Autumn Rituals: Dry Skin And The Changing Air
Autumn is a beautiful, cosy season: part hangover from the summer, and part prelude to winter.
It can also be a testing time for the skin, reminding us that our bodycare rituals should also change with the seasons.
Autumn changes to the air
Cold air is generally drier than warm air, and draws the moisture out of our skin. Indoor heating dries autumn air even more, compounding the loss of hydration that makes our skin less resilient in the cold months.
Our habits also change in autumn: in cooler weather, we’re less likely to reach for that glass of water to cool down. Instead, hot coffees, sweet drinks, and savoury comfort food – while heavenly – do little to help the loss of hydration.
The first places to show signs of distress are our shins, the back of our hands, elbows, and anywhere our skin is thin. While this is completely normal, it does call for a change to our bodycare routines.
Supporting your skin
This means out with the lighter lotions and moisturisers, and in with the richer body creams, oils and balms. And all the while, remembering to hydrate from within with enough water each day.
Nourishing plant oils and raw butters. Many people are surprised to see dry skin improve more from a good plant oil, than a lotion. A light moisturiser with little oil might hydrate skin for a while, but will quickly evaporate and do little to lock in moisture for longer periods.
And dry skin isn’t always just dehydrated – it can also be malnourished, and more prone to irritation and flare-ups of skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis and rosacea.
This is where plant oils and butters really perform: many are naturally rich in vitamins and minerals, with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory benefits to the skin. While they don’t moisturise in the traditional sense, some like argan oil, are particularly rich in fatty acids that support the skin barrier. Unrefined, organic butters of shea nuts and cocoa beans are also wonderful for conditioning the skin, softening it, and improving its elasticity for the drier months.
Hydrating with rich creams and body butters. These emulsions of water, plant oils, and butters are in many ways the best of both worlds. They deliver immediate hydration from their water content, while the oils and butters in them deeply nourish skin and lock in moisture. They are an autumn and winter favourite for a reason.
Using protective balms. Probably amongst my favourite bodycare, balms are a blend of plant oils, sometimes butters, and always wax to prevent water loss and seal in moisture. In nature’s genius, nourishing waxes like beeswax and candelila wax harden plant oils into a luxurious salve, forming a layer on the skin that is still breathable enough not to block pores.
Equal measures rich and practical, balms are waterless, making them a concentrated form of skin treatment. They can also be easier to travel with than oils.
Warming scents
Autumn also ushers in comforting fragrances that warm the senses, as we adjust emotionally to shorter and darker days and for many, the bittersweet end of summer holidays. Spiced, natural oils like ginger, vanilla, cardamom and cinnamon evoke feelings of safety and abundance, while nourishing the skin.
Two things you can do today
In addition to creating a much richer skin routine, there are changes you can easily make to support your skin this season.
Keep a shallow bowl or pan of water near the radiator, in the room you sleep in. It is low frills, costs nothing, and really improves how your skin feels in the morning. Remember to clean and replace it frequently.
Switch from hot to warm showers: a much harder ask in the cold months, but a change your skin will really thank you for.
Until next Sunday.
With care,
