How to Reset Your Skincare Routine for Autumn

Words by Maya Avram 


The start of autumn marks the perfect opportunity to update your skincare routine. The soft light and cool air beckon you to replenish, repair, and elevate your daily rituals. “The cooler weather gives your skin a chance to recover,” says skincare specialist Shane Cooper, noting that now is the ideal time to add gentle yet potent actives to your rotation, and indulge in rejuvenating facials. Read on for thoughtful tweaks that prime your skin for a visibly healthier, more resilient complexion in the months ahead.

The Ultimate Autumn Skincare Routine

1. Cleanse, but Gently

Cleansing is the first step in your skincare routine no matter the season. In autumn, however, your skin craves delicate formulas that are both hydrating and clarifying. 


Our Top Pick: Victoria Beckham Beauty The Daily Cleansing Protocol Duo 


Victoria Beckham Beauty’s The Daily Cleansing Protocol Duo balances moisture with freshness. Developed with skincare expert and aesthetician Melanie Grant, this two-step programme features The Daily Oil Cleanser which employs olive fruit oil to break down debris and, thanks to fatty acids and antioxidants, strengthen and protect your skin. Follow up with The Lactic Acid Gel Cleanser, a gentle exfoliant that removes dead skin cells to reveal a bright, refreshed complexion. 

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2. Exfoliate with Care

Post summer, your skin can feel fatigued from months of lounging in the sun or travelling the world. And so, autumn is prime time to reintroduce potent treatments back into your skincare routine. 


Our Top Pick: La Prairie Cellular 3-Minute Peel 


La Prairie’s Cellular 3-Minute Peel is an at-home exfoliator that promotes a smooth, rejuvenated complexion. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) refine and resurface healthy skin cells, while vitamin E shields and hydrates your skin. All in three minutes per week – talk about time well spent. 

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3. Introduce Actives

With autumn’s forgiving sunlight, now is the ideal time to reintroduce retinoids into your routine, thanks to their regenerative properties.


Our Top Pick: Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum  


Sunday Riley’s hard-working serum combines three forms of retinoids and retinoid alternatives. First, 5% retinoid ester and 1% encapsulated retinol, two of the most stable forms of vitamin A, are perfect for first-time users and those with sensitive skin. Then, 0.5% blue-green algae, a retinoid alternative, smooths out fine lines and heals sun damage. There’s very little it can’t do. 

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4. Moisturise Deeply

Cool temperatures and the reintroduction of exfoliating treatments to your routine call for pampering, nourishing moisturisers. Look out for formulas rich in ceramides, glycerine and hyaluronic acid, all of which support the health of your skin barrier


Our Top Pick: Guerlain Orchidée Impériale The Longevity Cream 


The Longevity Cream from Guerlain’s Orchidée Impériale line harnesses the vitality of blue orchid – a flower that can live for over 100 years – in this longevity promoting formula. The ultra-fine cream is designed to melt seamlessly into your skin, and enhance inter-cell communication, collagen production and regeneration, leaving your complexion visibly firmer, radiant and renewed. 

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5. SPF, Always

While the UV index might be dropping, sun protection remains a year-long affair. This is even more true when experimenting with actives and retinoids, which can leave your skin extra sensitive to sunlight


Our Top Pick: Dermalogica Biolumin-C Heat Aging Protector SPF 50 


Dermalogica’s Biolumin-C Heat Aging Protector SPF 50 delivers broad spectrum protection against sun damage, while infusing your skin with vitamin C and the ThermaRadiance Complex (a combination of botanicals and vitamins that brightens, smooths and tones your skin). The ultimate final step on your way to cool-weather glow. 

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6. Visit The Wellness Clinic

To take post-summer skin recovery to the next level, we recommend booking a revitalising treatment. An exosome facial, for example, targets concerns like sun damage, dehydration and an overall dull appearance. 


Our Top Pick: Exosomes Advanced Renewal Complex 


Exosomes are the new frontier when it comes to regenerative skincare. Inspired by South Korean skincare, the Exosomes Advanced Renewal Complex protocol was designed by Dr Toni Phillips to restore and repair the skin, from cell to surface. Naturally rich in growth factors, proteins, lipids and mRNS, exosome therapy signals to

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