Why autumn’s the best time for a top-to-toe beauty overhaul… experts reveal the 7 treatments to try this season

Autumn is a crucial window for a beauty overhaul because our skin, hair and body are no longer exposed to the same UV light as during summer.

So what should you consider for your autumn refresh? BETHAN KING asks the experts which treatments are really worth trying…

FADE DARK SPOTS

Have you got dark spots or pigmentation patches (melasma), from summer sun?

‘Autumn is the best time to get post-summer skin back on track by introducing a skincare routine containing complexion-brightening active ingredients,’ says ­dermatologist Dr Shereene Idriss (dridriss.com).

She recommends products containing niacinamide, vitamin C and tranexamic, glycolic or lactic acids – all of which help to fade existing pigmentation as well as prevent discoloration and future dark spots. Don’t forget to wear SPF year-round – if you’re not, your skincare efforts will be ­rendered useless because UV exposure triggers pigmentation.

La Roche Posay Mela B3 serum is formulated to tackle dark spots (£48, boots.com).

GET NEW BROWS 

Semi-permanent make-up, such as eyebrow microblading, lip blushing or semi-permanent ­eyeliner, is best done once the mercury’s dropped. 

‘Autumn is the perfect time for these treatments since the sun’s intensity is lower, reducing the risk of the ­pigment fading due to UV exposure,’ explains permanent make-up artist Karen Betts (karenbetts.com). This means they will give a better result and last longer during colder months.

PERFECT SHADE 

If you’ve been toying with the idea of having your hair darker or shorter – Victoria Beckham’s long bob is tipped to be autumn’s most requested style – now’s the time. Andrea Marino, founder of AMA Hair Atelier in ­Chelsea (amaconcept.co.uk), says: ‘Hair coloured during the autumn tends to last longer than in summer because it’s less likely to be exposed to the factors that cause colour fading – think UV rays, chlorine and saltwater.

‘Long bobs are on trend,’ he adds. ‘Choosing this cut helps to seal hair cuticles and get rid of dry ends post-summer while preserving a good amount of length.’

LASER HAIR REMOVAL  

You might think hair removal is unnecessary – aren’t we all putting on jumpers and 60 denier tights?

But if you’re thinking of a more permanent solution than shaving or waxing, laser hair removal is best done now. That’s because it takes several months of treatments to see the full results and you can’t have it done when you have a tan – real or fake.

‘The Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) laser used can be attracted to the brown pigment in your skin and cause burns or dark spots,’ explains aesthetics practioner Natali Kelly, who has a clinic in Chelsea (natalikelly.com).

TACKLE FINE LINES 

If you’re concerned about wrinkles and thinking of trying vitamin A, now’s the time.

MediK8 Crystal ­Retinal 3

‘Certain vitamin A products can cause sun-sensitivity. Starting your routine in autumn, when you have less UV exposure, gives your skin a chance to get used to it without running that risk,’ explains Dr Ahmed El Muntasar, an aesthetics doctor and GP (theaestheticsdoctor.com).

‘There are three types of vitamin A: retinol, retinal and retinaldehyde. I’m a big fan of retinal products.’ 

Retinal is known to be fast-acting on wrinkles and it can be used at a lower strength than retinol to get similar smoothing results.

It’s important to choose a good quality formulation, such as MediK8 Crystal ­Retinal 3 (£45, boots.com).

All vitamin A products have the potential to cause sun sensitivity, so never skip the SPF, even in winter.

Vitamin A should only be used when fine lines or ­wrinkles start to appear – from the late 20s and early 30s onwards.

TIGHTEN LOOSE SKIN 

If you’re considering a more serious intervention, a non-surgical treatment called Exion Body can tighten loose skin around the knees or orange-peel skin on the thighs. It combines both ultrasound and radiofrequency, using a hand-held device that heats target areas to 43 degrees. 

This helps to break down fatty deposits that can then be naturally eliminated by the body. At the same time it triggers the production of collagen and elastin which help to improve skin texture and tone.

So what should you consider for your autumn refresh? We ask experts for the best treatments

The treatment is most suitable for people with skin laxity and small yet stubborn pockets of fat that won’t shift at the gym.

Natali Kelly offers the treatment at her clinic (from £450, natalikelly.com). She says: ‘Excessive heat always carries the risk of burning, so it’s advisable that this treatment isn’t done on skin that’s already sunburnt or on skin that’s going to be exposed to the sun straight afterwards.’ 

So the darker, shorter days of autumn are the ideal conditions. You may need up to six sessions to see results by next summer.

REVERSE HAIR LOSS 

According to hair loss expert Dr Marco Nicoloso, director of Ouroynx clinic (ouronyx.com), autumn’s the time when some women notice changes to their hair, and research shows hair is naturally more prone to shedding at this time of year.

‘Seasonal hair shedding can peak following the summer months. This is because human hair growth follows a cyclical pattern that’s influenced by seasonal changes. 

‘In summer, longer daylight hours and increased sun exposure can stimulate the scalp and improve circulation, promoting hair growth. In autumn with less UV, hair stops growing so much and naturally starts to shed in higher volumes than during the summer,’ he explains.

Seasonal hair shedding is usually temporary. But if you have noticed permanent hair loss and are considering a more drastic solution, then this is also the best time of year for a hair transplant.

‘The milder weather reduces the risk of excessive sweating or sun exposure, both of which can irritate a healing scalp post-treatment,’ explains Dr Nicoloso. After a procedure, you’ll need to avoid direct sunlight for several weeks, which is easier at this time of year.