LET’S GLOW!
Autumn is undoubtedly one of nature’s most wonderful times; the bright colours of the changing foliage, the crisp crunch of the fallen leaves underfoot and the start of the cool and clear evenings. Unfortunately, no one told your skin about autumn’s beauty! The bitter and dry air that appears as the winter months approach can be a nightmare for your skin, creating dry, flaky and all round dull looking complexions that your daily skincare routine just can’t resolve, hence these autumn beauty tips and tricks that will help you regain the glow you’ve always had.
What you may not know is that the end of the summer needn’t mean the end of fresh faces, brilliant bodies and luscious locks. There are some really simple tips and tricks to add to your usual habits that can banish tired skin and keep you looking summer ready. Or you could always try some of the more extreme techniques – but remember, they’re not for the faint of heart!
AUTUMN BEAUTY TIPS AND TRICKS:
1. SCRUB, SCRUB, SCRUB!
One of the main reasons your autumn skin looks tired and plain is because of dead skin cells that have been the victim of the summer sun. While these cells blossom during the warmer months, the effects are short lived and if you don’t do anything, they hang around on your face making your complexion a bit dull and lifeless.
Use a good facial scrub to get rid of dead cells, and pick up a loofah for your body. If you’ve got quite hardy skin, don’t be afraid of using a more intense scrub made up of larger exfoliant particles, but try and stick to more gentle products if you’ve got sensitive skin. You can also create your own scrub at home by mixing some sugar or coffee grounds with honey or avocado oil. Exfoliate every other day so as not to aggravate your skin.
2. MOISTURISE
The drier air in the autumn can wreak havoc on your skin. Moisture is drawn out of the skin and you can be left with dry and frizzy hair, flaking skin and chapped lips. It’s not healthy and, let’s face it, it doesn’t look too good! Good moisturising products can be a lifesaver, but they need to be used consistently; a one off lathering when you’ve got the time just isn’t going to cut it!
If you’ve got really dry skin, you want to be looking at a heavy duty moisturiser that’s going to be lapped up by your skin in seconds, leaving you looking and feeling clean and fresh. If you’ve got combination skin, use a moisturiser that leaves a matte finish. This will lubricate the skin while making sure you don’t look greasy afterwards. For your lips, choose either a medicated lip balm for ultra smooth chops, or try a tinted lip balm that can help give you a perky look. Use a deep conditioning treatment for your hair, or create your own hair mask with mushed bananas, raw eggs, honey and milk.
3. GET SOME VITAMIN C
You may know Vitamin C as the good stuff that’s found in oranges, but do you know why it’s good for you? Vitamin C protects your body’s cells, keeping them healthy – and this includes your skin cells. It’s a good antioxidant and also helps produce collagen which is the protein responsible for keeping your skin tight and springy.
Stock up on skincare products that contain Vitamin C. Body moisturisers and facial toners that contain more than one type of Vitamin C, and preferably tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (check the ingredients list!) are the best. These products will typically contain a higher concentration of Vitamin C which allows more of it to be absorbed. Incorporating lots of Vitamin C filled foods into your diet (think sweet potatoes, peppers etc.) can work wonders too.
4. EXTREME MEASURES
OK, so this technique isn’t quite as simple as those above, but it can be very effective. Just be sure to consider the pros and cons first! A chemical peel is an extreme version of exfoliation. A chemical is applied to the skin that kills the cells in the top layers. As the cells die, they fall off, leaving you with extensive peeling, much like what happens with severe sunburn. The idea is that you’re left with fresh and youthful skin underneath. But beware – you could be left with redness, swelling, scarring and even infection if the treatment isn’t correctly administered.
Fancy finding a little more about these skincare and facial rejuvenation treatments that can provide long-lasting, exceptional results then Clinic Compare offers a wealth of free information and advice on a range of facial rejuvenation techniques.