Five Ingredients Your Skin Needs This Autumn

The shift from summer to autumn is one of the most demanding transitions your skin faces. UV exposure, heat, and dehydration accumulate over summer, leaving the barrier compromised just as cooler, drier air begins pulling moisture from the skin. This is the season to move from protection to restoration.

Here are my top five bioactives we formulate with specifically for this kind of repair, and where you'll find them in your routine.

1. Ubiquinone (CoQ10) — Cellular Energy & Antioxidant Defence

Coenzyme Q10 is one of the skin's own naturally occurring antioxidants. It’s also one of the first to deplete with age and environmental stress. Applied topically, it replenishes the lipid barrier, neutralises free radicals accumulated over summer, and supports the cellular energy production that drives skin renewal. Its role in reducing visible signs of photoageing makes it particularly valuable as seasons change.

Found in: Vital A Elixir, Age Defiance Day Serum, Age Defiance Eye Serum, Hydrating Moisturiser, Restorative Moisturiser, Marigold Hydrating Crème, Antioxidant Facial Oil, Aloe Vera Moisturiser.

2. Terminalia Ferdinandiana (Kakadu Plum) — Brightening & Antioxidant Repair

Kakadu plum holds the highest bioavailable plant source of vitamin C, significantly more than synthetic ascorbic acid alternatives, and readily absorbed by the skin which is why I have incorporated it across almost the entire range. Post-summer, it addresses the uneven tone, sun-induced pigmentation, and oxidative damage that accumulates during the warmer months. It works at the melanin synthesis level to brighten and even the complexion while reinforcing resilience.

Found in: Rose Blossom Hydrating Mist, Barrier Repair Serum, Vital B Elixir, Vital C Elixir, Blemish Control, Aloe Vera Moisturiser, Hydrating Moisturiser, Restorative Moisturiser, Marigold Hydrating Crème, Daily Moisturiser Solar Veil SPF30, Age Defiance Day Serum, Deep Cleanse Enzyme Mask and more ...

3. Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid) — Deep, Lasting Hydration

As humidity drops in autumn, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) increases making hyaluronic acid the skin's primary defence. Our formulations use full-spectrum, fermentation-derived sodium hyaluronate across multiple molecular weights, allowing it to hydrate at both surface and dermal levels rather than sitting on top of the skin. It holds up to 1000 times its weight in water, and when used correctly it provides measurable improvements in plumpness and elasticity. As it's a humectant, always apply to damp skin and sealed immediately with a moisturiser or oil.

Found in: Hyaluronic Marine Serum, Vital B Elixir, Restorative Moisturiser, Queen of the Night Crème, Age Defiance Body Serum.

4. Biomimetic Peptides — Structural Firming & Collagen Support

Peptides are short-chain amino acids that signal the skin to perform specific repair functions. Everyone is suddenly talking about them, but we have had them in our formulations since 2012. They work on different mechanisms depending on their molecular structure and chain length and each is backed by clinical data. Some of the benefits is to increase collagen synthesis, reduce expression lines, or decongest the eye area. Unlike general "anti-ageing" actives, each peptide has a defined mechanism of action backed by clinical data. Autumn is the ideal time to introduce or intensify peptide use, as cooler temperatures slow cellular turnover and the skin benefits most from targeted structural support.

Found in: Age Defiance Day Serum (four peptides including Argireline and Leuphasyl), Age Defiance Night Serum, Age Defiance Eye Serum (Serilesine, Eyeseryl, Argireline), Queen of the Night Crème (plant EGF and collagen-boosting peptide complex).

5. Lipid-Rich Plant Oils & Butters — Barrier Restoration

A compromised barrier is the root cause of most autumn skin concerns such as sensitivity, tightness, dehydration, and reactivity which all trace back to lipid depletion. We use certified organic plant oils and butters jojoba, shea, macadamia, safflower, and avocado that closely mirror the skin's own lipid profile. These oils replenish the intercellular matrix, reinforce the acid mantle, and create the occlusive layer that prevents further moisture loss throughout the cooler months. The Queen of the Night includes specific ceramides to reinforce the skin barrier as you sleep.

Found in: Gentle Melt Cleansing Balm, Hydrating Cleansing Lotion, Hydrating Moisturiser, Marigold Hydrating Crème, Restorative Moisturiser, Queen of the Night Crème, Antioxidant Facial Oil.

A complete autumn routine moves from gentle cleansing that doesn't strip the barrier, through targeted serum actives, to a lipid-rich moisturiser that seals everything in. If your skin is feeling the shift already such as tightness after cleansing, dull in tone, or more reactive than usual that's your barrier signalling that it's time to adjust your routine.