While summer leaves your skin with UV damage, autumn can be the perfect time to reverse and treat damage, and also prep for flaky winters. After our favourite tips on body care, we tell you how small changes in your beauty routine can lead to big changes on your skin. Have a look at this autumn beauty round-up, and say hello to soft and glowy skin.
1. Guzzle lots of water.
Drink 10 glasses of water a day. You may not necessarily notice but we’re less inclined to drink water in the cooler months. Since this is directly related to your skin’s hydration, make sure you have 2 litres of water (set a reminder if you have to) and also get a fill of your favourite fruits.
2. Scrub away dead skin cells.
Start the new season with a clean slate. A great way to slough off dead cells is to opt for a mild peel with fruit enzymes or amino acids. If you don’t want to go to the salon, look for exfoliators with alpha and beta-hydroxy acids. Natural ingredients like quinoa husk I found in Kiehl’s Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate (Rs 4,700) and Innisfree Green Barley Gommage Peeling Mask (Rs 1,000) help exfoliate skin overnight without scrubbing your face aggressively.
3. Hydrating creams over gels.
Call it psychology or just the humidity, but a lot of us skip using potent creams and serums in summers. Trade your gel-based lotion with a heavier day cream like Organic Harvest Iris Root Shine & Glow Cream (Rs 1,674). In fact, add a potent serum with Vitamin C to reverse sun damage, treat fine lines and dial-up that glow. I like Serumtologie Vitamin C Serum 22 (Rs 5,139) and The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost (Rs 1,800).
4. Face mists help with dry skin.
Be it when applying your base or a wake-me-up at work, give your skin a boost of hydration with a face mist like the Kama Ayurveda Pure Rose Water For Face & Body. Not just good as a make-up remover, I splash micellar water twice a day to avoid my skin going flaky. Bioderma – Sensibio H2O is super light and suits most skin types.
5. Don’t skimp on SPF.
Just because the weather is cooler, doesn’t mean you don’t need to use sunscreen altogether. While you can dial down the number of re-applications, use an SPF between 15-30 like the Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Lotion Sunscreen With Broad Spectrum Protection SPF 30 (Rs 950).
6. Load up on the right foods.
Lastly, go beyond topical care. Embrace superfoods like chia seeds, strawberries and oranges for glowing, healthy skin. Avoid second-hand smoking since that too can harm your skin. Lastly, add Vitamin E, rosehip oil and shea butter to stay hydrated.
Don’t forget to catch the ultimate fall round-up in our magazine.
