
Have you noticed your skin feels different this month to how it felt six weeks ago?
The obvious visual differences could be the skin tone and colour if you have been away or tend to tan in the summer months. But perhaps you have noticed more dry skin particularly around the nose area? Or breakouts around the forehead and jaw line? Or rough skin around the neck area? Your hair could be looking dull and feeling lifeless and the skin on your body showing signs of dry skin or irritation.
As we transition from Summer to Autumn, we need to think about making a few tweaks to our skincare regime and general self care beauty routines.
Let’s start with the products we use from day to day. This applies to any product of any brand. Your skin's needs are not the same all year round, so we tend to change our products when we transition from hot weather into cold weather and then again from cold weather into the Summer months. This doesn’t mean throwing everything out and starting again, but for selected products it may be an idea to consider other options when they run out and need replacing next time.
Products
Cleansing
A cleansing oil is luxurious and warms easily to melt make up and dirt from the skin. This is favoured to ‘remove the day’ in the evening, while the lipids in the oil cleanse will nourish and hydrate the skin. In Autumn and Winter, we tend to have fewer layers of suncream and sweat build up throughout the day, so we don’t necessarily need quite such an invasive cleanse. The cleanser will not need to work so hard. Always double cleanse in the evening. Once to remove the day and once to cleanse the skin. Remove your cleanser with a wet, warm (not too hot or cold) flannel and pat dry.
A morning option for a cleanser would be a gentle cream or calming foam (as long as the foam is soap free so it is pH balanced!) The morning cleanse is to simply wash away the night before and remove your night serums, so a single cleanse is usually sufficient.
Exfoliating
We should exfoliate regularly, all year round, but it is common to get out of the habit in the middle of the summer for risk of ‘removing’ the tan. In our 20s, the skin cell turnover takes around 28 days, meaning we reveal fresh skin on the surface around once a month. As we age, this process slows down to 40+ days. Our skin needs a helping hand to speed up cell renewal, with an exfoliator. This could be an enzyme exfoliator, acid toner or with a gritty scrub.
Aim to exfoliate with grit or enzyme at least weekly and use an acid toner 3-4 times a week (some recommend every day but see how your skin gets on as daily may be too much). If you are experiencing seasonal breakouts or you find new dry areas and patches from weather changes and heating, pay more attention to these specific areas. Try to keep up a regular exfoliation routine to stop your skin from looking dull. Do not use a grit exfoliator more than twice weekly though as it can be too harsh on the skin and even cause breakouts.
Serums
Serums are packed full of specialist nutrients such as hyaluronic acid and peptides to give the skin an added boost and address skin complaints. In the winter, we want our serum to be rich and nourishing. In Summer we opt for lighter serums otherwise we tend to sweat it off, or perhaps in the hottest weather we only use a multi functional moisturiser with SPF. In colder months, we layer our skincare in the same way we layer our clothes, to give the skin maximum protection from the elements and provide a rich nourishment all over. You may like layering or prefer a one cream suits all, decide what is right for you or speak to your therapist about the best target serums for your skin.
Eyes
Eye cream is essential for 30+ and a good preventative step for anyone 20+. During colder months, the outside elements can sensitise the eyes and home and travel central heating dries the eyes out, especially with the heating vents when driving the car. In Summer, the eyes have sunglasses for additional protection from the sun, wind and air conditioning and now they are out facing the harsh elements alone. Ensure you have a good eye cream to apply each day, after cleansing and before you moisturise.
SPF
Yes, this is still needed. Perhaps not as a standalone sun protection, but it certainly must feature somewhere in your routine, for example in your day moisturiser. UVA rays are present 365 days a year, whether the sun appears or not and these are the rays that age us. UVB rays are the rays we see in the sunshine that lead to a tan (or burn). A multi spectrum Sun Protection Factor will protect from UVA, UVB and the other outdoor elements, including wind and pollution. Check your day cream includes an SPF cover for the best protection from ageing.
Night Cream
You may find that during the summer a heavy night cream was too much with the heat and the risk of sweating. Now the nights are cooler, we need to take advantage of the overnight process where the skin works harder than ever to heal, restore and regenerate. If your skin feels tight or dry, apply a cream mask in the evening after cleansing, then rub the excess in before going to sleep. Alternatively, find a Vitamin A based or peptide based night cream to apply every evening to fight ageing and even out the skin tone and texture.
Body Care
The skin needs a really good scrub now that we are layered up with clothing and more prone to dry skin. Aim to exfoliate the body twice weekly. You could use a luxury shower gel with exfoliating gloves for self care and pampering or use a gritty salt or sugar scrub on dry skin then rinse off in the bath or shower. Pay attention to knees, feet, elbows and hands, where dry skin builds up quickly. After exfoliating, apply a body lotion. The hands will need extra hand cream, so it may be an idea to keep one in your car or bag for when out and about. Wear gloves to protect the hands from wind and cold. Keep moisture in the feet by wearing socks rather than walking around bare foot on cold floors and apply a foot cream regularly.
Dry body brushing not only removes dead skin cells but also helps to detoxify the skin by increasing blood circulation and promoting lymphatic drainage. For glowing skin, dry body brush once to twice a week, but avoid dry brushing on the face because it will be too aggressive.
Change of Routine
With the darker evenings, it becomes a bit easier to schedule a pamper evening and apply hand cream, foot mask or face mask while we are settled in front of the TV.
As always, water and fresh air are the best prescriptions for not only skin, but overall health. Try to get outside as often as possible. We spend up to 80% of our lives indoors and in Winter are less inclined to venture out, but a stroll through the woods can do you the world of good for skin, body and mind.
We understand the skin changes season to season and want to help you feel your best in your own skin. Our therapists are trained in multiple skin brands and hold a deep knowledge of skincare ingredients. If you would like us to take a look at the products you are using to assess suitability or prescribe a recommended new product to add into your current routine, we would be happy to help.
Consultations All Year
Our comprehensive skincare menu has been designed by us, specifically to allow for seasonal changes. We do not have a rigid regime where we give you the exact same facial all twelve months of the year (unless you really want us to!). All of our facials feature plenty of massage and pampering but the products, machines, tools and procedures can be selected on the day, for what we feel your skin needs that day. Have you been having the same facial for a while? We can mix it up! Give your skin a new lease of life. Browse the menu on the Face page of our website and speak to your therapist to help choose the best appointment for you.