Self Defence for your Skin
As the leaves start to fall from the trees and the nights grow darker, it may be tempting to push any thoughts of the forthcoming cold winter months to the back of our minds, but if we want to protect our skin from premature ageing, then this is a dangerous thought. We should really start to think about changing our beauty regime and getting ourselves into ship shape in autumn, before the big freeze in upon us.
Whichever season we are going into, the change in temperatures can play havoc with our skin's natural balance. In the autumn months it's all about nourishing and protecting your skin giving it a natural defence against the harsher elements that could well be on the way.
Preparation is the key; the best defence is to build up a resistance to make sure our skin is at its optimum best and the best way to kick start this is to bring in the experts. Book in for an indulgent facial and an all over body scrub or other stimulating treatments at your local beauty salon - this will remove any dead skin cells and start to generate new skin cells underneath, leaving your skin super soft and fully revitalised. Although, do your research, you may be able to find a salon that has great offers for a range of treatments if you book more than one treatment - we all love a good bargain. However, for those of you who can't afford such luxuries, create an in-house spa by buying tea light candles, running a luxurious bubble bath and then adding a few drops of an essential oil such as Jojoba oil into the water - one of the best natural moisturizing oils available. Lie back and relax with a nourishing face mask before giving your body a good old fashioned scrub with some exfoliating beads or a body brush. Exfoliation will help you to avoid dull and grey winter skin - so it's well worth the effort.
Unfortunately it doesn't stop there, this isn't a quick fix, you need to keep up the good work to ensure your skin is in tip-top condition throughout autumn and winter. Just because the sun isn't shining doesn't mean to say that you can forego a moisturiser with an SPF of 15 or above. You still need to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun and free radicals (pollutants) and to help battle against sun induced wrinkles. Covering your skin with a layer of moisturiser will keep you protected come rain, wind or snow. If you're feeling a little bit pasty now the summer sun has gone, there's no harm in booking in for a natural glow at a fake tan salon, just avoid excessive use.
It's not just our face we need to worry about of course; there is that temptation to neglect the rest of our body. During the autumn and winter, we resign ourselves to the fact that we have to cover up and hide behind layers of clothes, but that alone doesn't protect our skin, if anything it just means we neglect our skin more. Keep your body silky smooth with a rich indulgent body lotion, this will help keep your skin nourished and if your skin is exposed to the elements, it will give you an extra defence against chapping, just make sure you apply it everytime you get out of the bath or the shower.
Another part of our body we should take care with, is our lips. They really do feel the effects of the end of summer. Ladies (and gentlemen), we want you puckering up this autumn - leaves falling from the trees, walks in the park, it's the most romantic season - so be prepared! There are all sorts of lip balms on the market these days; you can nourish your lips back to their kissable best with plain, gloss or coloured varieties.
We can buy all the lotions and potions in the world to keep our skin looking fabulous on the outside, but there are other things we can do to keep the beauty inside and out. The best way to beat the moisture zapping qualities of central heating and air con is to keep yourself topped up with plenty of water. Don't forget to drink at least six glasses of water throughout the day. Essential oils found in omega 3 rich fish, avocado and olive oil can help keep our skin glowing.
Just because the autumn months bring us longer nights, it doesn't mean you should hibernate, make the most of the days. Snuggling up on the sofa should strictly be for evenings only, get out and reap the benefits of natural daylight, hit the park for a quick jog, get on a bike or strap on those roller blades. Once you get those endorphins buzzing you'll be leaping towards Christmas, but don't forget to pack a pair of sunglasses along with your umbrella. Just like SPF moisturisers, you need to protect your eyes against the sun's harmful rays no matter what time of year the sun is shining.