5 tips for radiant autumn skin

Give your skin a boost after the summer and prepare it for the colder, drier air of autumn and winter. This way you prevent dry, tight, dull skin. And you will go through autumn and winter radiant!

Summer discomforts

In the summer your skin becomes drier due to the influence of the sun, sea, swimming pool and air conditioning. You are more likely to have (new) pigment spots. And your skin uses a whole supply of vitamins to protect itself against UV radiation.

Your skin also becomes thicker in the summer to protect itself from the sun. That thicker skin layer disappears and turns into dead skin cells. If they build up, your skin can become clogged and look gray and dull. Autumn is the time for recovery.

Autumn and winter challenge

The colder autumn and winter air contains less water vapor, making it drier. The heating is also usually turned on in autumn and winter. Which provides drier air. This means that moisture is 'pulled' out of your skin, as it were. That is why many people's skin feels drier and tighter in autumn/winter.

Thinner skin barrier

Your skin is your largest body organ with - in an adult - a surface area of ​​1.5 to 2 m2. A good skin barrier is super important to ensure that moisture cannot escape your skin as easily. And unwanted intruders stay out.

As we age, our skin barrier becomes thinner. So that moisture leaves your body more easily. Very often the skin barrier is also damaged/thinner due to the use of less pleasant cosmetic products. Many (non-pure) cleaning products contain ingredients that affect the natural oil layer of your skin.

Gently peeling your skin is great for removing dead skin cells. However, we often scrub too hard or use harsh chemical peels. Both create a damaged, thinner skin barrier.

During the skin scans we have done over the past 12 years, with a special measuring device, we saw a skin barrier that was too thin in almost everyone during the first measurement. Time for recovery!

5 Tips for radiant autumn skin

Below are 5 useful tips for a better skin barrier, late summer skin boost and ready for autumn and winter skin.

1. Skin barrier repair

The following tips will help replenish your skin barrier with the right fats. You will notice that your skin feels less dry and softer. Fine lines and scars usually also become less visible

• Use an algae or fish oil supplement. Highly dosed in EPA and DHA, essential fatty acids for your skin and body. This way your skin oils are replenished from within. The omega 3 in the oil has an immediate anti-inflammatory effect. And is good for your brain.
• Of course you can also eat oily fish. Preferably choose fish at the beginning of the food chain (not predatory fish), as they contain less pollution.
• If you are a vegetarian, use algae oil! Plant products such as linseed and walnuts also contain omega 3. Only in a less effective form, ALA. This must first be converted by your body into EPA and DHA to be effective. Often only 8-20% is converted into EPA and 0.5-9% into DHA. Algae oil contains EPA and DHA.
• Don't use facial oil yet? Add this to your beauty routine. This replenishes your skin barrier from the outside. Your skin is better protected and loses less moisture. Use the oil after your day or night cream. Or mix a few drops with your cream. An additional advantage is that the oil ensures that moisture from your day or night cream remains better in your skin. And your skin feels wonderfully soft.
• You can use a pure oil such as almond, jojoba or argan oil. However, these are often less easily absorbed than a special facial oil blend.
• Do not use oil with paraffinum liquidum such as Bio-oil (Bio Oil has a version with and a version without paraffinum liquidum). This seals your skin in such a way that it can no longer perform its natural functions properly. Your skin covered in oil becomes lazy. And therefore drier. Paraffinum liquidum also does not contain any nourishing ingredients for your skin. Natural oils do contain these.
• Choose a fuller day or night cream! Check whether it contains, for example, ceramides (a skin fat) or squalene. Or full oils such as jojoba, almond, argan or fats such as shea butter.
• For your body: choose a pure body cream, body butter or oil.
• Don't forget your lips. Choose a pure lip care without paraffinum liquidum. My experience is that I hardly need lip balm anymore or only need it for a short time. By using a pure, nourishing balm. The Mamiel has a wonderful luxury with a soft rose scent and taste. dr Hauschka one based on beeswax. Hurraw and Loveli super-caring vegan versions.

Summer recovery

In the summer your top layer of skin is thicker. Part of that thick layer comes off after that time. (New) pigment spots also often appear and your skin is a heavy consumer of vitamins. Autumn is the perfect time to give your skin an after-summer boost.

2. Remove dead skin cells, remove gray, dull skin

The thicker top layer of skin provides better protection for the skin underneath against UV radiation. After the summer, this thicker layer turns into dead skin cells. Some of them will disappear on their own. But sometimes some remains due to sebum, dirt from outside and bacteria. Which can clog pores. And your skin can look gray and pale.

With a gentle scrub/peeling or even better the Enzym Peeling Mask from Abloom, you ensure that the remaining dead skin cells disappear. And your skin glows again.

