As we say goodbye to the humidity of our Durban Summer, it’s important that we are already preparing our skin for the upcoming dry autumn months.

Everything seems to change as summer ushers in the autumn days. There is less time spent outdoors and frolicking in pools and the ocean, and by now work stress has entrenched itself.

The change of season also affects our skin, and the way we need to care for it. It is obvious that the change in temperature also leads to a change in skin type.

Owner of Spa Royale at The Royal Palm Hotel, Yuvati Shah, gives some tips and tricks on how to prepare your skin for the change of season.

1)      Cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize – Now that autumn is approaching, you may want to start reaching for hydrating cleansers, exfoliators and heavier moisturizing facial creams. Try to limit the use of facial scrubs as they can dry out your skin. Remember the golden rule, cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize, all in that order!

2)      Don’t forget your lips!  The harsh African sun and chlorine may have left your lips dry and brittle therefore exfoliating and nourishing your lips is vital, especially during the dryer and colder months. To regain plump, healthy lips, exfoliate. Dead skin cells prevent the medication in your balm from infiltrating the skin. Exfoliating will help remove these dead skin cells while healing and smoothing out your lips, making them ready for moisturizing. Use a lip balm that is ointment based as this will help lock in the moisture and also aid in healing cracked lips.

3)      Sunscreen should always be your best friend regardless of the time of year. Just because its autumn does not mean you should neglect using sun screen. You definitely still need UV protection regardless of the season and more so if you spend a lot of time outdoors.

These tips and tricks will surely help with keeping your skin looking healthy and beautiful right until the last autumn leaf falls!