Beauty Trends

Top tips to transition your seasonal skin care wardrobe

Last Updated: 26/10/2023

Woman touching skin

Autumn has officially arrived which means one thing: it’s time to shake up your skin care ritual. Think of it like your wardrobe, you mix out a couple of pieces to fit with the ever-changing temperature (hello jumper season), so why wouldn’t you reward your complexion with the same treatment? Now, we’re by no means saying switch out everything you own, but during the colder months, skin tends to lose moisture and oil, so you need to build these back into your daily routine (we’re especially talking to you, sensitive skin!). Spoiler alert: say hello to hydrating heroes that are the perfect introduction to winter-proofing your regime 

CLEANSERS 

Bid a fond farewell to foaming formulas and treat yourself to something super soothing and balmy. As the mercury drops, your complexion needs extra nourishment, so start your routine as you mean to go on – sealing precious moisture in, so skin stays supple and protected from the elements. A multi-purpose cleanser, ELEMIS’ Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is a 3-in-1 transformative formula that starts as a nourishing balm, before melting away impurities as an oil and hydrating as a cleansing milk. Not only does it absorb into skin quicker than you can say “hydration”, but it brings the spa to your home with its heavenly, tranquil scent of lavender, chamomile and eucalyptus. Or why not try Then I Met You’s Living Cleansing Balm? It’s a fan-favourite in our Cult Conscious edit, as it effortlessly melts away make up, sunscreen and excess sebum while feeding skin with essential antioxidants and fatty acids.  

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SERUMS

Unrivalled when it comes to potency and efficacy,serums are the step for easing your skin from summer into winter – correcting signs of damage, replenishing moisture and restoring your complexion’s lustre. Alternate with Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum – a formula that’s packed with active organic botanical to replenish and revitalise – and The Ordinary’s Soothing & Barrier Repair Serum: this multi-active solution soothes discomfort and reduces the look of redness. Meanwhile, Drunk Elephant’s B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum is a fan-favourite. We *herd* it attracts and holds moisture, helping to improve your skin’s overall complexion, leaving it looking healthy and illuminated. Who could say no to that? 

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MOISTURISERS 

Welcome to one of the most important stages in your winter skin care routine. Why? Because the best face moisturisers don’t just hydrate, but they also seal in other nutrients, provide protection, boost brightness, and banish blemishes – the list goes on… 

As we make our way into the colder months, we would advise to switch out your daily moisturiser for something heavier and more nourishing to deflect the harmful effects of the plummeting temperatures (not to mention moisture-leaching central heating). Think of this as ultimate layer – the ‘winter coat’… but for your complexion. So, without further a-dew, say hello to the Kiehls’ Ultra Facial Cream, an ultra-rich cream that offers everything you could want from a daily moisturiser. Think: hydrating, refining, strengthening, glow-giving, plus, it feels ultra-lightweight to apply. Radiance, incoming!  

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EYE CREAMS

They say eyes are the window to the soul, so why not show them some extra loving this winter. The skin surrounding your eyes is especially delicate – only 1/10th as thick as the rest of your skin in some places. This, coupled with the fact that there are far fewer oil glands in the orbital area, means it’s particularly vulnerable if neglected.  

So, lock in moisture with the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare’s Ferulic + Retinol Eye Cream, a powerfully regenerative formula that is powered by the brand’s proprietary Phyto-Retinol Blend to help firm skin, boost hydration, and reduce the look of fine lines. OLE HENRIKSEN’s Banana Bright Eye Crème is your one-way ticket to luminous, bouncier skin.  Supercharged with vitamin C, nourishing shea and jojoba seed oils, it works to illuminate your under-eyes (take that dark circles!) and fend against future damage. 

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SUNSCREEN

Although the weather forecast may predict rain, cloud or even snow (could you guess we’re based in London?), sunscreen is still an absolute essential for your skin care shelf. Up to 80% of the sun’s beams can penetrate clouds so it’s crucial to protect your complexion from those pesky UV rays. 

We suggest seeking out suncreams enriched with indulgent occlusives, like shea butter and  squalane, that shield you from the effects of the elements and protect the skin barrier at the same time. If you struggle with a long skin care routine and instead prefer something quick and easy, remove the hassle of an extra step with Medik8’s Advanced Day Ultimate Protect SPF50+. Designed to act as a shield against pollution and blue light, while also hydrating the skin, it helps create a barrier against harmful daily encounters like pollution. If, on the other hand, you’re a ‘more steps the better’ kind of person, then apply a sweeping coat of the Supergoop!’s Unseen Sunscreen after your moisturiser. It helps with UV deflection, while remaining scentless and utterly undetectable under your make up. 

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IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE FACE…

Cue the tissues, because it’s time to break up with hot showers. Unfortunately, this simple pleasure is the dementor of hydration, stripping away natural oils and damaging the skin’s protective barrier. It doesn’t stop there; hot showers actively expand blood vessels increasing the appearance of broken blood vessels and redness. To hydrate and soothe the skin, swap out scalding hot showers with a moderately warm, 10-minute rinse. Want to know a top tip for the ultimate shower experience during these colder seasons? Change your go-to shower gels for richer creams and milks with a nourishing, high oil content. We would recommend products such as L’Occitane’s Almond Shower Oil, which transforms into a delicate milky veil that gently cleanses your skin of impurities while granting long-lasting hydration. Sounds pretty brrr-illiant, right? 

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THE BEST WINTER SKIN CARE PRODUCTS

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Anya Elliman

Anya Elliman

Junior Copywriter

Anya is one of Cult Beauty’s Junior Copywriters. A huge lover of all things skin and body care, time spent intently researching product ingredients has resulted in a mass of skin care know-how (which don’t worry, she’s more than happy to share). When Anya's not treating herself to a new Maison Margiela fragrance or Aesop hand cream, you'll find her at the latest natural wine bar with friends, buying a new book (even though there is already a stack waiting), or walking through Hampstead Heath with her regular order of an almond latte.