Transitional Skincare: 5 Tips To Take You From Summer To Autumn

While most of us would still count August as part and parcel of summer it seems that nature has other ideas. While we're sad to see the back of sunshine and soaring temperatures, this in-between weather, with it's not quite cold winds and seemingly constant rain, can make caring for your skin a nightmare.

It's likely that the sun, salt water and chlorine have taken their toll on your skin over the summer months, but with autumn on its way and the evenings becoming cooler and drier your skin could suffer even more without the right care. As the humidity drops, so do the moisture levels in your skin. The constant switching between dry indoor heat and the colder weather outdoors can be damaging for skin. The wind and cold can create tiny cracks on the skin surface, leading to redness, sensitivity and dryness. From make-up to moisturiser, we talk you through the best skincare routine to transition you through from summer to autumn. It'll work whether the sun decides to come back or if the rain is here to stay. 

1. A Good Base
During the summer we often find ourselves reaching for lighter options, like BB creams and lipglosses, as the warmer temperatures can make it difficult to keep heavier foundations and creams in places. Yet as the warmer weather draws to close we often finding ourselves wanting slightly heavier coverage. Why not try a tinted moisturiser or loose powder foundation, so you can adapt the amount of coverage you need depending on the weather or the occassion. Opt for mineral make-up if you can as it tends to be non-comedogenic, which means it doesn't contain ingredients which block your pores and possibly lead to breakouts and blemishes. 

2. Richer Colours
As we transition through to autumn it's time to kiss goodbye to the neon brights and pastel shades we love to sport on our lips and nails. Instead it's all about richer, darker colours. When it comes to your namicure, think mushroom greys, dark purples, navys and moss greens for a look to see you right through to winter. Make lips the focal point of your make up with burgundies, plums and deep reds. The key thing about wearing these colours is preperation, don't forget lipliner to prevent the colour from bleeding and always apply a base coat to nails to prevent dark polish from staining the nail bed.

3. SPF
While the clouds might have come in it's not time to put away your sunscreen just yet. Ideally you should try to wear SPF throughout the year, even when it's not sunny. The sun is the biggest aggressor to our skin and causes damage even when we can't see the evidence. If you're going to be spending time outdoors, even for a short while, make sure you are wearing a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Not only does wearing SPF everyday lower your risk of skin cancer and limit your lifetime exposure, but it also keeps you looking younger. Too much sun exposure can lead to premature ageing, fine lines, wrinkles, facial veins, blotchiness and age spots.

4. Moisturise
During the autumn and winter the air becomes drier and cooler, which means our skin becomes drier too. While we might turn our heating up to high and the temperatures drop, switching between the dry indoor heat and cold, windy weather, only makes your skin drier. Applying a rich moisturiser in the morning and evening can help combat this, but if you have very dry skin then layering up the products may not be enough. Instead you should think about adding a serum to your skincare routine. Serums contain smaller molecules than moisturisers allowing them to pentrate deeper into the skin, and work lower in the dermis. They contain active vitamins and minerals to target specific skin problems like ageing, dullness and dryness. If you have dry skin why not try combining our Y Theorem Repair Serum with our Nocturnal Eclipse Recovery Cream each evening to prevent dry patches.

5. Exfoliate
Smooth, radiant skin is something most of us want, which is why it is so important to keep exfoliating your skin throughout winter. Although skin turnover doesn't slow down, the lack of moisture in the air means that skin cells do 'die' quicker because they become dehydrated. Dead skin cells can make your face look dull and they can also block your pores leading the blemishes, breakouts and blackheads. Gentle, regular exfoliation helps remove these dead cells, along with oil and impurities, to reveal a radiant complexion. One to two times a week is enough for most skin types, but you may want to increase this slightly if your skin is more oily. Our Lift Off Exfoliating Cleanser contains lactic acid, tartaric acid and papaya enzyme to remove the build up of impurities, yet is gentle enough for all skin types.