It would seem that after a rather intense Indian summer, autumn is set to start rolling in next week. And, as we prepare for 10-degree drops and chilly winds, is anyone starting to feel a bit (dare I say it) excited? Trust me—I love summer as much as the next person, but there is something really quite wonderful about the few weeks that come after summer, before the beating winds and drizzle blow in when the air is crisp and cool but the sun is still shining.
And after six months of wishing that being outside felt a little bit more normal, I’ve never been more ready to baton down the hatches and get into full-blown nesting mode. Of course, in true beauty-editor style, while some prepare to throw themselves into home DIY projects and baking experiments, I’m getting stuck into planning my autumn beauty routine.
After a summer of often uncomfortable climes, I’m ready to start giving my body the TLC it deserves once more. If anything, for me, a drop in temperature at the start of autumn is simply an excuse to whip out the most luxurious beauty products I own and embrace a bit of self-care ahead cosy evenings on the sofa. With me? Keep scrolling for the go-to beauty products I love to phase back into my routine come autumn.
I always look forward to this release. In fact, it’s probably my favourite beauty launch of the year. The Body Shop’s Vanilla Pumpkin range smells sweet but not eye-wateringly sickly like so many other seasonal beauty offerings. To be quite honest, I spend the second half of August counting down the days until I can start cocooning myself limbs in this nourishing cream.
Anyone that knows me knows that this is in my top five beauty products ever created. However, come summer, I usually reach for a zesty gel over this skin-softening oil. The minute the mercury drops below 20 though, this stuff comes straight back out. It’s lightweight but nourishing and comforting in the best way possible. And it smells absolutely divine.
As we head into autumn, it’s normal for our skin to start drying out a little. While thick, rich cleansers are usually too much for my oily summer skin, there’s something so calming about treating my stressed-out complexion to a little facial massage with this melting cleansing balm before bed.
Speaking of stressed-out skin, the change in temperature wreaks havoc with my complexion. Adding a soothing serum into my daily routine is absolutely essential if I want to minimise redness and irritation. This year, Aurelia’s new CBD-infused serum is my reach-for. It’s wonderfully calming and feeds my skin just the right amount of hydration.
I love a bath all year round, but my soaks in the summer are usually short, cool dips. As autumn rolls around, I look forward to embracing long, luxurious baths once again. This creamy bath soak from Elemis not only smells delightfully fresh, it also leaves skin feeling impossibly soft.
Name me a better feeling that closing the curtains on an autumn evening and lighting the most comforting candle in your collection. Every year, I struggle to get my hands on Diptyque’s Limited Edition city candles (they only sell them in the boutiques of the relevant city and sell out online super-quickly). However, because of current circumstances, this year the entire collection is available to shop online from 17to 27September. I have spent years longing to get my hands on the New York scent, and this year my time has come. Trust me, the warm, woody but slightly spicy aroma was totally worth the wait.
My oily, sensitive skin doesn’t really lend itself to irritating, breakout-inducing facial oils, however that doesn’t mean I don’t want to revel in their beauty whenever my skin starts to dry up a little. This new formula from Willowberry, however, is specifically formulated with chia and rosehip for sensitive skin, and it could just revolutionise my autumn routine.
Although my autumn skin and bodycare routine might seem a bit extra, when it comes to makeup in the autumn, I take a much more laissez-faire approach. Glowing skin, fluffy brows and a hint of colour on my lips is my go-to look, but wooly jumpers/blankets and sticky lip products don’t tend to mix. Instead, my autumn lip collection consists of non-drying, budge-proof stains, much like this one.
Although I love the ritual of applying eye cream, I’m also prone to milia (those small, but stubborn, white bumps that often form around the eyes) and thick creams combined with excess oil production don’t help. Come autumn, however, my eye area starts to show signs of dryness and takes to product much better. This glow-boosting, non-greasy cream from Bobbi Brown is one of the richest yet usable eye creams I have ever come across.
It might seem obvious, but slathering on a super-hydrating face mask is one of my favourite things to do come autumn. This new launch from one of my favourite bodycare brands (it now offers facial skincare, too) contains hydrating milk, soothing oat and hyaluronic acid to help tackle dry skin, as well as a special complex to help skin renewal and barrier function.
I really love fresh, zesty fragrances, but come autumn there is definitely something to be said for a slightly headier, warmer scent. Each year, I opt for a different autumnal spritz. This time around, this deeply warming perfume is set to be my go-to. With delicately floral top and middle notes, its base comprises of ambrette, tonka, vanilla bourbon and cedarwood for a rich, comforting finish.
Not only does this face cream offer up sumptuous hydration, it also contains immortelle super extract to help combat signs of ageing, as well as natural antioxidant ingredients to help fend of damage caused by external aggressors. Having said that, it’s the soft, silky texture that makes it a winner for me.
After a summer in Birkenstocks, my feet are in need of some serious help. This incredibly rich cream contains a bunch of hydrators as well as acids to gently exfoliate. The best bit? It smells like an actual spa. Plus, it doesn’t leave feet feeling overly greasy.
My dry lips freak out at the best of times, but a sudden drop in temperature is sure to leave them cracked and uncomfortable. Recently, I discovered that my favourite Lanolips balm comes in a stick, ideal for when I’m out and about and don’t want to touch my face. It’s my new all-time favourite.
Just like the skin, hair has a tendency to dry out come autumn, too. A summer of fun has left my bleached strands absolutely frazzled. This super-conditioning hair mask only has to be left on for two minutes and it totally transforms my hair.
Finding new ways to amp up my glow is quite honestly one of my favourite pastimes. Come autumn, I always find myself reaching for a rich, moisturising primer. This new addition to my collection is set to become one of my autumn staples thanks to its plumping finish and rich, creamy scent. Up next, why this full-coverage foundation has cult status.
