It’s that sad time of year again as autumn approaches and we’re forced to swap out our togs and sunnies for jackets and jeans. But it’s not just the clothes that are due for a change, as a new season brings new conditions for our skin, we need to change up in our skincare routines.
Just like poor nutrition, dehydration, stress and inadequate skincare; environmental factors like harsh weather conditions and seasonal changes are strong factors that can cause havoc with your skin. It’s crucial to adjust your skincare routine to accommodate these changes.
Regardless of how good your summer routines have been, you’re going to have to get your skin prepped for the cooler weather and use the change of season as an opportunity to combat the harsh impacts of lazy days in the summer sun. From repairing dry skin to combatting summer pigmentation, we’ve got some tips that will help restore your skin and keep it hydrated for the months ahead.
1. Cover up your skin
High exposure to the sun is likely to lead to redness, peeling, or skin issues including age spots and hyper pigmentation, so it’s important to remember that sunscreen is a daily essential. Despite the fading sunshine and heat, rays from the sun remain present in full force – don't be fooled! These rays are just as damaging as they are in summer, so protecting your skin using a broad-spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen is critical. Applying this protection to your skin on a daily basis will block the harmful UVA and UVB rays that lead to hyperpigmentation.
2. Change up your products
Much like you wouldn’t survive in your singlet and thongs in the cold weather, you don’t want to keep using your light-weight skincare products as the temperature cools. Try swapping your products out for those with more hydrating, rich formulas to provide daily nourishment to the face, hands and neck. Moisturising daily can stop your skin from looking dull, and get it looking (and feeling!) smooth and supple.
3. Pump up your skin renewal
The cooler months have a tendency to slow our skin shedding process down, often leaving our skin feeling dry and rough. If you aren’t exfoliating regularly, you may accumulate dry and flaky skin which can lead to clogged pores. To increase the speed of skin cell renewal and rejuvenate the skin on your face and neck, we suggest keeping up a regular exfoliation routine. We recommend exfoliating 3 times a week in the cooler months to really give your skin the boost it needs to stay fresh and hydrated. Using a gentle AHA enzyme exfoliant like ours will rid the skin of nasties and help speed up your skin cell renewal process without causing damage or sensitivity to the skin’s surface.
We also recommend investing time into microdermabrasion treatments throughout the cooler months for the extra boost. Try to find a microdermabrasion treatment comprising of cleansing, exfoliation, an AHA/BHA mask, extractions, nourishment, hydration and protection. This dynamic combination will stimulate collagen renewal, help with the removal of dead cells and hydrate the skin.
4. Hydrate
As we know, the cooler months dry out our skin. To combat the increased dryness, we recommend incorporating a hydrating serum and hydration mask into your autumn skincare routine to keep your skin bright and radiant.
Doing a mask weekly will ensure your skin is looking hydrated all season long. A hydration mask is also a really great treatment to do before big events, when you want that extra glow!
Our facial mask contains kaolin clay, hempseed oil and lactic acid which all work together to reduce oil production which can lead to breakouts, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and other signs of ageing and hydrates the skin. Simply apply a smooth film to a clean face and neck, then leave it on for twenty minutes or until set and semitransparent. Rinse thoroughly with warm water to reveal a soft and nourished complexion.
5. Observe how your skin changes
The most crucial thing to remember is that your skin type changes with the seasons. While your skin might be oily in summer, the autumn may cause it to become dryer. Taking notice of these changes will ensure you tackle changing skin problems early, and can prevent long-term skin damage from occurring.