While some complexions can tolerate retinol all year round, other people find that even with SPF, it leaves their skin too sensitive to the sun’s rays. Sound familiar? In which case, autumn is the time to use this anti-ageing wonder ingredient. ‘Retinol is a great collagen inducer,’ says cosmetic dermatologist Dr Stefanie Williams. ‘Plus, it exfoliates the skin and can help even out the appearance of irregular pigmentation.’ So who should use it? ‘Anyone from the age of 30 can benefit, but if the appearance of your skin has prematurely aged or you spent your childhood in a hot climate, it makes sense to begin in your 20s,’ adds Dr Williams.

Try: La Roche-Posay Redermic R Retinol Overnight Treatment (30ml), which contains a well-tolerated 0.3% retinol and is suitable for sensitive skin. Dr Williams suggests applying it twice a week (at night) to start, and gradually increasing to every night. If you’re using products containing retinol, still slather on the SPF, or stay out of the sun.

‘Our skin has a protective barrier, but when it becomes dehydrated, say, from too much exposure to central heating, the barrier may lose its efficacy and, consequently, the skin becomes even more dehydrated,’ explains dermatologist Dr Ariel Haus. It’s a vicious circle, which can result in lines around the eyes appearing more obvious. ‘Flooding the area with moisture can help plump skin and make lines appear shallower,’ she adds.

Try: No7 Youthful Eye Serum (15ml) EXCLUSIVE combines skin-plumping moisturisers with brightening and protecting vitamin C. Pat a pea-sized amount around the eye area on clean skin, twice daily.

If you’re wearing make-up every day, doesn’t it make sense to choose formulations that care for your complexion? The good news is that the latest slew of foundations and primers contain ingredients that you might expect to see in your daily moisturiser or serum. ‘Make-up containing hyaluronic acid temporarily plumps the skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles,’ explains Dr Mahto. While vitamin C, for example, can help in the fight against ageing, and also has proven benefits for hyperpigmentation.

Try: Bourjois Healthy Mix Anti-Fatigue Blurring Primer (20ml) comes in a suits-all shade and contains a skin-loving cocktail of vitamins A, C and B5. For a little more coverage (without blocking your pores), we like L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Anti-Ageing Radiant Foundation* (30ml) EXCLUSIVE which contains Pro-Xylane. This deeply hydrating foundation helps skin look more radiant and smooth with continued use.

If autumn equals drier skin that’s lost its glow, you might be tempted to try to buff your way to brightness with an exfoliating scrub. Hold it! ‘The right exfoliator depends on your skin type,’ explains Dr Kluk. ‘Scrubs can help with oily skin and blackheads, but if you get spots, they can increase inflammation. In this case, a chemical exfoliator containing AHAs or BHAs, such as glycolic and salicylic acid, is preferable.’ Applied with a cotton pad once or twice a week, they gently nibble away at dead skin and unclog pores without physically scraping the skin.

Try: Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Extreme Scrub (30-pack) contains just the right amount of exfoliating glycolic acid (2%) to gently refine the skin’s surface and reveal a brighter, smoother-looking complexion.