Your Autumn Skincare Routine: A Herbalist's Guide
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Every October, without fail, the same thing happens. The heating goes on, the evenings draw in, and within a couple of weeks people start telling me their skin feels tight, dull or a little bit cranky. If that sounds familiar, you are not imagining it. Autumn is one of the most demanding times of year for your skin, and a few small changes to your routine can make a real difference.
As a qualified herbalist, I have spent more than fourteen years making skincare by hand in our production room in Mullinahone. Here is the simple autumn routine I recommend, and the reasons behind each step.
Why your skin changes in autumn
Three things happen at once when the weather turns.
First, colder air holds less moisture, so your skin loses water more easily. Second, central heating dries the air indoors even further. Third, we all start taking longer, hotter showers. Each of these pulls moisture away from the skin and wears down its natural protective layer, which is what keeps skin soft and comfortable.
The good news is that your skin does not need a complicated new regime. It needs a gentler cleanse, more hydration and a little more nourishment, especially at night.
Step 1: Cleanse gently
The biggest mistake I see in autumn is cleansing too harshly. Foaming washes and hot water strip away the oils your skin is working hard to hold on to.
Switch to a gentle gel cleanser and lukewarm water, morning and evening. Our Everyday Cleansing Gel lifts away makeup and the day without leaving skin feeling tight. It has won Gold for Best Gel Cleanser at the Universal Beauty Awards in both 2024 and 2026.
Pat your face dry with a soft towel rather than rubbing, and move straight on to the next step while your skin is still slightly damp.
Step 2: Exfoliate once a week
Dry autumn skin often looks dull because dead skin cells build up on the surface. A gentle weekly exfoliation clears them away and helps the rest of your routine absorb properly.
Once a week is plenty in the colder months. Our Exfoliating Cleansing Gel, which won Gold for Facial Exfoliator at the Natural Health Beauty Awards 2026, cleanses and exfoliates in one step. Use it in place of your usual cleanser one evening a week, and be gentle around the eyes.
Step 3: Add hydration
Hydration and moisture are not the same thing, and your skin needs both. Hydration is about water. Moisture is about keeping that water in.
A serum applied before your cream gives your skin a drink of hydration where it needs it most. Our Hydrating Face Serum is made for exactly this step, and it has won awards at the Natural Health Beauty Awards and the Universal Beauty Awards. A few drops morning and evening is all you need. Press it gently into damp skin rather than rubbing it in.
Step 4: Moisturise morning and night
This is where autumn skin needs the most support. In the morning, a day cream protects your skin through cold air, wind and heated offices. At night, a richer cream helps your skin recover while you sleep, when it does most of its repair work.
Our Regenerating Day Cream won Gold at the Global Green Beauty Awards 2024. One 50ml jar lasts around ten weeks, so a little goes a long way. Pair it with our Regenerating Night Cream in the evening for a full day and night routine. If you would like a complete routine in one go, our Complete Anti Ageing Skincare Routine brings it all together and saves you €19.
Do not forget the rest of you
Autumn affects more than your face. A few extra steps keep the rest of your skin comfortable too.
Eyes: the skin around your eyes is thinner and shows dryness first. A small amount of Anti Ageing Eye Cream, tapped in gently with your ring finger, helps it feel smoother.
Hands: constant hand washing and cold air are hard on hands. Keep a hand cream by the sink and in your bag. Our Enriching Hand Cream with Rose and Jasmine is a customer favourite and an award winner.
Lips: lips have no oil glands of their own, so they dry out quickly. Our Sweet Orange Lip Balm is small enough to keep in every coat pocket.
Body: after a bath or shower, massage our Natural Body Oil with Frankincense and Juniper Berry into damp skin. It won Gold for Best Body Oil at the Universal Beauty Awards 2026, and the warm, woody scent makes it a lovely evening ritual.
A herbalist's tips beyond the bathroom shelf
Good skin is not only about what you put on it. A few simple habits make a real difference in autumn:
- Drink water steadily through the day. Herbal teas count, and are easier to keep up when it is cold.
- Eat plenty of foods rich in healthy fats, such as oily fish, nuts, seeds and olive oil.
- Keep showers warm rather than hot, and keep them short.
- Place a bowl of water near the radiator, or use a humidifier, to stop the air in your bedroom becoming too dry.
- Change your pillowcase often, and choose a soft natural fabric.
Your simple autumn routine
Morning: Everyday Cleansing Gel, Hydrating Face Serum, Regenerating Day Cream.
Evening: Everyday Cleansing Gel, Hydrating Face Serum, Regenerating Night Cream, Anti Ageing Eye Cream.
Once a week: swap your evening cleanser for the Exfoliating Cleansing Gel.
Every day: hand cream and lip balm as often as you need them, and body oil after your bath or shower.
That is it. No twelve step routines and no complicated rules. Just a gentle, consistent routine that gives your skin what it needs to get through the colder months feeling soft, calm and comfortable.
If you are not sure which products are right for your skin, reply to any of our emails or send us a message. I am always happy to help.
Claire
Founder and qualified herbalist, Dublin Herbalists
Every Dublin Herbalists product is handblended in small batches in Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary. Since 2024 our products have won 31 independently judged awards, including Gold for Best Small Beauty Brand at the Natural Health Beauty Awards 2026.