The first rule of autumn skincare is when the temperature drops its important to avoid over drying and tightness. Choose a cleanser that won't strip your skin of its natural oils, and if you're on the dryer opt for a nourishing oil, balm or cream cleanser.
The combination of vitamin C, retinol and chemical exfoliants is the trio that works hard together to get back your glow.
This trifecta of topicals assist with the gentle shedding of the top layer of skin to combat dull looking skin in the short term, but are also a powerful team to future proof your skin for years to come.
1.VITAMIN C
We advise a high performance Vitamin C serum year-round – such as the expert C serums from iS Clinical & Medik8. Each deliver advanced environmental protection plus targeting specific skin concerns such as fine lines and pigmentation AND leaves skin looking firmer and brighter.
2.RETINOL
We always advise a topical antioxidant serum (Vitamin C) in the morning and retinal serums at nights. If you’re not using already retinal - Autumn is an excellent time to introduce it into your skin regime or increase your dose. Retinal powerfully increases cell turnover, strengthens the dermis and stimulates collagen production.
When it comes to formula you can’t surpass Medik8’s Crystal Retinal’s. Considered next generation Vitamin A, in strengths 3,6,10 these deliver results comparable to clinical grade retinoic acid, and are 11x faster than most forms of retinol. Favoured by skin queen’s like Charlotte Palermino and Caroline Hirons (& us) Medik8’s retinal’s are the best your money can buy.
3. ACIDS
The final of the three – acids! By adding chemical exfoliants such as BHA or AHA into your routine your glow is boosted instantly.
Using a (gentle) exfoliating agent at home multiple times a week can stop the build-up of the stratum corneum that creates a dull, flaky appearance. We couldn’t love more these two acid toner’s that work so effectively, yet are gentle and kind to your skin – plus they work harmoniously with other actives, in-fact they enhance the results of the active ingredients that follow.
We hear a lot of concerns of increased skin wrinkling and ‘crepiness’ after summer - whereby sun exposure has broken down collagen in the skin. Pair this with cooler temperatures and skin is sure to get stroppy … that feeling of tight, dry skin and fine lines becoming more noticeable are common theme in autumnal skin.
Keeping skin nourished and protected is key to maintaining a radiant complexion as temperatures start to drop. Hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring molecule, is the beauty industry’s go-to ingredient for moisturising and plumping. A lot of multi-tasking serums include this in their formulas, but if you’re wanting a serious boost of hydration include a HA serum in your daily ritual. For blemish prone skin we suggest the much loved MMHC from NIOD and for more dry skin reach for Medik8’s Hydr8
Finally, its crucial to seal the deal with a rich cream or nourishing oil to lock in hydration and protect your skin each day and night. And for extra TLC a weekly mask to deeply replesnish hydration.