Autumn is a great time of year, we’re enjoying a nice interlude between the heat and humidity of summer and the cold chilly weather of winter. Plus there’s lots of social events to look forward to – Halloween, New Year and Christmas (if you celebrate). However the constantly changing weather can be a challenge – one minute warm, and the next cold. Not to mention wind, rain, and even frost! It’s this unpredictability which can have an adverse effect on the skin, causing dryness, itchiness, and even flaking. So let’s up the skincare regime to allow us to easily transition into autumn without our skin suffering.
Switch to a gentle natural cleanser
Harsh chemical cleansers can easily strip the natural oils from the skin, and leave the skin feeling tight, dry and vulnerable to the oscillating weather. Switch to 100% natural oils such as sesame seed oil, argan oil or almond oil, which act as great cleansers, reaching deep into the skin, cleaning the pores, delivering nutrients and hydration, and helping to reduce and soothe inflammation and infection.
Pump up the hydration
Dryness, flakiness and tightness are a surefire sign of dehydrated skin. If your face is beginning to display flakiness and dryness, it’s a clear signal to amp up the hydration levels. Natural oils are a saviour for dry skin, acting as a moisturiser and a serum, and reinforcing the skin’s barrier to prevent moisture loss. Try some almond oil or jojoba oil. Just add a few drops to your regular moisturiser, or apply at bedtime for a moisture boost, or for the best results make your own natural serum.
Custom blend your own face serum Make your own face serum suited to your skin’s own particular needs.
Invest in body care
Suddenly being bundled up after the freedom of being totally uncovered or covered just in loose lightweight summer clothing can cause dryness to the arms and legs. Counteract this by adding a few drops of argan oil to your bath, it’s an effortless way to moisturise your entire body. Simply add a few drops to a favourite bubble bath or some epsom or sea salts, dissolve in warm water, then sit back and relax and let the oil go to work. You’ll find that after your bath the skin will feel beautifully soft and silky. If you have a favourite body moisturiser, you can add a few drops to that too.
Don’t forget about lip-care
Its all too easy to forget about the lips until they start to feel dry, chapped and sore. The wind is the lip’s enemy, especially if you develop the habit of constantly licking the lips as they start to dry out. Prevention is better than cure, and a lot less painful, so apply some coconut oil to your lips to keep them soft, supple, hydrated and fully protected. High in lauric acid, coconut oil is extremely nourishing and hydrates, restores moisture and and provides a protective barrier. You can even make yourself a tinted lip balm by heating any left over pieces of lipstick and mixing into some coconut oil.
Don’t neglect your hands
The hands and nails are also all too easy to neglect. Apply a natural oil to the hands each morning as part of your beauty routine, and reapply each time you wash your hands. Argan oil or almond oil are a great choice. Make sure to also always dry the hands adequately as wet hands can become dry or chapped all too easily. Shea butter or coconut oil also make a great overnight conditioning treatment to counteract any dryness. For best results, soak the hands in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes and then massage the oil or butter into the nails and cuticles.
So there you have it. Simple but effective steps to allow your skin to retain it’s health during this season of fluctuating weather patterns and temperatures. Furthermore, it’ll also make the transition into the harsh winter months that much easier if the skin is already in tip-top condition.
