Your September Skin Reset

Where Should You Start?

Summer might be behind us, but its effects on the skin often linger well into autumn. If your skin has felt tighter, drier or a little more uneven in tone over the past few weeks, you’re not imagining it – and September is a good moment to do something about it, before the colder months set in.

What’s happening to your skin

UV exposure over summer does two main things to the skin. First, it triggers melanocytes – the cells responsible for pigment – to produce more melanin as a protective response. This is what gives us a tan, but it’s also what leaves behind sun spots, patches of uneven tone, or a flare-up of melasma that can take months to fade on its own, if it fades at all.

Second, summer is hard on the skin barrier. Sun exposure, heat, sweat, chlorine and more frequent washing all draw moisture out of the skin and disrupt the outer layer that normally keeps it locked in. As the weather cools and we move into air-conditioned or centrally heated environments with lower humidity, that barrier comes under further pressure, which is usually when tightness, flaking, or dullness becomes noticeable.

The good news is that both concerns – dryness and pigmentation – respond well to a considered fix in September. Lower UV levels mean a lower risk of photosensitivity, so it’s a sensible window for both a skincare switch-up and, for many of our patients, an in-clinic treatment.

Rehydration: what to swap for autumn

If your summer routine leaned on lightweight, gel-based formulas and mattifying products, it’s time to reassess. Autumn skin generally needs richer support: look for moisturisers containing ceramides, hyaluronic acid and fatty acids to help rebuild the barrier.

This is also the moment to reintroduce retinol if you paused it over summer. Many people do, since retinoids can increase sun sensitivity and summer sun exposure makes that risk harder to manage. Autumn’s lower UV levels make it a more forgiving time to bring it back.

My top tip is to go slowly: start with two or three nights a week, buffer with a moisturiser if needed, and build up gradually rather than returning to your previous frequency straight away.

Whatever the season, daily SPF stays non-negotiable – it’s still the single most effective thing you can do to prevent further pigmentation.

Our aesthetic practitioner, Luca, provides a free, no-obligation skincare consultation where he evaluates your skin and reviews your skincare products to determine whether they suit your specific skin type and address your current skin needs.

Treatments worth considering

If your dryness or pigmentation needs more than a skincare refresh, several of our treatments can help improve the appearance of both concerns. As with any treatment, we’d always recommend a consultation first, so we can look at your skin and recommend what’s genuinely right for you – results vary from patient to patient.

Over the years, this shows up as pigmentation: flat, brown patches that are one of the clearest visible signs of accumulated sun damage. For many people, this pigmentation is the first thing they notice about their hands ageing, often before volume loss or visible veins become obvious.

Frequent hand washing doesn’t help either. It strips away natural oils and weakens the skin barrier, which, combined with skin that’s already thinner and has fewer sebaceous glands than facial skin, leaves hands more prone to dryness, roughness, and a generally tired appearance.

Microneedling

Microneedling creates controlled micro-channels in the skin, stimulating the body’s own repair process. Over a series of sessions, it can improve skin texture, tone, and mild pigmentation, while also supporting the skin’s ability to absorb and retain hydration afterwards.

Profhilo

Profhilo is a bio-remodelling treatment, not a filler. It’s designed to work through the skin’s layers to help improve hydration, elasticity and overall skin quality, making it a popular choice for skin that’s lost its usual bounce after a dry summer.

Skin Boosters

Skin boosters work similarly, using injectable hyaluronic acid to improve skin hydration and quality from within, rather than adding volume. They’re often chosen alongside other treatments as part of a broader approach to dryness and dullness.

Polynucleotides

Polynucleotides support the skin’s natural repair processes; they can improve skin quality, tone, and hydration, and are increasingly used for skin that looks tired or uneven after summer.

Where to start

Not every treatment suits every skin, which is exactly why we start with a consultation rather than a straightforward booking. If you’re not sure whether your priority is hydration, pigmentation, or both, our team can talk you through what’s realistic and build a plan around it – whether that’s an updated skincare routine, an in-clinic treatment, or a combination of the two.

Clearer and more affordable pricing at Hardwick Clinic

At Hardwick Clinic, every member of our team brings a different level of experience, training and qualifications – and our new price guide reflects that clearly.

It means a wider, more affordable range of pricing across the board and our most sought-after treatments and technology – including Morpheus8, HIFU, CO2 laser, Profhilo, Polynucleotides and skin boosters – now start at a lower price than before.

Get in touch to book your consultation, and let’s get your skin ready for the months ahead.