it into whatever you’re already wearing for an all-over glow
Primally Pure Lip + Cheek Tint SPF 15 in Cinnamon
One swipe for lips and cheeks, with light mineral sun protection built in.
Cinnamon is the warm, spiced shade I want on my face right now. It’s the definition of a simplified morning.
Why you’ll love it
- Best for: Quick, low-maintenance fall makeup
- The shade: Warm, spiced Cinnamon
- The finish: A soft, natural flush
- Key ingredients: Grass-fed tallow, non-nano zinc oxide + antioxidants
- Bonus: SPF 15 mineral sun protection for lips + cheeks
It’s also a quiet reminder that SPF doesn’t end with summer.
Shop Lip + Cheek Tint SPF 15 in Cinnamon
Westman Atelier The Eyeshadow Holiday Edit
This is exactly how I like my eyes in the colder months: soft, warm and a little bit lit up for dinner.
Why you’ll love it
- The shades: Supremely wearable neutrals + one pop of festive shimmer
- The vibe: Soft, warm + polished
- Why I like it: It’s the kind of palette where you actually use every shade
- Good to know: The formula is made without talc, silicones or synthetic fragrance
- Availability: Limited edition
Shop The Eyeshadow Holiday Edit
Nailberry L’Oxygéné in Pumpkin Pie
Every fall edit needs a nail color, and this spiced terracotta is mine.
It’s an earthy, opaque orange that reads warm rather than loud—lovely as a full manicure or just on the tips.
Why you’ll love it
- The shade: Warm, spiced terracotta
- The finish: Earthy + opaque
- How I wear it: Full manicure or just on the tips
- The formula: 21-free, vegan, cruelty-free + breathable
- For longer wear: Finish with Nailberry’s Shine & Breathe Top Coat
The formula glides on in one precise sweep, and Nailberry describes its L’Oxygéné polishes as oxygenated and water permeable.
Fall Skin, Answered
How should I change my skincare routine for fall?
Shift from protecting to repairing. Exfoliate gently to lift away summer buildup, then focus on richer hydration for face and body as the air gets drier. Keep wearing SPF.
How do I get rid of dry, dull skin after summer?
Use an exfoliating mask on the face once a week—I like the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask—and dry brush the body before showering. Follow both with moisture right away.
How often should I dry brush?
A few minutes before your shower, as often as daily if your skin tolerates it. Always brush on dry skin, upward toward the heart, with light pressure. Skip it on irritated, broken or very sensitive skin.
What’s the best body moisturizer for fall?
I’m using OSEA’s Undaria Algae Body Butter in the limited-edition Bergamot & Vanilla Bean scent. It’s rich, absorbs quickly, and OSEA’s clinical testing reports hydration for up to 72 hours. Use DWELL10 for 10% off.
Do I still need SPF in the fall?
Yes, especially after exfoliating. A tinted mineral sunscreen like Colorescience Face Shield Flex SPF 50 doubles as your base, and Primally Pure’s Lip + Cheek Tint SPF 15 covers lips and cheeks.
What are the Dwell Refine discount codes in this edit?
DWELL10 for 10% off at OSEA.
DwellRefine for 15% off sitewide at HigherDOSE, excluding bundles, subscriptions and full saunas.
Here’s to slower mornings, softer skin and the season that always feels like a beginning.
With love,
Codi
