Transitioning Your Skincare for Fall

As the days grow colder and the air becomes drier, your skin needs a little extra care to stay resilient, hydrated, and luminous. After more than 20 years in aesthetics, I’ve learned that adjusting your skincare routine with the seasons is not optional, it’s essential. The shift from summer to fall is one of the trickiest transitions: your skin is still recovering from sun exposure yet already beginning to feel the pull of cooler, drier air.

Below are my top three ZO Skin Health medical-grade products to help you navigate that transition gracefully. Use them thoughtfully, and your skin (and neck) will thank you.

1. ZO Exfoliating Polish

Why I love it: In fall, dead skin can accumulate more readily as hydration wanes. Gentle but effective exfoliation is your best ally to keep the surface smooth, to maximize absorption of serums, and to promote radiance.

How I recommend using it: You need to exfoliate at least twice a week.  Starr at least 2 times per week (e.g. Tuesday and Friday), after cleansing but before applying any actives or serums, apply a thin layer of ZO Exfoliating Polish. Gently massage over damp skin (avoiding the eye area) for about 30–60 seconds, then rinse thoroughly. Eventually you can build up to exfoliate daily! I prefer in the morning as it gives me a glow for the day, but night time is also good.

Exfoliation primes the skin, helping your next steps (AOX serum, growth factors) penetrate more effectively but only if performed with care.

2. ZO AOX Serum

Why I love it: The ZO AOX (Antioxidant + Peptide) Serum works wonderfully in the morning to deliver lightweight hydration, a glow, and protection against oxidative stress. In fall, when UV is still present and environmental stressors (wind, pollution) intensify, AOX becomes even more critical.

How to use it:  This product is the last thing I use in the moring before I use my SPF. This also gives an immediate luminous and smooth finish to give you an extra glow of the day.

What it does for your skin: It helps maintain luminosity (a healthy “glow”), supports collagen, and helps quench free radicals.

As the air becomes drier, AOX provides a feather-light hydration without overwhelming the skin, allowing your skin to breathe while staying protected.

3. ZO Growth Factor Serum

Why I love it: Growth factors are the workhorses of skin repair, regeneration, and firmness. Many people neglect the neck, but this area often betrays age first. This serum helps maintain texture, resilience, and tone in both the face and neck.

How to use it: In your evening routine (after cleansing, after any lighter serums or actives), apply the Growth Factor Serum to your face, then extend downward and gently apply to your neck. Use upward strokes to encourage circulation.

Why include the neck: The neck has thinner skin, fewer oil glands, and is more exposed to movement, stress, and environmental damage. Consistently applying growth factors here will help delay sagging, fine lines, and crepey texture.

Even though fall nights may be cool and tempting to skip care, your skin (and neck) is actively repairing overnight, this serum supports that essential regeneration.

Transitioning your skincare as the season changes is not just a trend, it’s smart dermatologic care. Over my two decades in this field, I’ve seen countless clients make the mistake of “freezing” their summer routine into fall, only to find their skin goes haywire. By incorporating these three ZO Skin Health products, the Exfoliating Polish, AOX Serum, and Growth Factor Serum applied mindfully you give your skin the tools to adapt, recover, and glow all season long.

If you’re unsure how to adjust around treatments you’re doing (lasers, peels, injectables) or you have sensitive/reactive skin, always reach out so I can personalize your plan. Your skin is dynamic; your routine should be, too.

Best,

Dr. Kathryn Wentworth