After a sunny and warm ‘Indian summer’ - the autumn has arrived. Seasonal changes, particularly the transition from summer to autumn brings with it the need to nourish and protect skin.

As the season changes our skin faces the elements, including windier and colder weather and central heating which causes skin to dehydrate. Here’s what you can do to nourish and protect skin...

Keep drinking water

When it’s hot and sunny we frequently reach for cooling drinks throughout the day - it’s important to keep up the habit of drinking water into Autumn. You should aim to drink 2 litres a day, and if you don’t fancy ice cool water try drinking it at room temperature. If you prefer hot drinks, try to limit your intake of caffeine and sugar . Try a herbal tea or fruit infusion. It’s a healthier option.

Moisturise

It’s important to get the right moisturiser for your skin’s needs. Many people who use a lighter moisturiser in summer switch to a richer formulation for autumn/winter. You can change the formulation from a gel to a lotion, or lotion to a cream. Brands like Clarins and Shiseido have a wide variety of moisturisers to suit every skin type. We love Clarins Multi-Active day and night moisturisers (£36-£40 for 50ml)

Nourish

It’s a great time to treat skin to masks and treatment designed to deeply moisturise and nourish skin. Decleor’s Hydra Floral Anti-pollution Moisturising Mask (£23.50 for 50ml) is great for replenishing dehydrated skin while protecting against pollution. Apply a thick layer once a week, leave on for 5 to 10 minutes, and for a beauty salon style finish, remove any excess that hasn’t sunk into skin with a cotton pad soaked in a gentle toning lotion.

Remember hands and nails

Autumn can take it’s toll on hands and nails as they are often exposed to the elements. Skin on the hands dry out while nails become more brittle. Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream (£16.50 for 100ml) is one of Clarins best sellers - it nourishes hands, strengthens nails and you can also use it as a luxurious foot treatment cream. Try Solar Oil by Creative Nail Design (£11.95 for 15ml), its blend of jojoba oil, sweet almond oil and vitamin E quickly nourishes and strengthens nails.

Enjoy your autumn.

Laura