Notice how your skin feels drier, tighter and more sensitive as we leave summer behind and the temperatures start to cool? The recent spate of rain and windy weather doesn’t help, and can also leave skin feeling more vulnerable to the effects of seasonal changes.
 
Your complexion may be more prone to outbreaks and irritability, or perhaps you’re seeing the beginnings of fine lines forming that weren’t there a few months ago? If you want to optimise your skin health, now is a good time to reset your regular regime.  

“As we transition from summer to autumn, skin often becomes drier, duller, and more reactive,” says EV Expert Julie Scott, Nurse Prescriber and Clinical Director, Facial Aesthetics. “Colder air, wind, and heating reduce hydration, while lingering UV damage from summer may result in new lines and creases, and make uneven texture more noticeable.  So, it’s an ideal time to focus on repairing the skin barrier, restoring moisture, and supporting the skin’s natural resilience ahead of winter.”

Maintain optimal pH balance 

“The pH describes how ‘acid or alkaline’ your skin is,” says EV Expert Dr Emmaline Ashley, Cosmetic Physician and Founder, Ashley Aesthetics. “Ideally, skin pH should be slightly acidic (around pH 4-6).  This keeps enzymes and good skin bacteria happy.  Hot showers and harsh soaps can raise pH, making skin more alkaline, which shows up as tightness, dryness, and irritation. Use lukewarm water and switch to a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser, and a gentle mandelic and lactic acid blend to exfoliate—in clinic, I recommend a light lactic acid peel followed by red LED therapy. This smooths and brightens, and helps the skin barrier recover.”

We like: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, which contains hyaluronic acid.

Protect your skin barrier 

Your skin barrier is like a moisture lock and the first line of defence against irritants. “When skin gets too dry, the barrier becomes compromised, allowing moisture to escape more easily,” says EV Expert Amish Patel BEM, Aesthetics Practitioner and Skincare Expert, Intrigue Cosmetic Clinic. “This can cause skin to become flaky, sore, itchy, and, even cracked, creating a cycle of discomfort.  Enhance your skincare routine, by using a collagen face mask  1- 2 times a week.”  

We like: The Skin Diary Age Defence Moisturising Cream, which helps repair DNA damage, reduces inflammation and supports skin barrier resilience.

Try a seasonal detox

A detoxifying skincare regime can help to rejuvenate and refine dull, dry skin, help clear pores and restore radiance. “Autumn is all about repair, reversing UV damage and encouraging new skin cell regeneration with added protection,” says Patel.  “I recommend exfoliating 2-3 times a week, and using moisturising skincare containing hyaluronic acid, ceramides, peptides, or niacinamide, to counterbalance dryness and irritation. The HydraFacial is a great way to deeply cleanse, exfoliate and hydrate the skin.”

We like: ZO Skin Health Complexion Clarifying Serum which contains salicylic acid to minimise excess sebum and decongest the skin, and HydroPeptide Exfoliating Cleanser, which contains jojoba beads and skin smoothing peptides.

Refine skin texture

Post summer skin may appear congested, uneven and lacking radiance. “I like to combine treatments,” says Scott. For example, a light chemical peel with microneedling and LED therapy, to stimulate collagen, refine texture, and restore a healthy glow. To support in clinic treatments, use products which are rich in active ingredients.”

We like: HydroPeptide Collagen ReActivate PM to promote gentle cell turnover, improve texture, and strengthen the skin.

Strengthen skin, boost collagen 

“This a good time to schedule collagen-stimulating treatments as there is less sun exposure,” says Ashley. “Lasers or radio frequency microneedling can help to tighten and improve skin texture, while polynucleotide skin boosters are great to strengthen the skin and support post-summer skin recovery."
Ashely recommends Neostrata Tri-Therapy Lifting Serum, which contains a powerful patented firming peptide that boosts collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin production.  

We like: Nira Pro Laser, a powerful at home device that delivers professional grade results. Use to firm the skin, stimulate natural collagen production and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. You should start to notice improvements within a few weeks.

EV Expert recommended in-clinic treatments 

“Exo|E with microneedling (SkinPen) is a great treatment for the skin as we move into cooler, lower-UV months. SkinPen microneedling primes the skin to create tiny, controlled micro-channels on the surface of the skin, while the exosome-powered Exo|E system is applied to support recovery, hydration, and improve overall skin quality. It’s a subtle, cumulative reset that helps with tone, texture, and radiance, with minimal downtime. I typically recommend a short course of three sessions.”
Dr Emmaline Ashley

“For patients looking to ‘reset’ and rejuvenate their skin post-summer, I recommend a combination of in-clinic treatments such as HydraFacial to rejuvenate and hydrate the skin, or microneedling, alongside targeted at home skincare.”
Julie Scott

“My treatment recommendation for this time of year, is to combine PRP (platelet-rich plasma) Therapy with chemical exfoliation. This will rejuvenate and refresh the skin, and remove summer skin damage, fine lines and hyperpigmentation. Supported by a tailored skincare routine, these two treatments offer long-lasting results.”
Amish Patel, BEM