You may be a bit sad about the end of summer or secretly happy about the drop in temperature, but there is no doubt that when the seasons change so do our routines. Now that it’s autumn, it’s a good idea to review how you nourish, protect, and treat your skin.

Here’s some simple ways to keep your skin healthy as the weather changes.

Use a moisturiser with SPF protection
In autumn, the temperature can vary greatly from one day to the next, winds are stronger and the rainy days start to come along. These conditions can be hard on the skin so it pays to use a good moisturizer that will protect your skin against the elements. If it contains SPF protection that’s even better, because UVA is still present on cloudy days and they are the rays that contribute skin aging and collagen loss.

Take warm (not hot!) showers and baths
Shorter, colder days can be a cue for taking more baths and using hotter water in the shower. While hot water can be relaxing for the muscles, it isn’t great for our skin, as it strips the skin of natural oils and dries it out. Using warm water instead maintains the skin’s moisture barrier. Be sure to apply moisturiser after your bath or shower when your skin is damp, as it will trap the moisture in your skin.

Get 7-9 hours of sleep every night
Our skin is continually making new cells and this process speeds up when we are asleep. When we don’t get enough sleep, cell turnover slows down which can lead to dull looking skin. So, getting our beauty sleep is a necessity for optimum skin health.

Get moving!
It can be tempting to put exercise on the backburner and curl up on the couch with a book when it’s cold outside, but exercise has great benefits for our skin. This is because it increases blood flow, which helps to oxygenate and nourish skin cells and carry away any debris. Exercise is also great way to improve your mood, and help to ease skin conditions that can be bought about by stress such as acne and eczema.

If you don’t want to wrap up and go outside, check out this list of exercise videos that you can do at home. Many of them don’t require any equipment, and range from full body cardio to yoga and stretching.

Drink plenty of fluids
It’s easy to drink 8 glasses of water a day when the weather is hot, but this habit can fall by the wayside as the days get colder. If you find that you aren’t filling up your water bottle anymore, try sipping on herbal teas such as chamomile, peppermint or lemon balm to keep hydrated throughout autumn and winter. Find out more: Gel water

Feed your skin from within
Make sure to get some foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids in your diet, such as salmon, walnuts, chia seeds, and pumpkin seeds. Omega‑3's have a range of great benefits for the skin, from natural protection from UV rays and reducing inflammation, to keeping the skin hydrated. Taking a collagen supplement is also a great way to maintain the health of your skin.

Remember also to keep eating your 5+ of fruits and vegetables a day. While there may not be as much choice as there was in the summer, there is still plenty of great produce to choose from such as dark leafy greens, pears, sweet potatoes, and feijoas.

Do you have any questions about your autumn skin concerns? Ask in the comments below!