10 beauty changes for Autumn
Well, the temperature seems to have dropped and that extended summer has come to an end! You’ve packed away the bikinis and pulled out the chunky knits, but have you considered the changes you can do to your beauty routine? Here are 10 changes for you to make to transition into the Autumn months!
Silk pillowcases
With the elements becoming harsh to the skin, switching to silk pillowcases is a simple way of giving your face some TLC without having to lift a finger, in fact, you can reap the benefits of all this whilst you snooze!
Using a silk pillowcase will help your skin by being more-gentle on the skin than cotton for example. Fine lines and wrinkles won’t be deepened. Silk is naturally hypoallergenic and has great resistance to dust mites and other bacteria that can cause skin reactions or discomfort.
It also helps that sleeping on a silk pillowcase is a simple touch of luxury that everyone needs after a long day!
Wash your makeup brushes
I know that washing your makeup brushes isn’t the most exciting of things to do on a Friday night… it’s no surprise that we are all guilty of leaving our brushes for far too long, unwashed! You may notice that no matter what you do with your skin, you keep getting a breakout of spots, it may be due to you using dirty makeup brushes! There is a full post dedicated to washing your makeup brushes, which you can take a look at here.
Keep your sheet masks in the fridge
I know the idea of putting an ice-cold sheet mask on your face during Winter could be seen as a form of torture. But with the chilly weather and indoor heating causing skin problems applying a cool sheet mask will help calm any redness, depuff the face and close up pores restoring balance back to your skin. Try using the sheet mask in the mornings as the boost of hydration and moisture will help the skin and getting it ready to face the elements! The Instaclear Control Mask will help particularly well this time of year due to them calming any redness!
Hot water and lemon
Drinking hot water and lemon first thing in the morning is a great start to the day. Adding a dash of honey to it will also make an immune boosting potion! Drinking lemon water is also a great swap for caffeine which can reap havoc on your skin, especially during the months of windy, freezing days and dark mornings!
Don’t cut your cuticles
Having my cuticles snipped away when I have a manicure is hugely satisfying! However, not meaning to sound too Blue Peter, but snipping your cuticles is something not to try at home! If you want to perform an at home manicure than the best way to deal with cuticles is to soak your nails in warm water, take an nail tool called an orange stick (it sort of resembles a large cocktail stick) and push the cuticles back to the nail bed. By cutting your cuticles when you aren’t experienced can lead to you over-exposing the nail and therefore adds to the risk of infection. If the tiny flakes of skin or hang nails drive you mad, apply ample amounts of hand moisturiser throughout the day focusing it onto the cuticles!
Embrace lipstick
There’s something about Autumn that calls for deep berry red lips! I’ll admit I’m not the best at experimenting with a dark lipstick. This is why I am taking on the personal challenge of taking the opportunity to wear dark lips this month! Opting for a cooler toned lipstick will give your teeth a helping hand by appearing more white, but there is always the option of using Procoal’s Intensive Teeth Whitening Strips for an enamel safe way of whitening your teeth!
So, I dare you to join me and embrace the bold lip this season!
Body scrub
With millions of layers we pile on as the temperatures drop, naturally body care seems to waver a tad. If you continue to give your body a good coating of nourishing moisturiser don’t forget to give your skin a scrub beforehand, this will shift the skin of dead skin cells, have the blood circulating, giving the skin a healthy glow and other woeful skin concerns, such as blemishes on your back and chest will be a thing of the past!
Don’t forget your feet
Much like the body scrub mentioned above, we put our feet through a lot throughout the colder months. Constantly shoved into socks and boots with very little, if no attention given to them at all! Give those forgotten toes a pedicure and try out the Peel Away Foot Mask to have your feet looking their best and comfortable, you’ll also be extremely prepared for first day of spring and dusting off your sandals!
Remember your SPF
I know I’ve said this before, but wearing SPF should be a year round step to your skincare routine. Just because you are not lounging on a sunbed, Pina Colada in hand, doesn’t mean the sun’s harmful UV rays aren’t out in full force! So, to prevent your skin suffering premature aging and dark spots, keep up the good work and wear an SPF of at least 30 on a daily basis.
Hair masks
Hair has a hard time during winter, the cold weather, the static from woolly hats being pulled on and off, the indoor heating. It’s no surprise many people claim how winter causes them weekly hair problems! Opting for a shea butter enriched shampoo will give them hair follicles some much needed moisture, Procoal’s shampoo bars are packed full of wonderful ingredients your skin will love! You can also try coating your hair in coconut oil for an overnight mask, try wrapping your hair in an old t-shirt to save the oil from ruining bed linen!
So, I hope these 10 change ups will help you in a bid to keep your skin and hair looking great during these chilly autumnal months!
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
