Autumn is upon us and the cooler weather is on its way. In our glorious patch of the world, the ever-stunning Blue Mountains of NSW, you can already see some of the leaf tips starting to burnish with autumn’s first colours.
As the coolness creeps in and the air starts to become dry, both indoors and out, it’s time to transition our skincare to accommodate the new conditions. After all, luminous skin is not reserved for the summer months alone.
This season’s shifting temperatures and windy weather can play havoc with skin that’s already stressed from the rigours of summer.
Your skin has just endured all the UV exposure (incidental or otherwise) that occurs through the summer months and now it has to contend with autumn’s drop in humidity.
It’s no wonder it needs a little extra TLC.
Lower humidity, harsh winds and cool temperatures are all responsible for the familiar discomfort of dry skin. And dry skin is compromised skin.
When skin is dry its natural barrier, the microbiome, can easily become damaged. This means it’s no longer able to perform its important protective role and suddenly your skin is exposed to external aggravators, like pollution.
This is when we begin to see irritated, inflamed and sensitive skin.
Skin cell turnover also slows down over autumn and winter. As the skin cells start to build up (not a pleasant thought) our skin starts becoming drier, flakier and rougher. This is the nemesis to glowing skin, as it creates a dull-looking appearance.
While there are definitely challenges to keeping a luminous complexion over the cooler months, it is absolutely possible. Here’s how you can keep on glowing over autumn:
Long, sun-soaked days may be behind us for the next little while, but sun protection is relevant year-round. UV rays are present even on overcast days so it’s just as important to protect your skin now that it’s getting cooler. Our Protect + Clarify Daily Face Lotion offers the perfect amount of sun protection for the cooler months.
It’s time to swap out your lighter products for more hydrating and nourishing skincare. Biofermented hyaluronic acid is a key ingredient for retaining moisture content in the skin and it supports collagen synthesis, making it one of our all-time favourites. You can find this ultra-hydrating wonder in our Ultimate Face Creme.
To further protect your skin from the drying weather, try adding a spritz and serum to your routine. A toner spritz will add another layer of moisture to your skin and help to reduce any inflammation. A potent serum will increase skin elasticity and hydration, as well as promote skin rejuvenation.
Dry weather conditions and slower cell turnover doesn’t mean you have to put up with a dull, flaky complexion. Or the resulting clogged pores. Gentle, regular exfoliation will clear away the excess build-up to reveal a radiant complexion.
Make sure not to exfoliate too roughly, or with a harsh exfoliant, as this can damage the skin barrier. We’ve paired organic Rosehip seed granules with hydrating ingredients such as biofermented hyaluronic acid, shea butter, macadamia and coconut oils to create a nourishing exfoliant and mask. Our 2 in 1 Face Exfoliant + Mask stabilises your skin’s natural protective barrier while drawing out and sweeping away impurities.
Cold, dry wind meeting wet lips. You lick them to stop the dryness and then almost immediately the wind dries them out even more….so you lick them again, but then, the wind! We’ve all been there. It’s amazing how quickly it changes from dry-ish lips to stinging lips to cracking lips.
Get ahead of the wind this season and make sure you’ve always got a nourishing lip balm handy. We formulated our lip balm, Ultimate Lips, to be deeply soothing, nourishing and hydrating so your lips will be impervious to the elements.
Autumn skincare doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. With a few considered tweaks and products that suit autumn’s environment, you can have glowing skin all season.
Bridget x
As a naturopath, I’m always thinking about dietary and lifestyle recommendations to complement my organic skin care range. Drinking herbal teas has got to one of the easiest and most effective things you can do to further benefit skin. Not only do they taste great but the actives in herbs are absorbed and taken-up quicker than supplements.
Spring is the perfect time to take stock of your skincare products, reboot your beauty routine and get yourself set up for the sun to come.
Here's how: Step 1 - ‘Spring clean’ your skincare
Go through your beauty cabinet and get rid of anything you haven’t used for the last 12 months or anything that isn’t pulling its weight.
As a Naturopath I have treated many skin conditions over the years but some of them you see more than others. Eczema and dermatitis are most definitely my number one. And as the weather is cooling, now is the time when flare ups most commonly occur.
Although it can be caused by a multitude of factors, there are lots of ways to reduce eczema occurrence, and sometime eradicate it for good. Here is what I know about eczema and what you can do about it.
