The summer of 2026 seemed to go on forever, and then without a moment's warning, the heat waves ended and the chill descended.
If your skin is noticing the change in the season, we've got you. These are the skincare swaps HELLO!'s Beauty Collective has made to ensure their skin stays soft and supple despite biting winds and dry central heating.
The Collagen Coaxer
"I love swap season. Come autumn, out go the summer scents and in come cosy, rich fragrances. Skincare is the same. Water-based gel moisturisers are kicked to the curb in favour of rich formulas – and this budget-friendly L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Collagen Expert Moisture Filler Cream, £9.99, is my choice this year. The smooth, luxe-feeling cream gives a firmness to the skin, leaving it looking juicy and feeling fresh all day." - Melanie Macleod, HELLO!'s deputy beauty and lifestyle editor
The Eye Brightener
"I'm not sure when I first started cultivating an eye-care wardrobe, but needless to say I am firmly in the 'yes, you absolutely need a dedicated eye cream' camp for targeted, high-performance skincare benefits. For autumn, I've deferred back to Clarins' Double Serum Eye, £64, as I'm feeling decidedly less bright-eyed and bushy-tailed than a few weeks ago. Not only does it brighten thanks to new star ingredient niacinamide as well as horse chestnut escin, which works on vascular dark circles, it also has the same heavy-hitting anti-ageing prowess as its iconic namesake serum." - Cassie Steer, HELLO!'s head of beauty
The Skin Tone Corrector
"My skincare regime is really a 'non-routine routine'. I don't use everything every day; I look at my skin and use what I feel it needs. The pigmentation across my forehead came back over the summer, so going into autumn I'm concentrating on evening out my skin tone and putting moisture back in. In the evening, I've been using Murad's Resurgence Retinal ReSculpt Overnight Treatment, £105, followed by the Retinal ReSculpt Overnight Cream, £98. I alternate those with Susanne Kaufmann's Moisturising Night Cream, £65, when I want something gentle and nourishing without active ingredients." - Jennie Roberts, session stylist and educator
The Comforting Cleanse
"Autumn is when you need a slightly heavier cleansing balm. I am loving the Seed to Skin The Divine Cleanse, £84. The emulsifying gel gives you a thorough cleanse without drying or stripping the skin. The texture is divine and it has a beautiful, light aroma… it's just wonderful. For body, I'm loving the newly-revamped L’Occitane Almond Range – especially the Polishing Paste, £39, which is perfect for refining the skin texture before you cover it all up for winter." - Ruby Hammer, makeup artist and brand founder.
The Hydration Hero
"As we move into autumn, I always make a few small changes to my skincare routine. The cooler weather can leave skin feeling a little drier, so I focus more on moisture and supporting the skin barrier. I add hydration with a dedicated serum like La Roche Posay's Hyalu B5 Serum, £45, before using my Sculpted by Aimee CloudCream Nourishing Ceramide Moisturiser, £30, which is like a comforting hug for your skin, especially when the change in weather impacts the skin barrier." - Aimee Connolly, make-up artist and brand founder
The Dry Skin Saviour
"This is the time of year that I dry up! In Ayurveda, autumn is Vata season, associated with dryness and feeling more unsettled, but we’re all affected by post-summer dryness in some way. I take oiling seriously for both the physical and mental benefits and I love Wildsmith’s antioxidant-rich Stillness Body Oil, £50, after a bath or shower (or, if you want to do it the Ayurveda way, apply beforehand and let it soak in for 20 minutes). The oat, chia and rosehip oils are deeply nourishing, while the chamomile, lavender, cedarwood and frankincense make it a grounding ritual as the colder, darker evenings draw in." - Jasmine Hemsley, author and wellbeing expert
The Bottled Beauty Sleep
"I've introduced two skincare saviours into my routine, just in time for autumn. After cleansing, I use the Nooance Hydratant Serum, £58. I've long loved the brand's LED mask, and the skincare is just as good. This has five different types of hyaluronic acid to really drive hydration into the skin, and I apply it before using the LED mask to supercharge my evening routine. After, I apply the Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream, £155, just before bed, allowing it to really soak into my skin." - Nadia Alibhai, Celebrity Osteopath
The Lip Lover
"My lips are the first casualty of colder weather – they get dry, flaky and chapped almost overnight. So, I swap my occasional swipe of Vaseline for something extra and make sure it’s always within arm’s reach. The Ordinary's Squalane and Amino Acids Lip Balm, £8.50, is my go-to: deeply hydrating, it keeps my lips soft, smooth and instantly comfortable. I'm also a sucker for a multitasker, so it gets used on dry cuticles and any patches of parched skin too." - Jo Jones, beauty expert and co-founder of The Beauty Banks
The Oxygen Optimiser
"Autumn is my fave season, and as the weather turns chilly my skin can feel a little more dehydrated, so I tend to ramp up the hydration. Just as I bring out my cashmere jumpers, I transition to richer, ultra-nourishing formulas. For daytime, I swap lightweight moisturisers for a rich layer of the Dermalogica Phyto Nature Oxygen Cream, £129, which helps to keep my skin juicy, mixing in a few drops of the Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil, £45, which is packed with skin-softening hazelnut oil, rosewood, patchouli and blue orchid extract." - Ateh Jewel, broadcaster and journalist.