Why gently scrub/peel?

• Because otherwise you will damage your top layer of skin. And we want to keep it beautiful and strong to ensure that your skin remains better hydrated and protected.
• That's why we're fans of Abloom's Enzyme Peeling, because you apply it as a mask and rinse it off after working. This way you don't have to worry about whether you are scrubbing or peeling too hard.
• Natural enzymes from papaya and pineapple in the mask ensure that dead skin cells are dissolved. At the same time, antioxidants and phytonutrients from berries and plums provide a nourishing boost.
• To remove dead skin cells from your lips, you can make a scrub of honey, brown sugar and olive oil.
• For your body, you can quickly make a scrub from the coffee grounds from your coffee filter. Add coconut oil, olive oil and possibly some honey. And your scrub is ready. Ready-made is of course also possible. For example, a coffee scrub soap from Werfzeep.

3. Soften pigment spots

Pigment spots are caused by clumping or uneven distribution of melanin. A substance that protects your skin against UV radiation. And is produced under the influence of the sun.

Do the spots irritate you? Now that the sun is shining less, it is time to soften them. The following products/ingredients help with this

• A vitamin C serum. A number of pure brands also have one. Such as Hynt Beauty's patented Vitamin C Brightning Serum. With a stable form of vitamin C. Which is 50 times more powerful than an unstable form. In addition to softening pigment spots, it does much more for your skin.
• A care product with licorice extract. The substance liquiritin in this extract reduces pigment spots and evens your complexion. Natural products with licorice extract include Shankara's Brightning Serum and Abloom Skincare's Miracle Oil.
• Glucosamine also fades pigment spots.

Of course, you would prefer to see that your pigment spots have faded in no time. However, you have to give the products about five to six weeks to see an effect.

4. Vitamin boost

Your skin uses vitamins C, E and A to protect itself against free radicals or skin damage caused by UV radiation. After the summer it is useful to supplement this and keep it on track so that your skin is ready for autumn and winter!

Because they also help prevent your skin from drying out, prevent free radical damage caused by dry air and repair your skin damaged by dry, inclement weather.

• So make sure you get enough vitamins in your diet! It is not without reason that there are a lot of orange fruits and vegetables in the autumn/winter. These are full of beta-carotene (precursor of vitamin A). Like carrots, pumpkin and tangerines and oranges. Less orange but full of beta-carotene is kale.
• Vitamin C can be found in kale, Brussels sprouts, orange and kiwi.
• Nuts such as walnuts, pecans, almonds and hazelnuts are rich in vitamin E. Also sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
• You can also supplement from outside with your serum, day or night cream. Many high-quality natural serums or creams contain high levels of these vitamins.
• On the ingredients list you will find these as tocopherol (vitamin E), retinol, retoinic acid, retinyl palmitate (vitamin A) or ascorbic acid (vitamin C). But also in ingredients such as jojoba (simmondsia chinensis seed oil) or almond oil (prunus dulcis oil). Or daucus carota (carrot)

5. Hydration boost

Give your thirsty autumn/winter skin a hydration boost! Your skin appears fuller, feels softer and wrinkles are less visible because they are filled from the inside with moisture and your skin is less dry.

This way you boost hydration

• Very simple: drink enough water. About 2 liters per day. Pure broth, herbal tea or water-rich vegetables also help. Drinking 'bulk' is ideal. Drink a large glass of water or herbal tea of ​​500 ml 2-3 times a day. Instead of small amounts throughout the day.
• Do not drink too much water while eating. Then you can disrupt your digestive enzymes. And can reduce the absorption of minerals such as iron and calcium.
• Mentioned earlier in this blog: use a facial oil, body oil or fish oil (supplement) to improve your skin barrier. So that moisture stays in your skin instead of flying out.
• Avoid harsh facial cleansers. These strip your skin's protective layer (your natural protective oils), making your skin lose moisture more easily
• Treat yourself to a moisturizing mask once a week. Or apply a thin layer of hydrating mask under your day cream as a hydration treatment.
• If you are not yet using it: add a toner, lotion, mist or hydrating serum to your care ritual. You use this after cleansing and before your day or night cream. Most also soften your skin.
• Use skin care with moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or urea.
• Boost your hydration in a short time with a hydrating supplement. For example, Skin Hydrate from LaVieSage. This ensures that the walls of the skin cells that retain moisture are restored and more moisture is provided by hyaluronic acid.
• Measure the humidity in your home. If it is too dry (an ideal humidity is between 40-60 percent), consider a humidifier. Many humidifiers also have an air purification function.

Enjoy your radiant skin!