Autumn is upon us again and you know what that means: falling leaves and a return to the office or classroom. But do not despair - yes, perhaps lazy evenings nursing several campari spritzes in the Amalfi (or more likely Acton) sun are behind us, but that doesn’t mean we have to scrimp on our self care. September, and with it the spirit of new beginnings and bolstered resolutions, can feel like a breath of fresh, and god willing, cooler air.
Instead of bemoaning the loss of our tans, let’s use this reprieve to slew off dead skin cells - and any emotional baggage - and move forwards into the new school year with a spring in our step and a sheen to our hair. Here are some of the best new products, treatments and tricks to try. Go forth and conquer.
Get the supermodel glow
Whether abroad or in the UK, most of us overdosed on sun this summer and you know what they say, tans fade, but skin damage is for life… or is it? September is the perfect time to resuscitate your parched complexion with a gentle exfoliator like sustainable brand SBTRCT’s new exfoliating cleansing bar (£24, sbtrct.co.uk), made with all natural ingredients like willow bark, salicylic acid and rice powder. Lather it on your face and body twice a week and follow up with superstar makeup artist Pat McGrath’s new The Essence formula (£81, patmcgrath.com). The new product from McGrath’s eponymous skincare range is a cross between a serum and an exfoliator so it calms, plumos and replenishes the skin barrier. Oh, and Naomi Campbell is a fan.
Hydrate!
Once you’ve sleuced off any dead skin and revealed that baby’s bottom complexion below, it’s time to slather on some heavy duty moisturiser to hydrate and protect. Natural skin heroes Wildsmith Skin have just launched a range of Pre-Serum drops (£48, wildsmith.com) devised in conjunction with world renowned biochemist Nausheen Qureshi with Vitamin C, natural AHAs and cranberry extract to protect the skin barrier and reduce pigmentation. Follow this up with a hydrating serum like Biossance’s Squalane and Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum (£52, spacenk.com) and finally lock in all the moisture with Dr Sebagh’s Replenishing Cream (£72, drsebagh.com), made specifically for tackling prematurely ageing or sun-damaged skin.
Laser eyes
Sometimes plumping and smoothing isn’t going to cut the mustard or, ahem, wrinkles, in which case tech can lend a helping hand. Banish weary under-eyes or cheeky crow’s feet borne of one too many jubilant dinner parties with Current Body’s latest apparatus: the LED Eye Perfector (£199, currentbody.com). Like the rest of the Currentbody’s range of cult LED sheet masks this new gadget specifically targets the delicate skin under the eyes and takes three minutes to work. It’s already got rave reviews and has been proven to reduce wrinkles in just eight weeks. Brilliant if you’re tight on time but not the coffers.
Magic mushrooms
Mushrooms and their magical properties have long been used for recreational purposes but are fast becoming a beauty and wellness staple too. Family owned beauty company Herbar has launched an adaptogenic face oil made from tremella and reishi mushrooms (£62, herbaroffical.com), which “adapt” to your body’s individual needs - whether that’s reducing inflammation or redness. Herbar’s new range also includes traditional Gua-sha tools shaped like mushrooms made from semi-precious stones Citrine and Dalmatian to encourage lymphatic drainage and target pressure points in the face for maximum product absorption. Also, they’re really cute.
Heal your hair
We often spend a lot of time and energy trying to protect our faces from the sun but our poor hair rarely gets a second thought. After a long summer spent scrunched up into a bun, dunked in lido water or squashed under a hat, it’s likely it’s looking a little lacklustre. Fear not! Natural haircare brand Oway have released a new aftersun range for your locks; the nifty After-sun Hair and Body Bath (£25) removes salt, sand and chlorine residue while moisturising the hair follicles with sweet smelling organic baobab extract and soothing calendula. Follow up with the After-Sun Hair Mask (£27), which repairs and seals the follicles and leaves hair feeling silky smooth. (oway.com)
Smell ya later
The smells of summer are usually packed full of zingy citruses, sweet jasmine or delicate rose, but autumn calls for something a little more serious. Iconic French perfumery Dyptique’s Orphéon scent is the perfect mix of sensuality and woody headiness to transition into the darker months. Notes of tobacco mingle with juniper berry, cedar and Tonka bean to recreate the impression of late September nights sipping martinis in a bar of Paris’s Saint Germain.(£130, diptyque.com)
Supercharge your morning
You know what they say: beauty comes from within, so if your body is feeling a little under the weather chances are the first place you’ll see a difference is in your skin and hair. If you’ve been struggling to drag yourself out of bed then start your day with a protein powder like Wild Nutirion’s Vegan Protein and Superfood Blend (£40, wildnutrition.com). Made with super greens like spirulina and chlorella to help with detoxification and adaptogenic mushrooms to reduce stress and protein for sustained energy, you’ll be skipping into work in the morning. Start your day with two scoops in smoothie or mix with oat milk after a workout for muscle recovery.
