A new season can call for a rethink of our beauty routines and there’s no better time than when we kiss those hot, humid, summer days goodbye and move to misty, mellow mornings.
I am here to take the guesswork out of your beauty routine with these autumnal tips and advice.
Exfoliate for a brighter, smoother you
Exfoliation removes dead cells, revealing a bright, more even-toned complexion. It also improves the efficiency and penetration of your skincare products, such as serums and moisturisers.
Throughout the summer months the melanin in your skin is over stimulated from stronger UV rays, this creates a build of pigmentation on the skin. You may have pulled back on the exfoliating acids and retinols during these months as your skin is more sun sensitive so now is the time to reintroduce those active ingredients back into your routine.
Twice a week is usually enough for your face and neck if you are using a specific exfoliant but my personal preference is for a gentler chemical exfoliant like PHA gluconolactone over harsh scrubs. What's more, this ingredient is usually found in daily cleansers so can be used all year round, no need to be spending more money on additional products for your shelves.
Don’t stop at your face and neck. If your routine doesn’t already include a top-to-toe exfoliation now is the perfect time to start. A couple of times each week buff away those rough patches on your arms, elbows, knees, back and legs or use a daily netted poof to wash with.
Follow by slathering on a deep body moisturiser to keep the dry skin hydrated and prolong that summer tan! Apply while your skin is still damp as this lets your skin capture and seal in the moisture more easily.
An Autumn glow
The combination of wet, windy weather, central heating and steaming hot showers can leave skin feeling drier, sensitivity and liable to breakouts, this is because of increased Trans Epidermal Water Loss and an impaired skin barrier. This is why it is important to consider switching your moisturiser to one which is thicker in consistency, contains more humectant ingredients to attract water along with nourishing shea butter, ceramides and squalane. As we head into winter, if your skin is sensitive and dry you may also with to add in a protective oil.
If this is something which confuses you and you could to check the current condition of your skin prior to winter, I happily help you with a Skin Analysis and Consultation.
Fall for sunscreen
Yep, just cause the sun has gone in, it does not mean I am going to stop banging on about applying your SPF, UV rays don’t take a season off and neither should your sunscreen.
As the days cool, sunscreen is your skin’s best friend. Now more than ever, when your skin is already compromised and protecting itself from the adverse weather conditions and cooling temperatures, it really doesn't need the extra hassle of fighting off UV radiation all alone. Wear SPF 30+ every day to protect your skin from the damaging and ageing effects of the sun.
This is especially important to help protect your skin when using any chemical exfoliators and retinol products which brings me neatly to…
Retinol for autumn skincare
Retinol can be a game changer for skin but can also be detrimental if used incorrectly.
It’s a form of vitamin A that speeds up skin cell turnover to improve texture, the appearance of fine lines and to brighten skin tone for a radiant autumn glow. It comes in different strengths and finding the right one for you will depend on your skin condition. The strongest form and one which is only available from prescribers is Tretinoin (if you are on Skin+Me this will most likely be in yours!) this is the queen of retinoids however, a new one on the block is Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR) which seems to a more gentle alternative. You can also use other ingredients such as NeoGlucosamine which is well tolerated for most skin types and has a similar effect on the skin with the added benefit of being a building block of skin's natural Hyaluronic Acid.
With all retinoids, they must be introduced to the skin gently, applying a few evenings a week initially and building up tolerability. Contrary to belief, you do not need to be using a Retinoid daily to get maximum results so if your skin is on the more sensitive side, applying it three times a week is more than sufficient. As it is an exfoliant It does make skin more sun sensitive, so autumn is the ideal time to start it.
Also good to know - Retinol does NOT thin the skin - more about this in a later blog post.
Time for a Treatment
Autumn is the perfect time for a professional treatment. I always recommend my clients come to see me when the seasons change, once now prior to winter to switch up products and to refresh the skin after sun exposure and another time in April/May to prepare the skin for summer. Now is the perfect time to begin those more invasive treatments as the UV levels are not as high so pose less of a risk post treatment.
IPL is great if you need to treat sun damage pigmentation spots. If your skin is prone to redness and you already have red thread veins present, this treatment is ideal to zap them away and take down underlying erythema prior to the colder months.
Skin tightening Radio Frequency and Microneedling are best done in these months and are the ultimate skin rejuvenation treatments. If your skin is lacking tone, fine lines and wrinkles are starting to appear these are the treatments for you.
I'd love to help
Need some expert skincare advice as autumn approaches? Book your professional consultation and we’ll chat through your concerns and make recommendations to best support your skin through the months ahead. Below are my top products to see you through the colder months.
Dermaviduals Cleanser (available in clinic only)
Neostrata Ultra Moisturising Cream (£37.30) or Dermaviduals High Classic Cream (clinic only)
Skinbetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream (clinic only)
Skinbetter Science Eventone SPF Compact (clinic only)