Every year it happens to me, and probably to you too. The clocks go back, the heating goes on, and suddenly my face feels tight by mid-afternoon.
It's not always "dry skin". It's often a stressed skin barrier and dehydration. Dry skin lacks oil. Dehydrated skin lacks water, and any skin type can be dehydrated, even oily skin.
Colder air outside and dry indoor heating pull moisture out of your skin, and your barrier struggles to hold on to what's left.
Signs to look for: tightness after cleansing, makeup sitting patchy, fine lines looking more obvious, and products that suddenly sting.
What helps: keep cleansing gentle, add a hydrating layer like hyaluronic acid on damp skin, seal it in with a moisturiser, and pause harsh exfoliating for a couple of weeks.
The tricky part is knowing what's actually working. That's why I built the skin journal in Home of Skin. A quick check-in with a photo and a note lets you see when your skin flares and what you'd used that week. Your product cabinet shows what you've been layering, so you can spot patterns instead of guessing.
Start tracking your autumn skin for free at homeofskin.app.
