How To Transition Your Beauty Routine From Summer to Autumn

Introduction

Don't get me wrong - I LOVE Summer. But there’s something about the end of summer that makes me want to completely reset my beauty routine. The bright blushes, beachy hair and deep fake tan that felt perfect in July suddenly don’t hit quite the same once September arrives. But you definitely don’t need to replace your entire beauty collection for autumn. A few small changes to your skincare, hair, makeup and tanning routine can make everything feel much more suited to the new season.

Here are 6 easy beauty swaps to make as we head into autumn — plus the products I’d pick for each one.

1. Give Your Skin a Little More Hydration

If your skin suddenly starts feeling tighter or drier when autumn arrives, you’re not imagining it. Cooler weather, lower humidity and eventually indoor heating can all make it harder for skin to hold onto moisture.

Rather than completely changing your skincare routine, start by adding a little more hydration.

Try switching a very lightweight summer moisturiser for something slightly more nourishing, particularly at night. You can also apply moisturiser while your skin is still slightly damp after cleansing, to maximise absorption.

Product Pick: CeraVe Moisturising Lotion

£7.95

This is the kind of product I love for a seasonal transition because it’s simple rather than overly complicated. It’s designed to hydrate while supporting the skin barrier, and you can easily work it into an existing routine.

Autumn tip: Don’t wait until your skin already feels really dry. Start increasing hydration gradually as the weather changes.

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2. Give Your Hair Some Post-Summer TLC

Sun, heat styling, chlorine, travelling and having your hair tied up constantly can leave it feeling noticeably drier by the end of summer. Autumn is therefore the perfect excuse for a little hair reset.

Try reducing unnecessary heat styling, using conditioner consistently and introducing a deeper conditioning treatment around once a week. If your ends are particularly dry, a small trim can also make a surprisingly big difference.

Product Pick: Garnier Ultimate Blends Banana Hair Food

£4.00

This product is one of my favourites!! I would really recommend it as a super nourishing and easy-to-use treatment for dry hair. This is an affordable option for dry hair and can be used in different ways, including as a mask and leave in conditioner. If you have curly hair (like me!) I would also recommend the "Method for Curls" Hair Food in this range, as I find it fights frizz that little bit more. However both are amazing options and smell delicious!

Autumn tip: Concentrate masks and richer treatments through your lengths and ends rather than automatically coating your scalp - building up product at your scalp can weigh down your roots, giving the appearance of greasy hair even after you have just washed it!

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3. Swap Bright Summer Makeup for Richer Tones

This might be my favourite autumn beauty change. You don’t need an entirely new makeup bag — simply changing the colours you’re using can completely change your look.

Instead of peachy and coral summer shades, experiment with:

• Berry and mauve blush

• Brown rather than black eyeliner

• Rosy-brown lips

• Soft neutral eyeshadow

• Slightly less bronzer and a little more blush

One of the easiest places to start is your blush.

Product Pick: e.l.f. Camo Liquid Blush

£6.49

These blushes come in many shades, but for Autumn, a deeper berry or dusty rose blush gives that naturally flushed, just-came-in-from-the-cold look without needing to change the rest of your makeup. And because liquid blush is so pigmented, start with much less than you think you need and build it up (I definitely learned that the hard way).

For lips, you don’t need to suddenly start wearing a dark burgundy lipstick either.

Product Pick: NYX Butter Gloss

£5-£7.99

A brown or rosy nude gloss is an easy middle ground between a summery nude lip and full autumn lipstick. Pair it with a slightly deeper lip liner for an easy everyday autumn lip combo.

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4. Please Don’t Put Your SPF Away

This one is SUPER important! The sun disappearing at 4pm does not mean your sunscreen gets banished to the back of the cupboard. UV exposure doesn’t disappear because summer is over, so SPF should remain part of your morning skincare routine throughout autumn. Personally from using it all year round I have noticed such a difference in my skin texture, and there is an overall glow about my skin which I never had before.

Product Pick: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF50+

£11.59

I particularly like the idea of keeping a lightweight facial SPF in your everyday routine rather than treating sunscreen as something you only reach for on hot days. This one specifically has a really lovely texture to it and doesn't create a white cast!!

Autumn tip: Think of SPF as the final step of your morning skincare rather than a “summer product.” It’s much easier to stay consistent that way.

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5. Make Your Fake Tan More Subtle

I’m definitely not saying the fake tan needs to disappear the second September starts. I for one, couldn't live without it! But autumn is when I prefer the look of a softer, more natural glow rather than a really deep holiday tan.

One of the easiest ways to achieve that is swapping your usual tanning mousse for a gradual tanning moisturiser. You can build the colour slowly and you’re moisturising your skin at the same time — particularly useful once the weather gets colder.

Product Pick: Dove DermaSpa Summer Revived

£11.47 for a 3 pack on Amazon!

Gradual tan is also much more forgiving when you’re wearing jeans, jumpers and long sleeves most of the week and suddenly realise your ankles haven’t seen fake tan in approximately nine business days.

For the smoothest result, gently exfoliate dry areas and moisturise your elbows, knees, hands and ankles before applying.

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6. Create an Autumn “Everything Shower”

Instead of buying ten new products every time the season changes, make one evening a week your little autumn maintenance night. Wash and condition your hair, use your hair mask, exfoliate your body, shave if you want to, moisturise, apply gradual tan and finish with your usual skincare. It’s less about having a 25-step routine and more about having one evening where you reset everything for the week ahead.

Put on clean pyjamas, change your bedding, make a cup of tea and you’re basically legally required to believe you have your life together.

In Conclusion 🍂

Transitioning your beauty routine into autumn doesn’t mean throwing away everything you loved during summer. The easiest approach is simply to work with what the new season changes.

Give dry skin and hair some extra moisture. Start introducing deeper makeup shades. Swap an intense tan for something softer. Keep wearing your SPF. And use the beginning of a new season as an excuse to get back into the little routines that make you feel put together.

You only need a handful of changes to make your entire routine feel new again.

The autumn reset checklist:

• Add more hydration to your skincare

• Use a weekly conditioning hair treatment

• Try berry, mauve and brown makeup shades

• Keep wearing SPF every day

• Switch to a more subtle gradual tan

• Give yourself one weekly beauty-reset evening

And just like that, we are ready for Autumn!

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