As September rolls in its not just the start if a new school year – it’s also National Skin Care Awareness Month, a time to focus on the health and beauty of our skin, and for good reason. The end of summer often sees skin dehydrated and suffering the lasting effects of sun exposure and it can often feel dry and patchy as the last of the tan fades. And as the central heating comes on in your home, and the cooler crisp air arrives the dehydration gets worse. Try leaving a damp tissue by a radiator to see how quickly it dries out and then imagine your skin reacting in the same way!
Our skin is the body’s largest organ and serves as our primary defence against external factors like pollution, UV radiation and other harmful elements so the goal for september is to clear out the old and make room for new and curate a skincare regime that is as comforting as your favourite jumper.
Not sure where to start when it comes to your seasonal skincare wardrobe? Consider this your fail-safe guide on how to transition your skincare routine for autumn and how to keep tweaking your rituals as you head into winter.
Switch up your cleanser.
In autumn, the skin tends to lose moisture more easily due to the drop in temperature and the drier air. Harsh cleansers that worked well during summer might strip your skin of its natural oils and weaken your skin’s barrier allowing irritants to affect your skin. It's smart to invest in a cream based cleanser that can remove impurities without drying the skin. Melt the day away with Collagene Expert Phyto Radiance Cleanser, a rich and nourishing cream to oil formula which deftly removes dirt, grime and make-up leaving skin softer than a cartoon cloud, whilst streamlining your cleansing ritual into one step as it is not only formulated to cleanse, but gently exfoliate and cloak your complexion with lasting moisture too thanks to the delicate balance of fruit enzymes and skin-loving hydrating actives. What’s more it plays well with all skin types and all seasons so get ready for your skin to feel clean and supremely soft, whatever phase it's going through.
Seal in the moisture
Summer’s lightweight moisturisers won’t cut it when the autumn chill arrives. As your skin regularly braces both bitingly cold air and artificial central heating, it will need extra moisture. To lock in moisture and protect your skin from the elements switch to a richer more nourishing moisturiser. Look for creams that contain skin identical hydrating ingredients like Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane and Essential fatty Acids. Ceramides will provide a protective veil for your skin shielding from irritants, Hyaluronic Acid floods the skin with moisture, Squalane mimics the skin’s natural oils, and the Essential Fatty Acids help retain moisture levels and keeps the outermost layer strong and healthy. Collagene Expert Ceramide Smoothing Cream is where decadence meets dew-drenching benefits as it extends an olive branch to skin in need of a little TLC. A pillow-soft formula infused with skin plumping Phyto Collagen, replenishing Ceramides and Essential Fatty Acids, radiance-inducing Vitamin C AND a hefty helping of Hyaluronic Acid Spheres, it rescues skins from the brink of dehydration. This is your one-way ticket to a gorgeously plump, bouncy, and healthy complexion that will leave your face ‘filling’ good!
Exfoliate but don’t overdo it.
As the weather cools down, you may notice your skin becoming duller or flakier. Exfoliation is essential to remove dead skin cells and promote cell turnover. However, be careful not to over exfoliate as this can weaken your skin’s barrier and cause irritation. Switch to a gentler grain-free formula that works to brighten, refine and smooth your complexion for luminous results. Radiance Enhancing Gommage has just the right concentration of three naturally derived exfoliating acids that complement each other to gently remove dead skin cells whilst maintaining optimal moisture levels. Its non-abrasive formula is in perfect affinity with all skin types - even the most sensitive. Add it to your ritual and await compliments on your newfound glow.
Mask up for extra hydration.
There’s not much face masks can’t cure, and weekly hydrating masks can give your skin the extra boost of moisture it craves during the autumn months. Hydra Aura Moisturising Cream Mask is a great supplement to your existing ritual and will be a game-changer to parched complexions as it quickly brings your skin back to a state of equilibrium. Its creamy soft formula enriched with marine extracts seeps into cracks and fine and dry lines, bringing a nourished soft-to-touch feeling and an ‘oh-so-quenched’ result in matter of minutes. Smooth, supple skin coming your way!
Introduce a night serum.
Sleep is essentially your body’s built-in maintenance system. Everyday environmental aggressors like pollution and lack of sleep can disrupt your skin leading to dehydration and premature ageing. While you snooze, your skin fights back by promoting repair and rejuvenation and serums applied at night can capitalise on the body’s renewal process while the skin is most responsive, and it means you can combat dryness and maintain a balanced complexion throughout the day. Age Benefit Renewal Night Elixir is a supreme serum infused with an abundance of supercharged actives including Hyaluronic Acid, known for its moisture-retaining properties, so can lock in hydration during the night. This ensures that the skin wakes up plump, supple and well-nourished. And with a helping of radiance inducing Japanese Sophora flower you can think of this as a ‘stint in skin-rehab’ as it works hard to reverse the days damage scavenging free radicals, so you wake up with a truly beautiful and luminous complexion. This is a serum that allows your skin to work smarter not harder.
Just as we ditch t-shirts to embrace sweater weather, transitioning your skincare in-between seasons is all about preparing your skin and protecting it from harsh weather conditions, so this autumn, make sure you’re packing in the hydration and strengthening your skin barrier with nourishing and protective ingredients. You always want to work with Mother Nature, never against her.
Lucy x
