My September Skin Edit: 12 Products for Post-Summer Ski
Hydration, barrier support, considered actives and the autumn glow.
Sliding into September and my skin is politely asking for backup.
After summer sun, heat and dehydration, with colder weather and central heating waiting in the wings, this is when I change the optics. I am not trying to fix my face or start again. I am optimising what I have and giving my skin some continuity: more hydration, more barrier support, a considered approach to lines and texture, and SPF because autumn sun still counts.
These are the 12 products I am reaching for and, most importantly, how they fit into my routine. Some are daily staples, some are supporting acts and A313 is the one that requires a little more respect and explanation. The other 11 are certainly not bit players though. They are the real deal.
A quick transparency note: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Discount codes and retailer exclusions can change, so please check the offer at checkout. Everything here is included because I use it and rate it, not because a commission is available.
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The routine at a glance
You do not need to use all 12 at once. Please do not turn your face into a chemistry practical in the name of September.
Morning
- Beauty Pie Triple Hyaluronic Acid Lipopeptide Serum on slightly damp skin.
- Calecim Professional Eye Contour Lifting Cream, using the tiniest amount.
- Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream, using a small amount as my moisturising and barrier-support step. I am particularly mindful of this as autumn arrives and because A313 has a place in my weekly routine.
- Heliocare 360° Water Gel SPF50+ as the final skincare step, before makeup.
Evening cleanse
- Rosalique 3-in-1 Balm Cleanser to melt makeup and SPF.
- Erborian Centella Cleansing Gel as my second cleanse when I want one.
A313 night
Cleanse, allow the skin to dry completely, then use one pea-sized amount of A313 for the whole face. I began at once a week. If I need comfort, I use Avène Cicalfate+ as a buffer around easily irritated areas or afterwards on dry patches. I keep this night deliberately simple.
Recovery and glow night
Beauty Pie serum, then Gatineau Age Benefit Night Renewal Cream with three drops of Fushi Turmeric Glow Drops mixed in my palm. This is my post-summer comfort blanket, only rather more glamorous.
The finishing touches
Tatcha Kissu Lip Mask goes on before bed, L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream lives within arm’s reach, and Sisley Self-Tanning Hydrating Facial Skin Care comes out when I want colour without pretending self-tan is sun protection. It is not. SPF50 still goes on every morning.
1. A313 Vitamin A Pommade
Why it is in my edit
A313 is my autumn active. It contains vitamin A derivatives and I reach for it to support skin renewal and to help improve the appearance of fine lines, uneven texture and post-summer pigmentation. It is not an instant fix and it is not a product to attack your face with. More is not more.
Exactly how I use it
- At night only.
- On clean skin that is completely dry.
- One pea-sized amount for the whole face.
- I warm it between my fingertips, then spread a very thin layer.
- Once a week to begin, increasing only if my skin is genuinely comfortable.
- I avoid the immediate eye area, corners of the nose and corners of the mouth.
- SPF50 every morning, without negotiation.
On my skin, A313 creates a gentle feeling of warmth as I apply it. Warm, not hot. It should not feel as though the skin is burning. If it feels hot, painful or persistently uncomfortable, I wash it off, stop using it and let my skin recover.
If you are new to it, patch test first. Tingling can happen with vitamin A products, but persistent burning, marked redness or peeling is irritation, not proof that it is working. Stop and let the skin recover.
I do not recommend A313 for sensitive or reactive skin without professional advice. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, using prescription skincare, having skin treatments, or unsure whether vitamin A is suitable for you, please ask your doctor or dermatologist first.
I buy mine from The French Pharmacy. I go in for the products and stay for the brilliant skin advice and wisdom of the French Pharmacy team.
A313 FAQs
Is A313 a moisturiser?
No. Think of it as your active treatment step, not your night cream. Its ointment texture can feel rich, but that does not make it a substitute for barrier support.
Where does it go in the routine?
After cleansing, once the skin is completely dry. On my A313 nights I leave out the extra oils, exfoliating acids and other strong actives. Simple is elegant and easier to troubleshoot.
Can I use moisturiser with it?
Yes. If I know an area is prone to irritation, I may place a little Cicalfate+ around the nose or mouth first as a buffer. I can also add it afterwards where the skin feels dry. The moisturiser does not make A313 work harder. It helps me keep the routine comfortable.
How often should I use it?
I started once weekly. There is no prize for racing to nightly use. Build only when your skin has been calm for several weeks, and reduce the frequency again if it becomes irritated.
Can I use it in the morning?
No. I use A313 at night only and wear a generous amount of high-protection sunscreen every day.
2. Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
This is the product I reach for when my skin feels dry, uncomfortable or as though its barrier could do with a little diplomacy.
I use a small amount on dry areas after A313 if needed, or around the nose and mouth beforehand as a buffer. On recovery nights it can be the main event. I press it gently into the skin rather than rubbing, and I avoid taking it too close to the eye contour.
It does not make A313 stronger. It simply gives my skin the protective, comforting layer it is asking for.
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3. Gatineau Age Benefit Night Renewal Cream
This is proper night-time nourishment: comforting, cocooning and very welcome when the temperature starts to drop. I use it for moisture and barrier support, and for that smoother, firmer, better-rested look by morning.
One or two pumps is enough for my face and neck. I use it after serum as my final cream, pressing it in before bed. The clever airless jar is designed to be pressed at both sides, so do not unscrew the lid and stage a wrestling match with it.
On my autumn glow nights, I mix three drops of Fushi Turmeric Glow Drops into the cream in my palm before applying.
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4. Fushi Turmeric Glow Drops
This is my little bottle of glow for the evenings when skin looks dull and wants its lights switched back on. The botanical blend includes turmeric, saffron, bakuchiol and nourishing oils.
