Autumn is very much in the air. As summer fades and the crisp breeze sets in, your skin will notice the seasonal shift. Many people see this time of year as an opportunity to reset and make swaps in their daily routine. While wardrobes, makeup, and even hair colour often get an update, skincare can sometimes be overlooked.
Changing temperatures, central heating, and spending more time indoors can all take their toll on skin. Whether that shows up as dehydration, dullness, or irritation. So, if you’ve been considering switching up your skincare but don’t know where to start, read on for a few Autumn skincare tips to keep your complexion glowing through the cooler months,
How does Autumn Affect your Skin?
The end of summer often leaves behind dehydrated skin and lingering sun damage. As your tan fades, dryness and uneven texture may become more noticeable. Add in cooler air, stronger winds, and central heating, and it’s no wonder skin starts to feel tight, flaky, or sensitive.
If you have dry or sensitive skin, it may become rougher or more irritated. Mature skin often shows more pronounced fine lines as hydration levels drop. Even oily skin can feel uncomfortably tight or dehydrated beneath the surface, while still appearing shiny on top.
The good news? With the right products, your skin can adapt beautifully to the change in seasons.
How to Look After your Skin in Autumn
The goal of your autumn skincare routine should be to nourish, hydrate, and protect. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides and Vitamin C are key to strengthening the skin barrier, restoring hydration, and maintaining a healthy glow.
Start by looking at the products that have the biggest impact on hydration: your cleanser and moisturiser. Swap lightweight or foaming cleansers for creamier formulas that won’t strip the skin. Move to richer moisturisers that lock in hydration while balancing oil levels. Adding in hydrating toners, serums, and gentle exfoliators can also give your complexion the seasonal reset it needs.
How to Transition your Skincare Routine from Summer to Autumn – Step-by-Step
1. Switch up your Cleanser
If you’re not already using a cream cleanser, autumn is the perfect time to start. Skin will be left thoroughly cleansed, soft, and never stripped. Make-up is easily dissolved and pores are swept clean.
Try SBC's Hydra-Collagen Replenishing Cream Cleanser. Massage in for around one minute, then remove with a muslin cloth or SBC Skin Shammy.
2. Boost Hydration
Hydration is the foundation of healthy skin. Look for products rich in hyaluronic acid, squalane, peptides, and panthenol to plump, smooth, and protect the skin barrier. For Autumn skincare, the key is layering lightweight, easily absorbed products rather than relying on heavy creams.
Introduce a nourishing toner such as Hydra-Collagen Milk Toner, which harnesses Marine Collagen and Peptides to hydrate and restore the skin barrier. Follow with Hydra-Collagen Intensive Serum, enriched with hyaluronic acid, Marine Collagen, and squalane to replenish thirsty skin and smooth expression lines.
3. Target your Skin Concerns
Common complains after a long summer may include, pigmentation, uneven skin tone, fine lines. Autumn is a great season to address specific concerns, whether that’s pigmentation, uneven texture, or a lacklustre complexion.
- For hyperpigmentation: SBC Vitamin C Serum delivers a slow-release form of collagen-supporting Vitamin C for a brightening boost.
- For open pores or uneven tone: Niacinamide Perfecting Gel Cream helps refine and balance.
- For fine lines and loss of firmness: Bakuchiol Smoothing Serum stimulates collagen production, plumps, and softens wrinkles - probably our top pick for our Autumn skincare.
4. Exfoliate Gently
As your summer glow fades, exfoliation is key to revealing fresh, radiant skin and preventing congestion. Twice a week is ideal for autumn – enough to support cell renewal without irritation.
Try SBC's Glycolic Radiance Serum for gentle chemical exfoliation. It blends Glycolic Acid with natural fruit enzymes from Pineapple, Papaya, and Apple extracts to dissolve dead skin cells on the face and body. Use on clean, dry skin before moisturising.
5. Brighten your Eyes
The delicate skin around the eyes is thinner and more vulnerable to dryness and fatigue. Hydra-Collagen Illuminating Eye Cream hydrates, firms, and helps reduce dark circles – an excellent all-rounder. For an extra boost, reusable eye patches soaked in Hyaluronic Acid Gel Concentrate or Hydra-Collagen Moisturising Gel deliver targeted hydration.
6. Choose a Nourishing Moisturise
Of course, any hydration or targeted treatments you apply are best sealed in with a nourishing moisturiser, morning and night. If your skin tends to be oily, the Niacinamide Gel Cream is ideal as it’s lightweight, gel-based, and deeply hydrating without feeling heavy. For mature or particularly dry skin, the Hydra-Collagen Intensive Moisturiser delivers rich hydration and comfort. And if your complexion is looking dull or tired, the Vitamin C Moisture Cream is a perfect choice, combining nourishment, brightening, and soothing benefits in one easy step. Either one will be an asset to your new Autumn skincare regime.
7. Upgrade your Lip Care
Lips are particularly prone to dryness and cracking in cooler weather. Not to be missed as part of your Autumn skincare. The new Hydra-Collagen Peptide Lip Treatment is an autumn essential, with Castor Oil and Hyaluronic Acid to heal chapped lips, while Peptides and Marine Collagen smooth and plump their appearance.
Do I still need to use SPF in Autumn?
Yes, SPF is still essential. It’s easy to think sunscreen is just for summer, but UVA rays penetrate through clouds and windows year-round. Keep applying SPF 30 (or higher) daily to protect your skin from premature ageing, even on grey, rainy days.
Transitioning your Autumn skincare routine doesn’t need to be complicated. By making small, thoughtful swaps and focusing on hydration, barrier support, and sun protection, your skin will stay healthy, radiant, and resilient all autumn long. With the right products and consistent care, you can wave goodbye to post-summer dryness and hello to a glowing, nourished complexion throughout the cooler months.
