How to transition your skincare routine from summer to autumn

The Independent speaks to two leading dermatologists to find out

The days are getting shorter, temperatures are dropping and the leaves are beginning to fall. It’s official, autumn has arrived.

But while we might be looking forward to investing in cosy jumpers, indulging in pumpkin spiced lattes and swapping beer gardens for cosy nights in, the cooler climes don’t necessarily mean good things for our skin.

“As temperatures drop going into autumn, skin is inevitably affected,” says cosmetic dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting.

“Colder air is less humid and this affects the skin’s essential barrier function. Combined with chafing winds, this can leave skin dry, dull and sensitive.”

So, while lighter creams and barely-there beauty regimes might have made the grade when the sun was still shining, now is the time to correcting any summer damage and prepare your complexion for winter.

How, then, to prep the face for chillier days ahead?

We spoke to Dr Bunting and leading dermatologist Dr Anil Budh-Raja for their tips on getting healthy, gorgeous skin just in time for autumn.

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Cleansing

Tata Harper, Purifying Cleanser, £66, Cult Beauty; Kiehl’s, Ultra Facial Cleanser, £16.50, Space NK; Glow Recipe, Blueberry Bounce Gently Cleanser, £10, Cult Beauty

According to Dr Bunting, one of the best things to do when reassessing your skincare routine for a new season is get back to basics.

When it comes to cleansing, she recommends embracing the merits of a “gentle, non-foaming wash-off cleanser” and to avoid using excessively hot water as this will leach away your skin’s essential lipids (natural fats that maintain the strength of the skin's protective barrier).

Dr Budh-Raja agrees, adding that you should ideally invest in a moisturising product that will not only help preserve skin’s natural oils but will also hydrate skin.

If you're on the hunt for a new cleanser, consider picking up Tata Harper's Purifying Cleanser which is made using 100 per cent natural ingredients or Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser which contains vitamin E to keep your skin moisturised. We also love Glow Recipe's Blueberry Bounce Gently Cleanser which works as a cleanser and deep-cleaning mask in one.

Exfoliating

Caudalie, Gentle Buffing Cream, £20, Space NK; Milk Makeup, Cannabis Hydrating Face Mask, £21, Cult Beauty; By Terry, Cellularose Dual Exfoliation Scrub, £50, Space NK

After months of fake tanning and long days at the beach, uneven skin tone can be a real concern for many people.

But, while it’s important to get rid of the dead damaged cells, Dr Bunting recommends skipping “all forms of physical exfoliation, including flannels and cleansing brushes”.

Instead, look for products that are more gentle on the skin, like Caudalie's Gentle Buffing Cream, and rinse off with warm water.

We also recommend Milk Makeup's Cannabis Hydrating Face Mask or By Terry's Cellularose Dual Exfoliation Scrub, both of which are ultra-hydrating and suitable for sensitive skin.

Moisturising

It Cosmetics, Confidence in a Cream, £39, Cult Beauty; La Roche-Posay Nutritic Intense Riche Nutri-Reconstructing Cream, £18, Feel Unique; Charlotte Tilbury, Charlotte’s Magic Cream, £70, Feel Unique

It is time to bid adieu to the lightweight moisturiser you’ve been slathering on all summer and bulk up with a heftier hydrator.

The reason for this, Dr Budh-Raja says, is because “skin becomes dry in autumn and winter due to the cold, reduced humidity and windy weather and therefore requires more hydration”.

While Dr Budh-Raja recommends investing in a cream that contains glycerin and hyaluronic acid to help hold moisture, Dr Bunting suggests using a barrier-bolstering moisturiser that contains ceramides and niacinamide to “support your skin’s outermost layer and help reduce sensitivity”.

For super-hydrating creams, we suggest looking at It Cosmetics' Confidence in a Cream or La Roche-Posay's Nutritic Intense Riche Nutri-Reconstructing Cream, both of which help to soothe and comfort dry skin. Alternatively, splurge on Charlotte Tilbury's Charlotte’s Magic Cream which is bursting with ingredients like collagen to transform your skin.

If you suffer from particularly dehydrated or damaged skin, serums will also make a great addition to your routine as they deliver a potent dose of hydration.

We recommend Oskia’s Get Up & Glow which is designed to help speed repair and boost your complexion’s defences against the elements.

SPF

Clinique, Super City Block SPF40, £20, Look Fantastic; Darphin, Intral Shield SPF50, £38, Space NK; Kiehl’s, Ultra Light Daily Defense SPF50, £38, Space NK

Both expert dermatologists agree that sun protection shouldn’t just be something you think about when you’re heading to the beach.

In fact, your sun care routine should be year-round, come rain or shine.

However, if you find that the SPF you’ve been using throughout the summer just isn’t cutting it, Dr Bunting recommends switching to a more nourishing formula to help keep your skin healthy and hydrated.

For a product that feels weightless under your makeup, we suggest picking up Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily Defense SPF50. Clinique's Super City Block SPF40 and Darphin's Intral Shield SPF50 are also great buys and double up as a barrier to environmental aggressors.

Acids

The Ordinary, Mandelic Acid 10%, £5.75, Cult Beauty; Flawless Nightly Serum, £39, Dr Sam; Oskia, Retinoid Sleep Serum 0.2%, £70, Space NK

Common belief is that the use of actives can exacerbate dryness – something we already have enough of during the cooler months – and while this is true to some extent, that doesn’t mean you should stop using altogether come autumn.

“Actives remain an important step, whatever the weather,” Dr Bunting says.

“But consider a gentler new-generation retinoid like granactive retinoid to boost your glow without leaving skin brittle and irritated.”

Dr Budh-Raja agrees, adding that while you might need to reconsider the frequency you use ingredients like retinol, as long as you follow with plenty of moisturiser and SPF, your skin will continue to reap the benefits.

Some of our top picks include The Ordinary's Mandelic Acid for gentle exfoliation, Dr Sam's Flawless Nightly Serum, which improves overall skin tone without irritation, and Oskia's Retinoid Sleep Serum that gets to work during your slumber.