The brand suggests one or two drops mixed into a cream, or three to four drops used alone. My sweet spot is three drops mixed into Gatineau Age Benefit Night Renewal Cream in my palm, then pressed over face and neck. I keep the bottle somewhere cool and dark.
I do not pile this onto an A313 night. I prefer it on a separate recovery and glow evening so I can see how my skin responds to each routine.
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5. Tatcha The Kissu Lip Mask
Small ritual, large satisfaction. Kissu is my final bedtime step when the colder air starts making itself known. It gives lips a glossy, non-sticky layer of comfort and helps them feel softer and smoother by morning.
I apply a generous, even layer to clean, dry lips and leave it on overnight. That is it. No complicated technique, just a tiny pot that earns its place on the bedside table.
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6. Beauty Pie Triple Hyaluronic Acid Lipopeptide Serum
When skin feels tight or looks papery, I reach for water before I reach for more heaviness. This lightweight serum gives me that juicy, smoother, plumper appearance without making the rest of my routine feel crowded.
I dampen my fingertips, use a few pumps over face and neck, then seal it in with moisturiser. It works morning or evening. The important part is the seal. Hyaluronic acid is the hydration step; your cream helps keep that hydration where you want it.
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7. Calecim Professional Eye Contour Lifting Cream
This is for dryness, dehydration lines and an eye contour that looks as tired as I occasionally feel. It is powered by Calecim’s PTT-6® protein blend and has a rich, replenishing feel without requiring half the jar at each application.
I use one tiny amount for both eyes, tapping it around the upper and lower contours and extending towards the temples. Ring finger, press rather than rub, morning and evening. Keep it out of the eyes themselves and follow with SPF in the daytime.
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8. Erborian Centella Cleansing Gel
This is my fresh second cleanse. After makeup and SPF have been loosened with a balm, a small amount of this gel on damp skin lifts away what is left without leaving my face feeling stripped or tight.
I massage gently, including around the eye area only if it feels comfortable, then rinse with lukewarm water. I tend to use it at night. In the morning I would rather leave all those carefully applied overnight oils and serums to their good work than scrub them into oblivion.
And yes, the scent is beautiful.
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9. Rosalique 3-in-1 Balm Cleanser
This is first-cleanse territory: a comforting balm that melts makeup and SPF, then lifts away with a warm, damp cloth. I warm a small amount between my fingers, massage it over a dry face and take a little extra time around the nose, hairline and jaw, the places product likes to hide.
If I have worn more makeup or sunscreen, I follow with the Erborian gel. Rosalique also suggests using the balm as a 10 to 15-minute nourishing mask on clean skin, which is a rather lovely option when everything feels parched.
My code MALA15 gives 15% off at Rosalique, subject to any retailer exclusions.
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10. Heliocare 360° Water Gel SPF50+
SPF is not a summer fling. It is the steady relationship in the routine, particularly when I am using A313 at night.
The Fluid Cream shown in my original edit has been discontinued. Heliocare recommends its 360° Water Gel SPF50+ as the current lightweight, hydrating alternative, which is the version I would choose for this edit. If your skin is oily or combination, the 360° Gel Oil-Free SPF50 is the more mattifying option.
I shake it, then apply approximately two full finger lengths evenly to the face, taking it to the hairline and carefully around the eyes. I add more for the neck and ears. It is the last skincare step before makeup. During high exposure, and after swimming, sweating or towelling, it needs reapplying.
A313 without daily SPF makes no sense to me. Grey sky still counts.
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11. Sisley Self-Tanning Hydrating Facial Skin Care
This is how I keep a little colour without confusing a glow with sun protection. I apply a thin layer to clean, dry skin, blending carefully around the hairline, ears and jaw, then taking what is left down the neck. Hands are washed immediately afterwards.
I would always start with less, see how the colour develops and build it every two or three days if wanted. Brows, hairline and jaw deserve a little attention because good blending is what makes self-tan look expensive.
Self-tan is not SPF. I still use SPF50 every morning.
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12. L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
The face gets the headlines, but hands are usually the first to notice cooler weather and central heating. This is the classic 20% shea butter hand cream and one of those products I return to because it is rich, practical and instantly comforting.
I massage a small amount into the backs of the hands, palms, fingers and cuticles whenever they feel dry, and especially before bed. Keep it by the sink, in your handbag or on the bedside table. The best hand cream is the one close enough to use.
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My discount codes
- VERYMAKEUPMAD20 gives 20% off at LOOKFANTASTIC, where I buy Avène, Erborian and a whole lot more. The code works site-wide subject to exclusions.
- MALA15 gives 15% off at Rosalique, subject to exclusions.
- VERYMAKEUPMAD gives 30% off at Fushi, subject to exclusions.
These are affiliate codes, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The final word
September is not about undoing summer or declaring war on your face. It is about noticing what the skin is asking for and answering with a little consistency.
Hydrate it. Support the barrier. Introduce actives with respect. Protect it every morning. Then let the products do their jobs without throwing all 12 at your face in one sitting.
Have you tried any of this lot? Questions are always welcomed. My Vitamin A reel is coming next too, because if the explanation does not quite resonate, perhaps seeing it in action will.
Look out for my beauty-device choices and other staples on ShopMy too. It is where I will keep you abreast of what I am currently using and which products are earning a place in my beauty edit.
SHOP ALL 12 PRODUCTS IN MY SEPTEMBER SKIN EDIT
This post reflects my personal routine and experience and is not medical advice. Always patch test new skincare and follow the product instructions. If you have a skin condition, use prescription treatment, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are uncertain about vitamin A, speak to your doctor or dermatologist.