The temperatures become cooler, the days are shorter, the morning air is crisp and it’s time to start thinking about woolly jumpers and hats. Autumn is officially here, bringing with it a harvest of yummy foods and exciting Autumn beauty trends. But after months of sun, sand and sea exposure, Autumn also summons the need for some serious TLC.Our 5 top Autumn beauty skin, hair and health tips will keep you in glowing condition top to toe through the change in seasons with a range of post-summer beauty rituals, natural foods and remedies to prepare your skin from the inside out and outside in.
1. Exfoliate often! Autumn is the perfect time to focus on repairing and caring for your skin and health, especially if you’ve spent time at the beach in previous months. To save your skin from becoming dull, lacklustre and dehydrated during the colder months, up your exfoliation to twice a week. The exfoliation process increases cell turnover rate and promotes more radiant skin by removing dead skin cells that can prevent the absorption of any moisturisers or serums. For the body, we recommend Dry Body Brushing regularly, which works to invigorate your lymphatic system and rid the skin of lumps and bumps. By starting to †˜dry brush’ you’ll not only exfoliate and boost your circulation and refine your skin tone, but also create more energy in the body and a feeling of general wellbeing. Check out this handy tutorial on how to dry body brush the skin. When it comes to the face, try one of our favourite at-home pantry beauty recipes - Honey & Oats Deep Cleansing Mask, which is extremely cleansing, healing and softening to the skin, not to mention smells and tastes delicious! You’ll have a youthful glow this season in no time.
2. Swap coffee and sugary drinks for herbal tea As tricky as it is to give up your morning coffee, herbal tea will do all kinds of wonder this Autumn, especially when it comes to your skin. Caffeine in coffee and some caffeine rich teas dehydrates the skin, which can ultimately leads to ageing and a dull skin tone. Similarly, the high level of sugar in drinks like hot chocolate and lemonade can also be damaging to your skin, causing blemishes and break outs. In older women, sugar consumption can lead to the production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), proteins that become glycated causing skin ageing, wrinkles and lines, so avoid as best as possible. For the perfect substitute try this warming Chai Tea recipe, which is packed with antioxidants including vitamin C, vitamin A, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron and theobromine, the kinds of chai spices that prevent free radical damage that can lead to premature ageing. There isn’t anything better than a warm cup of herbal tea to ward away cold weather blues, don’t you think?
3. Increase hydration As the season changes and the temperature plummets, it’s important to keep hydration at the top of your skincare regime. The skin repairs itself at night, and during this process, loses a huge proportion of its moisture. Throw heating into the mix, and we have ourselves a recipe for extreme dehydration. Aim to use skin-loving nutrient rich hydrating balms that encourage and contain vital ingredients like Vitamin C, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. You might also want to layer your balms with serums to supercharge the thirst-quenching benefits or pop on an overnight mask for radiant skin by morning. If your complexion has lost its glow, try this DIY Banana and Avocado Face Mask to nourish, plump and boost radiance or if you’ve experienced sun damage from a long, hot summer, then give this DIY Mask for Summer Spots a whirl. Always opt for products that do not contain pore blocking ingredients such as mineral oil, drying alcohol, fragrance and preservatives that prevent your skin from breathing naturally. And don’t forget your hands – as the skin on your hands doesn’t produce as much natural oil as the rest of your body, it’s much more prone to dryness, especially in colder weather. Pamper your hands with a deeply hydrating rescue remedy enriched with natural ingredients like Jojoba oil and soothing Marshmallow root. Likewise, sun and sea can leave hair dry and damaged. Use the cooler months to nurture it back to health with powerhouse ingredients like coconut oil and argan oil for gorgeous, softer-than-ever tresses that remain hydrated and healthy.
4. Use natural lip care It’s no secret that the chill in the air can be taxing on the lips, drying them out and leaving them a little worse for wear. Luckily, there’s a few key ways to keep them in tip top shape this season. Firstly, the number one rule for keeping lips luscious is to not lick them to moisten them. Saliva is full of enzymes designed to aid digestion, not hydrate lips, so stay mindful to avoid lip licking. Next, minimise the amount of salty and spicy foods you’re consuming which can trigger inflammation. Thirdly, avoid products containing synthetic flavours and fragrances. Although it’s tempting to reach for a tub of petroleum jelly to protect chapped lips from the chill, it’s not as helpful as you think. As a by-product from the oil industry, petroleum jelly is not compatible with our skin and applying on your lips is like wrapping your skin in cling film, preventing it from breathing and potentially making the area even more sore and chapped. Give your lips an even better edge against the elements with a super hydrating and nourishing lip balm like our Lip Nourish, which is made with avocado and citrus oils and natural emollients to keep your lips soft, smooth, hydrated and protected. For everyday wear, try Nude Cinnamon or Chai Shimmer, or even our best-selling Rose Lime. The unique melting texture of each crème-smooth balm will allow the lips to feel hydrated with a wash of sheer, delicious colour that will take you from day to night. A handy tip is to coat your lips with Lip Nourish at night to awake with a soft, nourished lips by morning.
5. Eat for beauty You can make a big difference to your skin by making some small changes to your diet when the new season arrives. In particular, consuming clean, fresh food will give you the best beauty benefits. Sweet potatoes, pumpkins, beetroot, apples, and pumpkin seeds are all in season during Autumn, and contain Vitamins A and C not to mention a plethora of healthy nutrients and antioxidants to reduce inflammation, slow down the ageing process and aid in the creation of new skin cells. Don’t forget the fatty acids. Research shows people deficient in essential fatty acids often have dry lips and skin. So, it makes sense to boost your EFA intake in Autumn. Nuts, seeds, avocados and oily fish can help resolve parched skin, and embracing lipsticks containing EFA-rich avocado (Vitamin E), walnut and flaxseed oils (linoleic acid) have been scientifically proven to heal and hydrate. If you’re not already taking an organic natural food booster, Autumn is a great time to begin. These not only gives your immune system a much needed pre-winter boost, but also works wonders to hydrate, smooth and protect your skin.