Seasonal splendour

Wednesday, August 31, 2011
12:32 PM

Don’t let autumn winds blow your beauty regime out the window – it only takes a minor overhaul to keep you gorgeous whatever the weather

This is one of the worst times for skin, as humidity levels drop along with temperatures. Changes in the weather can confuse your skin, leaving it dry, dull and uneven, causing it to react and become flaky, or even break out in spots. Now is the time that skin needs just a little extra help.

Decleor’s new Double Radiance Cream (£45, 020 7313 8780) is two vials in one containing a cream and a gel that use prebiotic plant care to provide a gentle boost to balance out-of-sync skin and get it back on track. SkinCeuticals Rexturising Activator (£73, stockist ), meanwhile, is a resurfacing and replenishing serum that harnesses two vital mechanisms – exfoliation and hydration – to make the skin’s texture smoother and softer. For those who prefer a physical scrub, Evolve’s Perfect Radiance Facial Polish (£12.99 evolvebeauty.co.uk) is contains vitamin-C-rich Brazilian Acerola to smooth and brighten plus organic Acai berries to gently buff away imperfections.

For no-effort exfoliation, Clinique’s new Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturiser (£34, clinique.co.uk available from 1 October) gently sloughs off dead skin cells while you sleep, revealing brighter, clearer skin. For an intensive weekly treatment try the Turnaround Concentrate Radiance Renewer (£32).

You may have been getting away with a light lotion and/or a tinted moisturiser during summer, but as the weather turns, chances are you’ll need a richer cream. If you’re not ready to move back to full-on foundation yet, try Clarins new Hydraquench Tinted Moisturiser (£27, clarins.co.uk). According to Lionel de Benetti, head of research and development at Clarins, the challenge was to get the right balance between moisturising and colour. ‘One must not compromise the other, and this took time,’ he says. ‘But we succeeded.’

For a quick but intensive hydration boost, try Origins Drink Up 10-minute mask (£19, origins.co.uk) which contains algae extracts to deliver an extra-helping of hydration, and emollient-rich apricot kernel oil.

Lips can also suffer with the change of seasons. Keep yours kissable with Connock London Kukui Oil Wonder Balm (£18.50, connocklondon.com). It’s also great for dry skin anywhere on the body, and comes in a handy portable size.

Top tips for tresses

Hair can suffer now, too - it needs extra protection from the heat and cold, and wearing a hat can give the most carefully cared for locks the frizzies. Ojon’s Dry Recovery Intensive Hydrating 2-Minute Mask with blue agave (£28, 0870 034 2454) is a quick and effective remedy for sad, dehydrated hair – despite taking just two minutes to work, it leaves hair glossy and conditioned, and it smells gorgeous.

Lush’s H’Suan Wen Hua (£7.99, Lion Yard, lush.co.uk) is a pre-wash conditioner made with avocados balsamic vinegar to give shine. A watercress infusion helps to increase the tensile strength of the hair.

If you’re a big-time user of straighteners or dryers, of course, it makes the problem twice as bad. Ben Cooke, co-founder of Lockonego (Lockonego.com) has this advice: ‘Be sure to prevent dry, frizzy ends and protect your hair from extreme temperatures by using a heat protective styling product. I like Unite’s 7 Seconds Condition (£14.50, 0845 034 0770). You’ll notice an instant improvement to the condition and vitality of your hair.’

Body and hands

It’s easy to give up a bit on body care as you start wearing more clothes again – it can be a relief not to have to bother with all that scrubbing, moisturising and fake tanning. But keep up your exfoliating regime now, and you’ll be really glad you did when the Christmas party season arrives.

Try Yenyen’s Exfoliant Rice body bar (£10, yenyen-natural.co.uk) inspired by Thai spa rituals. It’s blended with vitamin-E-rich rice bran oil and nutrient rich grain, bark, root and leaf extracts to gently polish away dead skin cells leaving skin radiant, soft and luminous.

Then nourish your limbs with 93 per cent organic Skin Blossom Moisturising Body Lotion (£5.75), a non-greasy lotion that gives skin the moisture it needs without clogging pores.

Take care of your hands with Evolve’s hand care duo – wash (£9.99) and lotion (£11.99) contain goji berry extract to revitalise the skin, and are fragranced with exotic Japanese yusu. Stand the pretty bottles on the sink and you’ll never forget to use them.