Autumn is here and you might already have noticed your skin starting to feel a little different.
Cooler weather, wind and the return of central heating can leave our skin feeling drier, tighter or a little less comfortable than it did during the summer.
But you don't necessarily need to change your whole skincare routine. Sometimes just a couple of little tweaks can make all the difference...
Here are two simple things you can do to help keep your skin looking and feeling happy as we head into autumn.
Let's start with exfoliation...
This is key and something we can sometimes get wrong.
Firstly, it's important to be gentle. There's a misconception that exfoliating needs to involve something quite abrasive. But you are not scrubbing a dirty pan! There's no reason to use harsh or abrasive products or ingredients on your skin.
There are different types of physical exfoliants used in natural face scrubs. Sometimes finely ground walnut shells are used, or fruit stones from things like peaches and apricots. While these can feel as though they're giving your skin a good scrub, they can also be too abrasive.
Softer, but still effective, are jojoba grains. These are what I use in my natural face exfoliator, Scrub Up. The grains come from jojoba wax and are spherical, so they glide over your skin and gently polish it without the harshness of more abrasive particles.
As well as physical exfoliants, certain fruits contain naturally occurring alpha hydroxy acids, usually shortened to AHAs.
Bilberries, lemons and oranges are sources of AHAs. These fruit acids are commonly used in skincare to help gently exfoliate the surface of the skin, leaving it feeling smoother and looking brighter.
In Scrub Up, I've combined papaya, bilberry, lemon and jojoba grains to make it a little like a smoothie for your skin. I recommend using Scrub Up two or three times a week in the evening after cleansing, depending on how your skin feels.
If you have rosacea or particularly sensitive or irritated skin, I'd recommend seeking appropriate advice before introducing exfoliation into your routine.
Super-charge your skincare...
Facial treatment masks are often associated with having a spa treatment or professional facial, but they can easily become part of your skincare routine at home too.
I love the ritual of using a face mask once a week. It's a lovely excuse to slow down for a little while and give your skin some extra attention.
My own face mask is called Look On The Bright Side – and it's a mask with a difference.
It contains white clay, pineapple and papaya, as well as 10% vitamin C, and comes as a powder. This means you can customise it depending on how your skin is feeling that day and what you think it needs.
Papaya and pineapple contain enzymes called papain and bromelain. In skincare, these enzymes help gently lift away dull surface skin, while the white clay helps cleanse the skin.
If you'd like to give your skin a little extra nourishment, try mixing Look On The Bright Side with a drop of Bloom & Glow face oil and some Freshen Up toner.
If your skin is feeling as though it needs more hydration, you can customise your mask with A Little Lift serum or a little Thirsty Work moisturiser instead.
For more ideas on how to customise your mask and give yourself a little spa treatment at home, visit my Look On The Bright Side page.
Once you've removed your mask, spritz your skin with Freshen Up or Tone Up toner, followed by a little face oil gently massaged into your skin.
Most importantly, listen to your skin...
Your skin doesn't necessarily need the same things all year round, so don't be afraid to make little changes to your routine as the seasons change.
And if you're not sure what your skin needs, please get in touch and tell me a little about your skin and what you're currently using. I'm always happy to help.
Angela x
