Ch-ch-ch-changes…

That is what Autumn means.

Cooler weather, a different wardrobe, more blankets, and more excuses to binge trashy reality TV without judgment. All things Autumn is known for.

Unfortunately though, Autumn is also famous for causing dry and flakey skin.

With less humidity in the air and more harsh winds, you may find your skin needs a bit of extra TLC.

Hydration is the key to combatting the Autumn woes.

So, let’s explore what’s going on with your skin as the seasons change and how you can keep it hydrated during this troublesome time.

Why Skin Hydration Is Essential, Especially As It Gets Cold

Your Skin vs The Elements

In summer, you lather on sunscreen to minimise the damage of the sun’s rays beating down on you. But, when the cooler weather rolls around, your skin gets a bit of a shock. The air is suddenly drier as the humidity levels drop. This drier air can literally draw moisture away from your skin, potentially dehydrating it.

Then you add in the fact that cold wind also strips moisture from your skin’s surface, and all at once your skin is starting to feel drier and tighter than it did in summer. Couple that with the dehydrating power of indoor heating and super hot showers and your skin is in real danger of drying out.

That’s why it is essential to take proactive steps to hydrate and protect your skin. This includes having good skincare habits, applying a high quality moisturiser, and drinking plenty of water to maintain optimal hydration levels.

Hydration: Your Secret Weapon

Important all year round, but especially as the weather gets colder, hydration is key for maintaining healthy, glowing skin. Here’s what it can do:

Prevents Dryness

As we just discussed, the colder weather, wind and low humidity levels can strip the moisture from your skin. This can lead to it becoming dry, flakey and irritated. But, when your skin is hydrated, it acts as a barrier and helps to protect your skin from the elements and other environmental factors.

Protects Your Skin Barrier

Speaking of barriers, Mother Nature actually gave your skin a natural barrier to protect itself. The outermost layer of your skin is this barrier, preserving your complexion, preventing too much moisture loss from occurring, and protecting you against the elements.

Regular nourishment and hydration of your skin will help maintain the effectiveness of this barrier, keeping the nasties out and the good stuff in.

Healing And Repair

Every night, as you sleep, your body takes steps to repair the damage that has been caused to it throughout the day. This isn’t necessarily specific injuries, simply the wear and tear that your body goes through each day. Your skin is obviously a big part of this healing regime as it is the part of the body most exposed to the elements.

When your skin is well hydrated, it is better equipped to repair any damage or irritation that may have occurred that day. That’s because your skin does not need to first restore its moisture levels before enacting repair mode. Having those optimal moisture levels encourages the skin’s natural healing processes. That means your body will be well equipped to calm inflammation and soothe any redness or irritation caused by chilly temperatures and harsh winds.

Slows Aging

Dry skin is more prone to developing fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging. When you keep your skin well hydrated, you help maintain its elasticity, therefore making it less likely that fine lines and wrinkles will form. Keeping your skin supple and hydrated will help to reduce the signs of premature aging.

Better Skin Appearance

When your skin does not have the proper levels of hydration it can appear dull and lacklustre. Obviously, this is not a look that you want to go around sporting! Proper hydration can give your skin a healthy glow; that’s because it plumps the skin cells. So, if you can adequately hydrate your skin, you will have a more youthful and vibrant complexion.

How To Hydrate

While moisturising is a big part of skin hydration, there are plenty of other things you should be doing to keep your skin hydrated. They are:

• Drinking plenty of water to ensure your hydration starts from within
• Being mindful of indoor heating as it can dry the air, you may choose to combat that with a humidifier to insert a healthy level of moisture back in
• Not taking long, hot showers as they can strip the natural oils from your skin
• Protecting your skin from the elements where possible

Hydrating Skincare

Probably the most important part of hydration is having excellent skincare products and using them regularly. Start with a nourishing cleanser that protects your skin’s moisture barrier while still removing impurities. Follow that with a toner to prepare your skin to fully drink in the benefits of your moisturiser.

Choosing the right moisturiser will help to unlock the ultimate hydration solution for your skin. Day Dew is an everyday option that is gentle enough to use each day, yet has powerful hydration properties to leave your skin feeling supple and full of the moisture it needs to glow.

Sometimes you may find that simply moisturising daily is not enough. So, treat your skin to the ultimate level of hydration with natural sheet masks or repair gels. Full of active ingredients, these intense repair products protect your skin, encourage its natural hydrating processes and reduce the signs of aging.

Great skin hydration comes from high quality skincare products and we have exactly what you are looking for here at summer + bloom. With a wide range of natural skincare products designed to nourish and hydrate your skin, you’ll be glowing like it’s summer all year round.

Shop for hydrating skincare now.