Autumn Looms - Guide to Prepping Your Skin for the New Season

A look out the window won't give you an accurate account of what month it is. In Dublin at least, for the last week, we've had alternating days of summer sun, and cold, driving rain. Frankly, I'm beginning to forget what year it is. It certainly doesn't feel like August.

Still, at this time of year, skin is relatively stable - by which I mean that if it's giving you trouble, fluctuating temperatures and indoor heating systems aren't likely to be the culprits. In just a week though, we'll be back into September (I know, sorry...) and skin will start to give you a bit more grief. With cold weather and central heating dehydrating the crap out of your skin, it will get needier. If you have a good skincare routine, skin will be at its best going into the winter season. If it's dehydrated, dry, or otherwise uncomfortable before the cold weather sets in, it will have a harder time staying balanced. Here's what I've been using to try and get my skin ready for the colder weather:

• A Great Hand Cream

A great hand cream is important. Hands get so much abuse, and I always go straight to Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream because I find that it works better than any other hand cream I've tried. We all know how winter weather batters the hands. If you start the cold season with dry, chapped or uncomfortable hands, they'll be in terrible condition in jig time. Moisturise at least nightly with whichever hand cream you most like.

• Acid Tone

Acid toning is brilliant to keep cell turnover at a high rate, getting rid of dry, dead skin cells before they have a chance to build up. Apply any exfoliating toner you like with a cotton pad after cleansing, but before serum. Pixi Glow Tonic - as you can see from my much loved bottle above - is excellent. Read a more comprehensive review here.

• Eye Cream

Some people suffer with dryness of the skin around the eyes. It's very unpleasant to have, and can be difficult to get rid of. Cold winds whipping into your face will only increase the damage. Opt for a nice eye cream to keep skin on track and prevent it getting dry in the first place. Vichy Aqualia Thermal Eye Balm is my favourite at the moment.

• Weekly Face Masks

A weekly face mask will do wonders for your skin. As you can see from the above picture, I'm using Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Masks from Indeed Labs, which tackle dehydration excellently. If dryness is your issue, use a richer mask. The important thing is that you use one!

• Whip out the Retinol

Retinol is an excellent addition to your skincare routine. The most potent genuine anti-aging ingredient on the market, it resurfaces skin, tackles fine lines, and helps with red scarring left behind by acne. I've seen enormous improvement in my skin since I started using retinol. At the moment, I'm using IMAGE Reconstructive Repair Crème. There are other excellent creams available though. To learn more about retinol, have a read of this.

• A Very Good Oil

A great oil will get you through the winter with minimal damage. At the moment, I'm using Nude Skincare Progenius Rescue Oil , but there are loads of great oils available for any budget, and it's an investment you'll never regret.

What are your main skin issues when autumn comes knocking? Share them in the comments!