As the nights draw in and we retreat back inside, we make many changes to our day-to-day lives. The summer tops have been packed away for another year, and the winter woollies dug out of where they’ve been hibernating for the last few months. We find ourselves reaching for warming soups and stews; salads and ice creams have lost much of their appeal.
And we often find that the needs of our skin change with the seasons too.
High-factor sunscreen is no longer a daily essential, although some experts do recommend using sun protection all year around. On the whole though, we’re now looking to protect our skin from other elements.
Central heating can dry skin out and leave it feeling dehydrated. Depending on your skin type, you might benefit from switching to a richer moisturiser, or adding a serum or facial oil to your skincare routine. People often start to wear more foundation as their summer tan fades away. Choose a moisturising cleanser to remove it each night. Our Purifying Cleansing Lotion is enriched with aloe vera and seed oils to leave skin feeling softer, and is gentle enough not to strip the skin of its natural protective oils.
While your legs and arms may be covered up most of the time in autumn, they’ll still welcome a regular application of body lotion. Look for one with natural ingredients, such as coconut oil, shea butter or cocoa butter. And don’t forget hand cream, as skin exposed to autumn winds can quickly become cold and sore.
If you do suffer from dry patches or cracked skin, check the ingredients list of your hand wash. While Faith in Nature ban sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), it’s a common ingredient in high-street soaps and liquid hand washes. SLS can really dry your skin out and trigger skin conditions such as eczema, so you may want to swap to a natural, SLS-free hand wash.
While the shower is refreshing in summer, many of us start to look forward to a good soak in the bath in autumn. Some bubble baths can be quite drying to the skin (again SLS is often the culprit), so do look for gentler, natural alternatives.
In general, many of us feel the need to be a little bit kinder to ourselves in the cooler months. We want to wrap ourselves in cosy PJs and super-soft bedding, light a scented candle and embrace a more relaxed pace of life. Give in to the temptation; it’s nature’s way of telling us it’s time to slow down and recharge.