Embracing Autumn: Skincare Shifts for the Changing Season.
With Dr Kate.
As golden leaves begin to fall and mornings grow crisp, your skin is quietly responding to these seasonal changes. Autumn brings unique challenges to your complexion that require thoughtful adjustments to your skincare routine.
Let’s explore how to keep your skin radiant during this transitional season.
Why Autumn Demands Different Care.
Unlike summer’s humidity that keeps skin naturally moisturised, autumn’s dropping temperatures and lower humidity levels can quickly deplete your skin’s moisture reserves. Indoor heating systems further exacerbate dryness, potentially leading to:
- Increased sensitivity and redness
- Flakiness and rough texture
- Dulling of your natural glow
- Accentuated fine lines
These changes affect your skin’s protective barrier, which is essential for maintaining healthy, resilient skin throughout the cooler months ahead.
Your Autumn Skincare Strategy:
1. Reconsider Your Cleanser
Summer’s gel and foaming cleansers that helped control excess oil should now make way for cream or oil-based cleansers. These gentler formulations remove impurities without stripping your skin’s natural moisture.
2. Layer Your Hydration
Think of autumn skincare like autumn dressing—layers are key! Start with a hydrating toner or essence immediately after cleansing while skin is still damp. Follow with a serum containing the following ingredients:
- Hyaluronic acid (in multiple molecular weights for deeper penetration, drawing moisture into the skin and maintaining hydration throughout the day).
- Glycerin (to moisturise and protect the skin).
- Panthenol (Vitamin B5 that contains moisturising, soothing and anti-inflammatory properties).
3. Strengthen Your Barrier
Autumn is the repair season for skin. After summer’s potential sun damage, focus on rebuilding your skin barrier with ingredients that mimic your skin’s natural composition:
- Ceramides
- Fatty acids
- Squalane
A moisturiser rich in these components will help seal in hydration and protect against environmental stressors.
4. Gentle Exfoliation
As skin tends to become drier, dead skin cells can accumulate more readily, leading to a dull complexion. Incorporate gentle chemical exfoliants (like lactic acid or PHAs) 1-2 times weekly rather than harsh physical scrubs, which can further compromise sensitive autumn skin.
5. Antioxidant Protection
While summer’s intense UV exposure may have waned, autumn’s environmental stressors still generate free radicals that can damage skin. A quality vitamin C serum in the morning provides:
- Protection against pollution and environmental damage
- Brightening effects to counter seasonal dullness
- Support for collagen production
Skin Ceuticals C E Ferulic is my top pick!
6. Mindful Moisture Application
The technique matters as much as the product. Apply your products in order from thinnest to thickest – with your moisturiser as the last step to lock everything in!
Don’t Forget These Autumn Essentials
- Lip care: Lips have no oil glands and quickly show signs of seasonal dryness. Use a nourishing lip mask nightly. Pop into the clinic and pick up the glorious Laneige Lip Mask for only $20.
- Hand treatment: Hands often age faster than the face and suffer from autumn’s dryness. Apply hand cream after every wash and/or SPF!
- Continued sun protection: UV rays remain present year-round. Your daily SPF routine should continue without interruption.
Creating Your Autumn Evening Ritual.
As the days grow shorter, embrace the opportunity for enhanced evening skincare:
- Double cleanse to thoroughly remove the day’s impurities
- Apply active treatments like retinol or peptides (skin repair accelerates while you sleep)
- Use a richer night cream or overnight mask 2-3 times weekly
Autumn skincare is about balance—preserving moisture while supporting your skin’s natural renewal processes. By making these thoughtful adjustments, you’ll maintain a healthy, radiant complexion throughout the season’s change and build resilience for the winter months ahead.
Embrace this season of transformation as an opportunity to elevate your skincare routine and reconnect with your skin’s changing needs.
Dr Kate x
