Every September, my skin gets the memo before I do.

The heating goes on, the air gets drier, and the moisturiser that felt perfect in August suddenly seems to be doing absolutely nothing. My face develops opinions. Usually loud ones.

In our last skincare post we talked about reading labels and keeping things simple. This is the seasonal sequel: what actually needs to change when the weather does, and what really doesn’t.

Why Your Skin Changes in Autumn

Colder, drier air and central heating can leave skin feeling drier, tighter and more sensitive, and can weaken the skin barrier that keeps moisture in. It’s a point made by former beauty editors as much as dermatologists. The British Association of Dermatologists’ Dr Justine Kluk has described UK winter conditions as a perfect storm for dry, irritated skin, with central heating stripping skin of moisture as well as the weather.

The reassuring part is that your products haven’t stopped working. Your skin’s needs have simply shifted. Skincare shouldn’t really be a one-routine-fits-all-year situation, in the same way you wouldn’t wear the same coat in August.

1. Swap in a Richer Moisturiser

If you’ve been using a lightweight gel or lotion all summer, this is the moment to move to a creamier formula, at least at night. Look for ingredients that support the barrier and hold on to moisture: ceramides, glycerin, squalane and hyaluronic acid are the usual suspects.

You don’t necessarily need a new product. Sometimes a few drops of a facial oil or squalane over your usual moisturiser is enough.

2. Be Gentler When You Cleanse

If your face feels tight after washing, your cleanser is probably too harsh for this time of year. Dermatologists suggest creamier, fragrance-free cleansers for drier skin, and lukewarm water is better than the hot shower we all want in October. Pat your face dry rather than rubbing.

3. Go Easy on the Actives

Autumn is when many of us feel tempted to add retinoids, exfoliating acids and vitamin C all at once, because the sun is less fierce and it feels like a fresh start. Resist the urge.

Introduce one new active at a time, patch test it first and give your skin a few weeks before adding anything else. Otherwise, you’ll never know what’s helping and what’s causing the redness. If you’re unsure what’s suitable for your skin, a pharmacist or dermatologist is worth asking.

SPF Doesn’t Go on Holiday

Especially not if, like me, you live somewhere the sun barely takes a break. UV levels do drop as autumn goes on, but its still important to protect your skin whenever the UV is 3 or higher. In the UK, the sun’s rays are often strong enough to cause damage from mid-March to mid-October, and if you’re somewhere sunnier the index may stay high for a good while yet.

Daily sun protection is the simplest and most effective part of any routine (and it matters even more if you’re using retinoids or acids).

Don’t Forget the Rest of You

Hands, lips and body get just as dry as your face, and they’re usually the first to be neglected. A rich body lotion straight after a shower makes a noticeable difference, and a decent lip balm by the bed is a small habit worth building.

Beauty retailers are noticing too. Cult Beauty’s autumn forecast says body care is borrowing ingredients like peptides, ceramides and acids from facial skincare.

The Trend Worth Following: Less, But Better

The same forecast describes the direction of skincare as “intelligent minimalism”: barrier care at the centre, and a few targeted ingredients rather than a shelf full of everything.

Which is a rather smart way of saying what we’ve been saying all along. You don’t need twelve new products. Take a look at what you already own, work out what’s still working and only then fill the gaps.

If you are adding something new, a good moisturiser is the place to start. Brands that are open about their ingredients and sourcing, like UpCircle and Pelegrims (both in our last skincare post), are a good place to begin.