Transitional dressing is synonymous with fall. It’s natural to swap out sunglasses and sandals for lug-sole boots, and cozy hats as the temperatures drop. Should our seasonal skin-care regimens follow the same logic as summer? Dr. Orit Markowitz, a board-certified dermatologist, helped us to find out.

Spoiler alert! It all depends.

Continue reading to find out how to care for your body as the seasons change and which products are worth buying.

Are We in Need Of A New Body-Care Program?

Dr. Markowitz offers a solution if you ever feel your skin is changing with the fall leaves. She says that while our skin doesn’t change, the seasons do. This impacts our skin and skin-care regimen. This is an important distinction.

This distinction is why not all people need a new skin care routine. Dr. Markowitz says that two factors are key to determining if you should change how you care for skin.

• Take into account your location

You’re less likely need to adjust if your climate is stable all year. Dr. Markowitz says that if the climate doesn’t change significantly throughout the year, it won’t affect your skin. If the climate changes, your body-care routine will need to change.

Dr. Markowitz says, “If you’re in the Northeast, for instance, then your skin is greatly affected by the season. Your skin-care regimen should be different in winter.”

• Take into account the humidity

Your dermis is affected by more factors than the temperature. It also depends on the humidity in the air. Dr. Markowitz says that humidity is a major factor in our skin’s health. “If your skin is exposed to cold winter temperatures and dry air, it will be more affected than someone who lives in tropical areas where the temperature is very high.”

Dr. Markowitz recommends that you adjust the type of body products as the temperature drops.

How to Care for Your Skin in Colder Seasons

You will need to use ceramides and humectants to keep your skin healthy in winter. Humectants, a type hydrating agent, transport moisture into the skin. Many moisturizers include humectants such as honey, glycerin and aloe vera.

Ceramides, which are naturally occurring lipids that help retain moisture in the skin, can be found in the skin. Your ceramides may need some replenishment if your skin becomes dry or irritated. To soothe your dry skin, look for moisturizers and creams that contain ceramides.

Dr. Markowitz suggests that oily skin avoid heavy, moisturizing ingredients. She says that a serum might be a better choice, even for winter skin. Dr. Markowitz recommends that anyone with extremely dry skin use “slugging.”

After applying a moisturizer or serum to the skin, the nighttime ritual involves an “occlusive”, which is another type of hydrating agent that creates a protective waterproof layer on the skin. Think about petrolatum and shea butter.

The Best Body Products for Colder Seasons

What is the bottom line? It can be beneficial to change your body-care routine, but make sure you tailor it according to your skin type and environment.

Here are five body products to keep your skin healthy this fall and winter.

• Buttah Skin Whipped Body Butter

Price – $29

Dry skin can be difficult to treat. It takes patience and lots of love. This organic, fatty-acid-rich body butter can restore your skin quickly. This unrefined, shea butter-based body butter is the ideal final step in a nighttime slugging routine.

• Dr. Barbara Sturm Anti-Aging Body Cream 200ml

Price – $95

For a brightening and hydrating boost, those with dull or dry skin should try Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Anti-Aging Body Cream. It contains glycerin (a moisturizer) and shea butter, an occlusive, as well as antioxidant-rich purslane and vitamin C. These ingredients combine to not only moisturize, but also exfoliate, and brighten the skin.

• Bella Aura Skincare Gravity Reverse Body Cream

Price – $90

We are all familiar with serums for our faces, but what about serums for our bodies? Yes. They’re a thing. The unique serum is nourishing and improves the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks with the help of a natural collagen booster made from South African succulents.

• Leland Francis The Rich Cream

Price – $89

Dr. Markowitz explained that ceramides are essential for the health and well-being of the epidermis. This vegan, clean-cut body cream has a ceramide rich formula that locks in moisture. It also contains avocado and tamanu oil to soften the skin and soothe.

• 54 Thrones Beldi Moroccan Body Mask

Price – $42

A body mask in the shower is a great way to start your skin’s hydration process if you have dry skin. This is a traditional Moroccan-style soap. It contains olive oil and eucalyptus to moisturize and soften your skin while you wash away the day.