The leaves are gone. The sun has clocked out and the darkness has set in. Temperatures are dropping. The heating is back on without interruption. Friends, receive this message with a hug – we’re fully settled into winter. Whilst you’re digging out your sweaters, moving jumpers to the front of your drawers and wardrobe rail, has any thought been given to a reset for your skincare routine? Because newsflash: your skin has seasonal needs too and hoping for the best is not a strategy.

If you take nothing else from this article, take this please –  keep your skin hydrated. Moisturise, moisturise and then just for good measure, add a bit more moisturiser.

It’s tempting to simply continue what may have been a winning skincare routine from the summer even into the autumn – after all, if ain’t broke, what is there to fix? Well for one, the air is colder and drier. Colder weather means less humidity (yay for your hair but boooooo for your skin!). Moisture is literally getting sucked out of your skin. As the skin gets drier, it may produce excess sebum to compensate, which could lead to clogged pores, which could lead to acne, then hyperpigmentation enters the chat and it becomes a spiral of doom just because you don’t want to tweak your routine just a little bit.

Ok time to drink water and calm down. No one is asking you to completely overhaul your skincare routine – just some small tweaks for maximum impact. Here’s what you need to do:

Your Seasonal Skincare Reset Checklist

1. Use Hyaluronic Acid. Make this ingredient your best friend. Use it frequently during the week, morning and night, on a freshly cleansed face and layered under your moisturiser. A great product for this is Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Water Essence, which is like a pint glass of water for your face.
2. Upgrade your moisturiser. Make it thicker, richer, creamier. Put the lightweight gel moisturiser away and pull out the big guns, like a fabulous wintercoat in skincare form, just waiting to make an entrance. Clarins Hydra-Essentiel will have your skin feeling like silk, or pack on the ceramides with The Inkey List Bio-Active Repairing and Plumping Moisturiser. Another hardworking winter moisturiser basic is Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Multitasking Moisturizer – thank me later!
3. Remember Retinol. Use only as often as your skin can handle and do make it a moisture sandwich – layer the retinol on top of hyaluronic acid and then apply your moisturiser on top to minimise dryness and irritation. Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream 1% Retinol is formulated for sensitive skin, even with it being 1% retinol. Alternatively, try Medik8 Crystal Retinal 1 (equivalent to 0.1% retinol) and work your way up to higher concentrations. Night time use only.
4. Exfoliate: You need to get rid of dead skin cells, so they don’t build up and clog your pores. Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant will have your skin smooth and pores clear. Just don’t overdo it. 
5. Remember SPF. Every morning before you step out for the day, or even if you don’t. Even if you’re working from home and will be home all day. Don’t let all your other efforts be for naught. Korean SPFs are some of the best in the game, so give Cosrx Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen SPF50 a whirl, you won’t regret it.

As you adapt your wardrobe to fit the change of the seasons, know that your skin deserves the same thoughtful transition. Follow these tips to keep your skin glowing through the dark days all the way through to when the sun finally returns.r skin glowing through the dark days all the way through to when the sun finally returns 

To read more about skincare, fashion, and travel check out this month’s contributor: BidsinGraceland