Just like all the little furry animals in our gardens start gathering food and begin the hibernating process, we too should be prepping our skin for the coming colder months. With the morning getting that little bit crisper and the nights starting to really draw in, it's super important for us to make sure our skin is well and truly ready for the cold snap that will eventually hit.
Here are the things that I like to recommend for us to make that wonderful transition from that light Summer style skincare, to the richer lotions and potions for the coming Winter months...
INTRODUCE A FACE OIL
If you are not already using a face oil, this is something that I would highly recommend especially during the colder months. Our skin can quite easily 'leak' moisture and hydration. Factors such as heating, strong facial cleansers and toners plus many more reasons. Oils can help to 'lock-in' the skin's hydration and keep it nice and moisturised.
(Why not try the Viceroy & Grace Botanical Face Oil from £45 for 10ml)
KEEP UP WITH THE SUN PROTECTION
It can be quite normal for us to pack our sun protection away in the loft with all those lovely, floaty dresses after Summer has gone. However, it is still as important in the Winter months as it is in Summer. Not just for those bright and crispy days where the sun blinds you in the morning, but also to protect our skin from the cold. It almost acts as another protective layer in our forcefield against the elements. Not to mention that the UVA rays are at the same levels all year round. Keep that SPF in your routine each day and every day! I recommend to apply it as your last layer of skincare before your makeup (or if you're not wearing makeup, then just the last layer!). It also works fantastic as a makeup primer too!
(I recommend Nimue SPF 40 starting from £16 for 20ml - email me at hello@tsui.life for more details)
LAYER YOUR PRODUCTS
I love going to bed with a nice sheen to my skin. I apply layer upon layer sometimes if it's really cold outside. Plus don't forget the temperature can drop in your bedroom over night too so it's always good to have a little extra protection.
Generally in the Summer months I keep it quite simple in the evening as it can be so warm (especially in our house!) however, once Winter draws near, I start to layer up products to keep my skin as nourished as possible.
I love to layer my eye cream, then face oil/serum (I always use my Viceroy & Grace Oil), then face cream at night. Sometimes if I'm feeling like it might need a little more, I will scrap the lot and just apply a hydrating overnight mask. It's not just at night either, I love to layer all these products on during the day too - plus my SPF! I don't feel like I have an oil slick on my face at all, (obviously I reduce the amount of oil I apply in the mornings) I just find it helps my makeup glide on even better.
HYDRATE WITH A HYDRATING FACE MASK
Overnight masks are wonderful things! It's like you don't have to take any time out of your day to do them and yet you feel very competent and accomplished when you wake up the next morning. It's like you're being productive whilst you're sleeping! Anything to get another 'tick' off my to-do list!
(I love the Nimue Anti-Ageing Overnight Mask £34 for 60ml email me at hello@tsui.life for further details)
TREAT YOUR BODY AS A WHOLE
I think we can sometimes feel like the skin on the rest of our body is somehow separate to our face. We can spend hundreds and hundreds of pounds on facials, skincare products and weird and wonderful machines to keep us looking youthful but then stop at our neckline. It's so important to regularly exfoliate and moisturise the skin on our bodies as well. Maybe create your own scrub using almond meal and a nice coconut oil. You could even make your own mask for your body using some yoghurt and honey. After exfoliating in the shower, apply this mask to your skin for 5 mins or so (maybe stay in the shower as it could get quite messy!). Then, shower it off and massage in some warm body oil. (Why not try this recipe from my tsui apothecary range)
EAT YOUR MOISTURISER
I know, it might sound like a weird one, but omega supplements are a fantastic way of moisturising your skin. The Skin Omegas I retail on my site and in the clinic are an amazing way of hydrating the skin from the inside out. Plus, don't just look at the skin on your face either! These may help treat chapped lips, dry and cracked heals plus also improve the condition of your hair (and that includes your eyelashes!!) I've seen such an improvement in my skin since adding them to my diet and so have a lot of my clients. They can also help treat psoriasis and eczema as well! They're my secret little magic pills ha ha!
I hope these little tips have given you some inspiration to get going with your Autumnal preparation!
Thank you so much for reading,
Big love,
Em x