Keep skin ‘healthy’ as seasons change
YOU WON’T WANT TO MAKE THESE FIVE MISTAKES WITH YOUR AUTUMN SKINCARE ROUTINE, SAYS PRUDENCE WADE
AS THE weather gets cooler and we come into autumn, many of us forget to switch up our skincare routines to suit the new season.
Consultant dermatologist at skindoc (skindoc.uk) Dr Sreedhar Krishna says: “Put simply, the main role of our skin is to keep the good stuff inside and the bad stuff outside – think of solid windows on a wintry night.
“However, our skin needs some help to get this done.”
He sees many of the same mistakes being made during this time of year. “At best, they are innocently harmless, but at worst could actually open your skin up to irritation and damage,”
If you want to keep your skin healthy throughout autumn and winter, try to avoid these mistakes...
1. Not wearing sunscreen every day
It’s easy to remember to slather on sunscreen during summer but while it might not be as obvious when the days are darker and the sun looks weaker, it’s just as crucial to finish off your morning routine with SPF.
“There is less ambient sunlight in these months than at the peak of summer, but winter months can have intense UVB radiation,” explains Dr Krishna. “Sun protection is important every day, not just on sunny days.”
2. Using the same lightweight moisturiser as you did in summer
Dr Krishna says: “Colder air and bitter winds can join forces to strip your skin of moisture and essential oils. You can protect yourself by switching to more nourishing, richer moisturisers.”
Olay Regenerist Ultra Rich Day Face Cream Rich Feel, £34.99, Boots
Cannuka Harmonizing
Face Cream (right), £49
3. Sticking to a light cleanser
When the weather’s warm, a light foaming cleanser will often do the trick. However, Dr Krishna suggests this could make your skin “more vulnerable to the elements” in autumn, so recommends “swapping that foam cleanser for a hydrating cleanser” for a bit more protection.
By a hydrating cleanser, Dr Krishna means one that “locks moisture into the skin, rather than solely focusing on cleansing the skin surface of ‘crud’ acquired during the day”.
He recommends looking for face washes including ceramides (they act “as a barrier to lock in moisture”) and hyaluronic acid (“a naturally occurring substance which attracts moisture into skin cells, leading to skin feeling plump and hydrated”).
Cerave Hydrating Cleanser, £9.50, Boots
Loum Be Calm Cleansing Balm (left), £32, Cult Beauty 4. Taking scalding hot showers
When the weather’s cold and miserable, nothing is better than sinking into a steaming bath or having a long, hot shower.
However, Dr Krishna says: “Repeated exposure to hot water will strip your skin of valuable moisture” – and this applies to skin all over your body, not just your face.
If you do want to have a hot shower, Dr Krishna adds: “I’d recommend ensuring you moisturise liberally as soon as you dry off” to avoid the dreaded winter dry skin.
5. Forgetting to exfoliate
Remembering to exfoliate during summer is easy, but it’s not quite as intuitive in winter, when all you really want to do is slather on thick moisturisers to keep yourself hydrated.
For Dr Krishna, exfoliation becomes “even more” important in winter, because we’re likely to have a drier complexion – and you want moisturiser to absorb into your face, “rather than sitting on dry flakes of skin”.
First, he recommends washing your face with a hydrating cleanser.
“Then gently pat the skin dry,” he says, “massage the exfoliating scrub into the skin in purposeful small circles with your fingers and rinse away.
“Don’t forget to moisturise straight after.”
Q+A Apple AHA Exfoliating Gel (left), £8.50
Upcircle Face Scrub Herbal Blend, £13, Sainsbury’s