Is Your Skin Ready for Autumn? Here's How to Prepare Before the Cold Weather Arrives

By Laura Porter | Professional Skin Therapist | 7 minute read | Updated September 2026

Summer's gone booooo!!! Especially if like me you live in Scotland and you know that, Autumn and Winter are pretty much the same - cold, wet, dark and yuck. Although, saying that it's a great excuse to get cozy on the couch with your LED Light Mask in the evening!

Mornings become a little crisper, the evenings feel cosier and there's a real sense of starting fresh. We swap sandals for boots, salads for warming meals and slowly settle back into our everyday routines.

But while we're busy preparing ourselves for the new season, we often forget that our skin needs preparing too.

Your skin doesn't suddenly become dry overnight. It changes gradually as the weather changes around us, which is why September is the perfect time to support your skin before the colder months really arrive.

I've always believed it's much easier to prepare your skin than it is to repair it. 

So, let's chat skin changes in Autumn!

Love Laura x

Why Does Skin Become Drier in Autumn?

As we move into autumn, the environment around us changes, and our skin feels every bit of it.

Throughout the summer, our skin has been exposed to sunshine, warmer temperatures, holidays, swimming pools, sea water, air conditioning and long days spent outdoors. While many of us enjoy the glow that summer brings, these months can also leave the skin slightly dehydrated and the skin barrier working much harder than we realise.

Then, almost overnight, the weather changes.

The air becomes cooler, humidity levels begin to fall and before long, the central heating is switched back on. Although these changes might feel cosy to us, they can be quite stressful for our skin.

One of the biggest reasons for this is something called transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Don't let the name put you off—it simply describes the natural process of water evaporating from the surface of your skin.

Every day, our skin loses a small amount of water, and that's completely normal. The problem is that during autumn and winter, cold outdoor air combined with warm, dry indoor heating can increase that water loss. As more moisture escapes, your skin can begin to feel tight, dry or uncomfortable.

You might notice that your skin starts to look a little dull, your makeup doesn't sit quite as well, or you find yourself reaching for moisturiser more often than you did in the summer. Some people also notice increased sensitivity, flaking or rough patches, particularly around the cheeks, nose and hands.

This is because your skin barrier—the outermost layer of your skin—is working harder to protect you.

I like to think of the skin barrier as your body's natural coat. Its job is to keep the good things, like moisture, locked in while helping protect your skin from the outside world. When that barrier becomes weakened, moisture escapes more easily and irritants can penetrate more readily, leaving skin feeling dry, sensitive and less resilient.

That's why autumn skincare isn't simply about applying a thicker moisturiser.

It's about supporting your skin barrier with the right ingredients, replenishing lost hydration and making small changes before problems begin. Think of it as giving your skin the tools it needs to cope with the changing seasons rather than waiting until it starts to struggle.

As I always say, healthy skin is proactive, not reactive. Looking after your skin before it becomes dry will always give you better results than trying to repair it once the damage has already been done.

Healthy Skin Starts From Within

One thing I am here to  remind you all, and I will keep saying it until I am blue in the face,  is that skin care isn't just about what you apply to your skin—it's also about how you look after yourself from the inside.

No cream can replace good nutrition, hydration, quality sleep and looking after your overall wellbeing. When you support your body, you're also supporting your skin.

As the seasons change, these are some of the foods I naturally reach for more often.

🥑 Avocados

Rich in healthy fats and naturally containing Vitamin E, avocados help support the skin barrier and keep skin feeling soft and comfortable. I do eat this all year around but what a great snack. 

🫐 Blueberries

Packed with antioxidants and naturally containing Vitamin C, blueberries help protect cells from oxidative stress while Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation, helping maintain healthy skin. Yum poured over your greek yoghurt in the morning setting you up for the day ahead

🌰 Walnuts

Walnuts are one of my favourite snacks. They contain healthy fats, copper and manganese, making them a brilliant addition to a balanced diet. I eat these every day with my first meal. Usually around 10-11am i feel that combining this at breakfast keeps me fuller for longer. 

🥕 Orange Vegetables

Carrots, butternut squash and sweet potatoes are naturally rich in beta-carotene, which the body converts into Vitamin A. Vitamin A plays an important role in maintaining healthy skin.you could get all of these added into a soup easily hmmm so healthy and packed full of goodness, try lay off the 10 slices of bread though. Anyone else love bread in the soup yum? 

🐟 Oily Fish

Salmon, sardines and mackerel are naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids, helping support healthy cell membranes while contributing to overall well being. Lets eat more fish and get more switched on. 

Caring for Your Skin Beyond Your Face

When we think about skincare, it's easy to focus on our face, but our body deserves just as much attention.

As the seasons change, cooler temperatures, central heating and hot showers can all take their toll, leaving skin feeling drier, tighter and less comfortable. It's often the skin on our arms, legs and hands that shows these changes first, yet they're the areas we tend to neglect the most.

The good news is that you don't need to completely overhaul your routine. Small, consistent habits can make all the difference.

Gentle cleansing, regular moisturising and exfoliating once or twice a week can help remove the build-up of dull, dry skin, allowing your moisturiser to absorb more effectively and leaving your skin feeling softer, smoother and better hydrated.

The same philosophy applies to your face. As the weather cools, your skin naturally benefits from routines that focus on protecting the skin barrier, maintaining hydration and supporting its natural ability to repair itself.

Skincare doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, I've always believed that the routine you enjoy and stick to will always outperform the one that's packed with products but rarely used.

Healthy skin is built through consistency, and giving both your face and body the same care and attention will help keep your skin looking and feeling its best throughout the changing seasons.

Laura's Autumn Skin Routine

As the weather changes, your skin doesn't need a cupboard full of products—it simply needs consistency. Here's the exact routine I follow and recommend to help keep your skin healthy, hydrated and glowing throughout Autumn.

New to FAB?

If you're just starting your skincare journey, please don't feel you need to use everything straight away.

I always recommend beginning with the foundations:

• No.1 Before You Cleanse– to gently dissolve makeup, SPF and excess oil.

• No.2 Daily Cleanser – to thoroughly cleanse while respecting your skin barrier.

• No.8 Moisturise + Protect – to hydrate, nourish and protect your skin every day.

Once your skin has settled into a consistent routine, you can gradually introduce products such as No.3 Chemical Peel, No.4 Collagen Mask, No.5 Eye Cream, No.7 Youth Elixir and our FAB LED Mask.

Give Your Skin a Head Start This Autumn

Autumn skincare isn't about waiting for dryness to appear.

It's about supporting your skin before it starts asking for help.

By nourishing your body from the inside, staying hydrated, protecting your skin barrier and following a simple, consistent skincare routine, you'll help your skin transition beautifully into the colder months.

Your future skin will thank you for it.

As I always say...

Healthy Skin Always Wins.