September’s now over, and with it the hope of an Indian summer has faded away in the rear view mirror in time with our tans. Those things we love about summer; the sea, the sun, the sand, the swimming pools and the overindulgence, are now the cause of hair, nail and skin issues that don’t look so great in the cold (brrrr) light of Autumn. The bright, vibrant hues of summer, as well as the skin-bearing now unimaginable against the early morning frost, also need a rectifying touch. So, with this in mind, here are our 5 IDEAL autumn beauty tips, ready for the new season.
GET A SEASON SPECIFIC HAIRCUT
Sun, sea salt and swimming pools can wreak havoc on your hair, making it dry and brittle. Autumn is the ideal time to inject some moisture into your hair. If you feel the call of experimentation, take advantage of the new season to test-drive a new hair colour. While summer haircuts are awash with sun-kissed highlights, Autumn sees darker, more earthy, natural hues. Something chocolatey or auburn, autumn leaf coloured suits this time of year perfectly. Don’t neglect the fried, frazzled ends that summer has subjected your locks to – get a trim and neaten up, appropriate for the demands of the new season.
HYDRATE HAIR, HANDS AND FACE ALIKE
The sudden change in temperature can be a shock to both your hair and skin. Summer’s product range has seasonality in mind, with hair products in use to stop an overloaded, overly glossy appearance, and skincare sunshine specific. The lack of humidity in Autumn, as well as the dryness of skin that the colder weather brings, means regular application of moisturizer and hand cream is important. A summer’s long over reliance on leave-in conditioner may now be showing, so switch to a hair product suited to the new season.
BRING YOUR COLOUR PALETTE BACK DOWN TO EARTH
Summer’s hues are great when the sun’s out, complimenting the vibrancy of the weather and light, as well as bringing out your carefully curated tan. When the lighting drops to a muted grey, and rain rears its ugly head with more regularity, it’s important that your colour palette reflects this, both in your clothes and make up. That doesn’t mean wearing full outfits of overcast and beige. No, greens, browns and dark, confident reds look amazing during this time of year and are currently all the rage on the high street, which is a blessing for your wallet if you’re in need of a wardrobe update.
BENCH THE SUMMER ACCESSORIES
Sea salt spray designed to replicate the waves of the beach will suddenly look very out of place when the shore and sand has been rendered a no-go zone by temperamental weather. Equally, shimmering make-up products designed to mimic the sun’s sparkle are no longer at home in Autumn. And with regards to dark fake-tan….well, it’s going to look really fake when England hasn’t seen the sun for weeks, so go easy and exercise restraint. We suggest using a moisturiser with a hint of fake tan instead of going whole hog.
Consider heavier make up with a darker, moodier palette, exploiting plenty of shadow and matte. Espresso is this season’s hottest shade, so bear that in mind when you reach for tinge of summer time peachy pink.
PREPARE FOR WINTER
Although we’ve not long ago said goodbye to summer, a good level of foresight and forward thinking will stand your skin in good stead when winter hits. A pre-emptive skincare regime, designed to counteract the bluster of winter wind and the subsequent dry, red and flaky skin, is a great idea. This also goes for your nails, which get particularly brittle in the cold weather. A simple system of conscious filing should do the trick.
