Summer is a joyful time for us and for our skin. But for your skin, it is also a season full of both small and large challenges. Sun, sea, swimming pools and outdoor activities leave traces on the skin that are not always visible at first glance. That is why autumn is a great time to help your skin recover and get it ready for colder days with an autumn skincare routine.
In this article, I’ll walk you through:
- Why your post-summer skincare should look a bit different from summer
- Which ingredients are worth adding to your autumn skincare routine
- How to protect your skin from further damage.
The difference between summer and autumn skincare
In summer, the main priority in skincare is protection from UV radiation. Your skin is constantly and often exposed to the sun from all directions, so it needs protection from premature ageing, pigmentation spots and loss of collagen. You usually reach for lighter hydrating products that do not feel heavy, but still give your skin enough moisture and basic protection.
In autumn, the focus shifts to regeneration. After the summer months, your skin is often a bit weakened, sometimes dehydrated, and pigmentation spots may have appeared or become more visible.
At this time of year, you still want to keep your skin well hydrated and continue protecting it from UV rays. But you will also benefit from adding more nourishing creams and serums that strengthen the skin barrier and help your skin replenish the moisture it lost.
Autumn is also a good time to gently brighten pigmentation spots and include light exfoliation so your skin can look fresh and radiant again.
If you would like a simple way to get clear on what your skin needs in autumn, I have created a short PDF Compass to guide you, which you can get for free by sending an email to Mirka@MiriamRitchie.com.
Why your skincare after summer should be different
During the summer, your skin goes through quite a lot. These changes often do not disappear on their own, and it really helps if you support your skin a bit in autumn.
UV radiation and hyperpigmentation
UV radiation increases the production of melanin, the pigment that protects your skin from damage. When there is too much sun exposure, melanin production becomes uneven and that shows up as pigmentation spots.
Autumn is a good time to gently target those spots with skincare, ideally with serums that contain ingredients such as kojic acid, azelaic acid, arbutin, or vitamin C. These ingredients help regulate melanin production and gradually even out your skin tone.
Loss of hydration
Even though summer air often feels humid, your skin still loses a lot of water through sun exposure, sweating, chlorine in pools, sea breeze and salt water.
In summer, we usually use light hydrating products, and even though they cannot fully prevent water loss, your skin can partly cheat. It absorbs some moisture from the humid air, so it often does not feel the loss as dramatically.
But in autumn, the air becomes drier. You spend more time indoors, heating slowly starts, and the air around you is not as kind to your skin. This is the moment to switch to richer creams, which, besides hydrating and active ingredients, also contain enough fatty acids (oils), butters such as shea butter, or squalane.
These help your skin hold on to moisture instead of losing it quickly.
Sun damage we do not see immediately
Not all sun damage is visible right away. Two main types often show up later: photoaging and a weakened skin barrier.
Photoaging
UV rays lead to the formation of free radicals, which damage collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep your skin firm and elastic. This process is called photoageing and, over time, it contributes to premature signs of ageing.
To reduce further damage, it’s worth adding antioxidants to your skincare, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, or coenzyme Q10. They help neutralise free radicals and protect your skin from additional harm.
Weakened skin barrier
Summer sun, chlorinated pool water and salty sea water all weaken the lipids (fats) in your skin barrier. When this barrier is compromised, your skin loses hydration more easily and becomes more reactive and prone to irritation.
Here, it helps to think of ingredients such as ceramides, fatty acids, again, and cholesterol. Together, they help rebuild and strengthen the outer layer of your skin.
Ingredients to focus on in your autumn skincare
If you want to restore and regenerate your skin after summer, these ingredients are a good place to start.
Antioxidants. Vitamin C, vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 neutralise free radicals and protect your skin from further damage. Vitamin C also helps to brighten pigmentation spots and supports collagen production.
Hydrating ingredients – humectants. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin attract water into the skin, which is essential for good hydration. Use them under a richer cream that can “lock in” the moisture.
Prebiotics and probiotics. These help maintain a healthy skin microbiome, strengthen the protective barrier and can reduce the risk of inflammation.
How to choose a serum – and how to combine them
When you are choosing serums for autumn, think about three main tasks: hydration, protection, and regeneration.
Here is just one example of many possible serum combinations for the autumn skincare season. In general, morning needs hydrating and protective serums, while the evening needs regenerative (and still hydrating) serums that support repair.
Example serum combinations
Morning
- Vitamin C + niacinamide. Help brighten pigmentation spots, improve skin texture, protect from free radicals and make your skin more resilient.
- Hyaluronic acid + squalane. Give your skin a good dose of hydration and help lock that moisture in, while supporting the overall condition of your skin.
Evening
- Ceramides + hyaluronic acid. Help rebuild the skin barrier and keep your skin comfortably hydrated overnight.
- Resveratrol + peptides. Support regeneration and help stimulate collagen production.
If you would like a simple table for layering and combining several serums at once, I have one for you as well, which you can get for free by sending an email to Mirka@MiriamRitchie.com.
How to choose your creams for autumn and winter
In autumn and winter, it is important to use creams that do not just hydrate, but also protect your skin from external stress.
Look for creams that contain:
- Hyaluronic acid or glycerin. Basic hydrating ingredients that help keep water in the skin.
- Squalane, ceramides, peptides, fatty acids. These help lock in moisture and strengthen your skin barrier.
- Antioxidants. Protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals.
- SPF. Even in autumn and winter, it is worth using a cream with SPF to protect from UVA rays, which are responsible for skin ageing.
What else can you add?
Autumn walks are good for your skin too. We tend to spend more time indoors in autumn, but walks in fresh air are incredibly beneficial for your skin. While you are outside, your skin gets more oxygen, which supports cell regeneration and improves circulation.
Walking also reduces stress, and stress is something your skin really does not love.
Don’t forget your diet. It has a big impact on your skin
A nutrient-rich diet is just as important for your skin as your creams and serums. Here are a few things that are worth including on your plate:
- Healthy fats (omega-3, omega-6). Help keep your skin elastic and well-hydrated. You will find them in fish, nuts and avocados.
- Antioxidants. Autumn foods like pumpkin, carrots and spinach are rich in beta-carotene, which helps protect your skin from damage.
- Vitamins. Vitamins C, A, E and zinc support regeneration, improve hydration and help your skin cope better with inflammation.
To sum up autumn skincare
Autumn skincare is essential if you want to help your skin recover and prepare it for colder months. The right mix of serums, creams, and antioxidants can restore lost hydration, strengthen your skin barrier, and improve the overall condition of your skin.
Try to keep three pillars in mind: Hydration, Protection, and Nourishment. These will help your skin stay healthy and radiant throughout autumn and winter.
