Autumn skin care - How to look after your skin as the weather turns cooler

Autumn is now in full flow, the days are starting to feel cooler and the weather has turned more autumnal, although the thought of pumpkin spice everything, cosy jumpers, and bonfires night may feel you with excitement, autumn is less than good news for your skin. 

These seasonal changes can have a huge affect on our skin, so now is the time to take your skin care routine up a notch and prepare your skin for the cold months ahead.

How Autumn Effects our Skin

During the summer our skin can get damaged due to overexposure to the sun, leaving skin feeling dry and dehydrated, then when autumn begins, and it starts getting colder the first thing that we do is crank up the central heating and start layering up, this makes dry skin worse. 

Autumn is the time to start prepping your skin for the cold harsh winter months and to give it a little TLC after the hot summer. Keeping hydrated is very important, you should be consuming at least eight glasses of water every day, this will flush toxins and give you a glowing complexion. As for your skincare routine, you should be hydrating, treating, and protecting your skin.

Exfoliate and Moisturise

Exfoliating is an important part of your autumn skincare routine, using a natural organic facial exfoliator containing sugar or apricot seed powder will be gentle on skin. 

Exfoliants remove dirt and dead skin cells that make your skin appear lacklustre. You should be exfoliating your skin twice a week during the autumn to boost cellular regeneration, it will also help creams and serums absorb more efficiently into your skin.

Invest in a good moisturiser, avoid anything that contains alcohol which strips precious moisture from your skin making it dry and itchy. Facial oils are good to use under your moisturiser, choose organic products that contain plant oils such as evening primrose, rosehip, and sweet almond oil. 

These oils will form a protective barrier on your skin, protecting it from cold harsh autumn and winter conditions, locking in moisture for longer. A rich moisturiser will feed your skin, apply all over face and neck, and let it work its magic!

Hands and Lips

Lips and hands really suffer during autumn and winter, as they are constantly exposed to the elements. Exposure to wind, cold, and dry air can be harsh, so protecting them is important.  Investing in a good lip balm and hand cream will protect and nourish dry sensitive skin.

For your lips, balm that contains natural butter, oils and waxes such as beeswax, will repair dry chapped skin and moisturise to protect against further damage. You can use the balm on its own or under lipstick. 

Hands are often neglected in our skincare routines. The New Forest says, “Our hands regularly get overlooked despite being frequently exposed to the elements, and we often neglect them when it comes to skincare. 

Because the skin on your hands doesn't produce as much natural oil as the rest of your body, this area is much more prone to dryness, especially in colder weather. Make sure to invest in rich, buttery hand cream, and you’ll reap the benefits.”