5 AUTUMN SKINCARE TIPS FOR HAPPY SKIN

A chill is in the air, the leaves are starting to turn and lower temperatures are giving your skin a hard time. Switch up your skincare routine to keep up with the season

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The move from summer to autumn means colder air that wreak havoc on your skin. Although we welcome the cool breeze, it causes the skin to tighten and dry out bringing about seasonal breakouts. Need help? Here are our five top tips for keeping your skin happy throughout the new season.

Choose A Moisturising Cleanser
Most skincare routines start off with cleansing the skin of all dirt and impurities. However, cleansers may also include ingredients that strip the skin of moisture, which isn’t ideal when autumn air hits.

Prevent moisture loss by using cream-based moisturising cleansers that contain do-good botanical oils like aloe vera. Aloe vera contains natural ‘humectants’ (substances that attract water from the air or from deeper in the skin) which bind moisture to the skin.

And don’t worry if you have oily or acne-prone skin, the natural botanicals in aloe vera won’t make your skin too shiny. It’s also great for stimulating both elastin fibres and collagen which work to boost your skin’s elasticity and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Inside-Out Hydration
Your overall health is reflected in your skin. If you notice dry, cracked lips or flaky cuticles, it means your body could be dehydrated, and this will undoubtedly make your skin (face and body) unhappy.

Start hydrating from the inside out by drinking at least eight glasses of clean water per day, and eating foods that’ll aid in preventing dryness, like egg yolks, citrus fruits and vegetables, and fish. You can also find a supplement or multi-vitamin that contains Vitamins C, D and E, which will protect you from external and environmental factors.

Then, protect your skin’s barrier function by using a serum, rich moisturiser and tissue oils (Try JBG Tissue Oil, Rxx). Choose products that contain ceramides (fats or oils) or a humectant like hyaluronic acid. Also look for ingredients like petroleum, glycerine and shea butter, these ingredients won’t cause dryness.

Don’t Forget Your Spf
Even though we’ve reached less sunny months, you shouldn’t stop wearing sunscreen. In autumn, the sun is much lower than in the summer, and UV rays can really penetrate the skin.

This is why you need to make sure you still lather on sunscreen after applying serum and moisturiser. Go for an SPF50 or more, and remember that you may need to reapply throughout the day if you are going to be outdoors.

Also keep a SPF lip balm in your purse for warmer autumn days – nobody likes chapped lips, no matter what the season.

Breakouts? Don’t Worry
With any weather changes, it be a change in humidity levels or temperature, your skin will react in some way, especially if you have the sensitive type. These changes cause the pH levels and hormones in your body to fluctuate, leading to dryness, pigmentation issues and acne or rashes.

Our best tip is not to pick and pull at them! The last thing you want to do is cause inflammation or infection. Rather soothe and destress your skin by using treatments and masks that help unclog pores, reduce redness and calm your skin. Sheet masks that contain aloe vera, tea tree or salicylic acid should do the trick. Make sure to do a mask at least once a week.

Beware Of Wipes
Studies globally have increasingly shown the cons of using make-up wipes every day to wipe oils or pigments off your skin. Most wipes contain harmful chemicals and high levels of alcohol which cause irritation, dryness, and disrupts the pH balance of your skin.

Plus the texture of wipes can cause micro-tears in your skin, which is a big no-no! These micro-tears, coupled with dehydration, can cause premature aging.

If you wear make-up every day, rather use cotton pads with an oil-based make-up remover, or a clean microfibre facecloth to get all the layers of product off your face – and never go to bed without cleansing your skin and applying moisturiser. Consistency is the key to great skin health.


By: Charndré Emma Kippie
Images: Gallo/Getty, Shutterstock