AUTUMNAL SKIN CARE
As the seasons change, so do the needs of our skin. More prone to dryness & dehydration with the cooler weather & central heating, small changes can make all the difference.
Here are some simple but useful tips from Dr Pippa, our resident dermatology expert, to aid and combat autumnal changes to our skin…
Keep hydrated.
Sounds simple, but most of us probably do not drink enough & water is essential for good skin health. Even more so in the autumn where colder weather and central heating aids dryness and dehydration. A good figure to aim for is 1.5 to 2 litres of water a day. This can include tea & coffee (although try switching to some to fruit teas instead).
Switch your cleanser to an oil or balm.
This is more hydrating than a wash, cream or lotion. The extra density will absorb deeper into the skin, helping to further remove daily pollutants and adding extra essential moisturise. The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Balm and The Pip & Pod Avocado Cleansing Balm from Holland & Barrett are perfect for exactly this.
Introduce Vitamin C into your routine to brighten & rejuvenate your skin.
This is a great tip for when the seasons change and in the harsher weather, your skin may look a little lack lustre or in need of a boost. Vitamin C is also a great anti-oxidant and can help with anti-aging and depigmentation! Never too late to start! I like to incorporate Vitamin C in my eye cream to help dark circles. The Lumene Vitamin C Eye cream is perfect for this. Or in my evening serum skin care routine, via the UpCircle Beauty Vitamin C Enriched Coffee Serum.
Add a dose of extra hydration.
By this I mean if not doing so already, add in a night cream or night serum, or both! No matter what you use, any extra moisture will further hydrate the skin, not only helping with plumping out fine lines & wrinkles, but also aiding skin rejuvenation & overall health. You can also use creams or serums which target skin concerns. For example, if not pregnant or breast feeding, a retinol cream for anti-aging. Like the UpCircle Beauty Blueberry Retinal Night Cream. Or the Sukin Organic Rosehip Oil.co.uk/collections/rosehip.list, safe if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Continue to wear SPF, even in winter.
Believe it or not, one of the most vulnerable times is autumn, as we risk getting caught out whilst walking in the beautiful autumn sun, but then burning our face! I prefer mineral, as this is less reactive on our skin and more natural. My favourites are UpCircle Beauty Mineral SPFproducts/mineral-spf-for-face and Drunk Elephant Mineral SPF. Both fantastic at not leaving white marks, do the job and can double up as your morning moisturiser as well!