How to detox your skin this autumn

Being a strong supporter of the “summer all year round” campaign, as well as the “I want to have glowy, hydrated skin” is a hard line to walk. While I am incredibly partial to being outdoors, swimming in the ocean and laying out in the sun (I have sunscreen on I swear), these activities are not particularly conducive to achieving my healthiest, most radiant complexion. As a result, by the time (heaven-forbid) autumn rolls around each year, it is often time to detox post-summer skin and get it back on track to deal with the dehydration and dryness that comes as a result of the temperature drop, heated offices and a little less vitamin D. We spoke to Philippa Curnow, National Education Manager for Elizabeth Arden about why it’s necessary to give your skin a little extra love post-summer, what products and ingredients to look for and what to avoid during cooler weather.

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Why do we need to detox our skin post-summer?

“We [are usually] out in the elements over summer, UVA/UVB damage, being out of routine, late nights and celebrations...the skin is in defence mode over summer,” says Philippa. This often means “dead cells build up on the surface, which [not only] inhibits the absorption of your skincare products,” but can also mean a dull and congested complexion, she explains.

How do we go about detoxing our skin?

“A great way to detox the skin is by using an alpha-hydroxy acid peel treatment. By exfoliating the skin using AHAs we remove the build-up of dead skin cells on the surface to reveal the new skin from within,” she says. AHA based products bh loves: Elizabeth Arden Prevage Progressive Renewal Treatment, SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion, Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel.

Another option is incorporating vitamin A (AKA retinol) into your autumn skincare routine. “Vitamin A...is also a great way to boost the skin cell turnover for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, revealing” fresh and youthful skin underneath. Top tip: when looking to start using a vitamin A product, start 1-2 days a week and work your way up to every second day. Also, as it encourages skin resurfacing, skin is more sensitive to the sun. As a result, only use vitamin A skincare products at night and be sure to always use an SPF in the morning. bh loves: Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Line Erasing Night Serum and Rationale DNA Night Cream (find it at rationale.com)

What should an autumn skincare routine look like?

“We naturally begin to produce less oil on our skin as the weather cools off; therefore we need to maintain the skin with an extra hydration boost,” explains Philippa. “Start to layer your skincare, like you are layering your clothing as the season shifts,” Philippa advises.

Boosting the skin’s hydration can be done in a range of ways, “whether that be moving from a lotion moisturiser to a cream formulation,” adding a hyaluronic acid serum or even trying a pre-serum to improve the efficacy of ingredients in your serum and moisturiser (a pre-serum balances the skin’s PH levels prior to applying active products).

Also, adding a weekly hydration mask “is a must for maintaining a healthy, radiant glow,” she explains. “I recommend Elizabeth Arden Superstart Probiotic Bio-Cellulose Mask once a week for a dose of probiotics for the skin. This helps maintain the skin’s moisture barrier plus bonus hyaluronic acid that binds and attracts moisture...giving that plump and radiant finish.” bh also loves hyaluronic acid serums including House of Immortelle B5 Rose Hydra Serum and Indeed Labs Hydraluron Serum.

When it comes to avoiding specific ingredients, Philippa mentions just to be aware that lighter gel formulas that may have done the job during summer, likely aren’t heavy enough to keep your skin hydrated in winter.

What will you be updating in your beauty routine as the season changes?