Seasonal Skincare Switch Up

The temperature's has dropped, the wind has picked up and my skin has gone into a meltdown. Autumn is definitely here and that means it's time to take a minute to reassess what's in my daily skincare rotation. It's time to put away what worked for me during the sweltering Summer months and pull out some old favourites from last Autumn as well as adding in some new additions that are going to work well now the cold weather has arrived.

When it comes to changing my skincare to match the season, I go the whole hog. And that includes cleansers. During the warmer months I tend to go for more lightweight gel consistency cleansers but when it turns cold I reach for the oil cleansers straight away. Not only are they great for breaking down make up, they're also really good at nourishing the skin without leaving it greasy or weighed down. My absolute all time favourite comes from Superfacialist but lately I've been trying a new one from Superdrug and it works just as well but at half the price. Both contain Vitamin C which helps to brighten skin and leaves skin feeling soft to the touch.

And alongside oil cleansers I love a good rich balm cleanser. They leave my skin feeling so soft yet work to break down make up and cut through grime and dirt perfectly. I've tried a ton of different balm cleansers but none of them stand up to both the Clinique Take The Day Off Balm and Emma Hardie's Moringa Cleansing Balm. Both are balm to oily milky consistencies that break down make up; including mascara, without stinging the eyes whilst nourishing the skin without leaving it feeling greasy. I'd love to be able to say that the more inexpensive high street brands do amazing balm cleansers but they don't which is both surprising and unfortunate.

Now something that's great to keep in your handbag or on hand during the colder months is a facial spritz of some kind. With weather conditions such as cold, wind, rain and snow in some extremes, skin takes a real battering when we're outside. And that transition from the cold outdoors to a warmer temperature; mostly central heating related, inside doesn't help either. So a facial spritz is great for giving your skin a quick pick me up, even over the top of your make up. My personal go to sptritz is the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer as it contains a blend of Vitamin E, Calendula and Camomile which helps to nourish skin that dries out quicker during the colder months but also keeps any sensitivity at bay from things such as harsh wind and central heating. It's also a great refreshed over make up and won't cause your make to slide or smudge if you apply over top. Sure the full size is a little too large to be carrying around in your handbag but they also do an adorable travel sized bottle that'll be just what you need. However if you don't want to spend out on Liz Earle, Superdrug have just released a brilliant and inexpensive facial spritz. Their Vitamin C Energising Facial Spritz contains Vitamin C and Kakuda Plum Extract that work together to hydrate, brighten and soften skin. It smells divine, is a very fine mist that won't disrupt make up and gives skin a glow that can sometimes be lacking after a day battling Winter weather. And the best bit, it only costs a fiver.

During the Summer months, I tend to reach for lighter, gel like textures when it comes to moisturisers and serums but as soon as it turns cold, I find my skin needs something richer in texture that's going to penetrate skin deeper for a longer period of time. Last year I discovered the Liz Earle SuperSkin Moisturiser with Neroli and Cranberry Extract and this year it was the first thing I purchased when the colder weather first made it's appearence. It's rich in texture but not heavy on the skin, layers perfectly under make up, leaves skin feeling softer and helps to diminsh any redness in the skin. A little goes a long way and you'll actually feel your skin thanking you when you apply this. And if your skin is sensitive to fragrance, there is an fragrance free version which works just as well as the original. But it's not always just the daytime that your skin is going to need that richer texture when it comes to moisturiser. A rich night serum/moisturiser can easily be added to your nightly skincare routine to alleviate any dryness that being around central heating can cause. My favourite is the Simply Pure Hydrating Night Serum from Superdrug. It's rich but not heavy, doesn't leave skin feeling greasy but is extremely hydrating and is suitable for even the most sensitive of skins. Containg Hyaluronic Acid and Allantoin, this works to alleviate any dryness that your skin may be feeling without weighing down the skin or leaving it feeling overly greasy. I love applying this just before I go to bed some nights so that when I wake up the next day, I have super soft and hydrated skin which lends well to my AM routine and any make up I apply over top.

And finally I want to talk about oils. But first I'd like to bust the myth that oily skin types can't use oils. If you have an oily skin then you can certainly use oils, they aren't going to make your skin produce more oil, they're going to nourish and hydrate your skin which any and every skin type needs. Now I've got that off my chest, let's get back to why oils are an amazing addition to a Autumn.Winter routine. Oils nourish at a deeper level than most moisturisers do, with a majority of them containing ingredients such as Vitamin E, Cocoa Butter and Rosehip which all work to nourish the skin so that it stays hydrated and soft for a longer time. It also helps that all these ingredients work well with sensitive skins and can help reduce the appearence of blemishes and redness. The Palmers' Skin Therapy Face Oil is an absolute smash from the high street whilst remaining a hidden gem. It's lightweight for an oil but still works and feels like an oil when it's applied. This is the perfect oil to apply after you've removed your make up or after a pamper session. And the other that's impressed me recently is the Botanic Restoring Overnight Facial Oil. Packed full of Lavender Oil and Rosehip, this potent little number works as you sleep to help with cell turnover, hydration and diminishing any signs of fatigue. It's slightly heavier in texture but it doesn't leave horrible grease marks on your pillows and really works to give you an even complexion that's hydrated and soft to the touch the next day. I like to add a couple of drops of the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair to this when my skins being problematic. And it works, any redness flare ups, lingering blemishes or horrid under the skin bumps are long gone after one use of this concotion and my skin's back to it's best.