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Ultimate autumn beauty guide: the products to buy now

 (Seana Redmond)
(Seana Redmond)

Back to the future

Vintage hair styles are getting a modern reboot, say the capital’s gods of cut and colour

‘The “flob” harks back to those androgynous 1990s styles,’ says undone hair-supremo George Northwood. ‘A classic box bob, the same length the whole way round with no shape at the front and styled with a subtle wave, this is a look we’ve increasingly had requests for, probably due to Kaia Gerber rocking one.’ This isn’t the only retro style that’s back. ‘We’ve also seen a big uptick in demand for 1970s styles: think Farrah Fawcett flicks, statement bangs and Debbie Harry’s layered bob. These are laid-back, cool styles that nonetheless make a big statement: just the shot in the arm many of us need after a monotonous 18 months.’

Colour-wise, there’s also a 1970s slant to the warmer tones we’ll be opting for. ‘Statement blonde is still huge, but we’ll be taking inspiration from autumnal leaves,’ says Larry King’s ‘Queen of Colour’ Harriet Muldoon. ‘Think pumpkin latte and golden tones, and warm roots to your highlights.’ For dark locks, says superstar colourist Josh Wood, ‘cherry black is like rouge noir for hair — beautifully tonal. A sexy, smoky brunette is another shade you’ll see a lot of — great for stopping dark browns going rusty-orange.’

Hot or not

Usher in the chilly season with a scent to match the cold… or one that will warm you up. It’s your choice

Tauer L’Air des Alpes Suisses

Tauer L’Air des Alpes Suisses (TAUER)
Tauer L’Air des Alpes Suisses (TAUER)

Yes, it’s Swiss mountain air, bottled. Fill your lungs with green herbs, the clean, mineral scent of granite, a hint of Alpine lilies and earthy timber. £105 for 50ml.

Givenchy l’Interdit Eau de Parfum Rouge

Givenchy l’Interdit Eau de Parfum Rouge (Givenchy)
Givenchy l’Interdit Eau de Parfum Rouge (Givenchy)

Bold flowers topped with blood orange, ginger and pimento leaf for a dose of spicy heat that’ll get your blood racing. £75.50 for 50ml.

Retinol, the next generation

Bakuchiol was the first plant-derived ingredient that promised all the skin-perfecting power of retinol, without the irritation. Now, new ‘phyto-retinols’ are following in its wake. Smoother, plumper, firmer skin is promised in three months. Thank you, Mother Nature.

Bidens pilosa

REN Bio-Retinoid Youth Serum (REN)
REN Bio-Retinoid Youth Serum (REN)

Also known as Spanish needle, this is fast becoming a favourite alt-retinol for its ability to smooth lines and firm. Find it in REN Bio-Retinoid Youth Serum, £62.

Stevia

Liz Earle Superskin Alt-Retinol Booster (Liz Earle)
Liz Earle Superskin Alt-Retinol Booster (Liz Earle)

Who knew a natural sweetener could mimic retinol’s ability to fight the breakdown of plumping collagen and hyaluronic acid in skin? Try it in Liz Earle Superskin Alt-Retinol Booster, £35.

Vit-A-Like

Lucy Bee Vitamin A Anti-Ageing Eye Serum (Lucy Bee)
Lucy Bee Vitamin A Anti-Ageing Eye Serum (Lucy Bee)

This moth bean seed extract speeds up cell renewal in both the dermis (that means more collagen and elastin) and epidermis (for refined, more even-toned skin). It’s in Lucy Bee Vitamin A Anti-Ageing Eye Serum, £34.

Top tweaks

London’s most sought-after skin clinicians keep bringing the newness

Dr Sophie Shotter’s Facial Slim & Sculpt does what it says on the tin, using fat-dissolving injections to reduce double chins, clinically proven Meder Skincare facial slimming masks, and optional jaw sculpting with dermal fillers. Two to six sessions are required, depending on needs, six to eight weeks apart. From £900 per session.

Laser specialist Debbie Thomas is branching out with DNA Revive, a seriously plumping, brightening procedure for delicate areas prone to crepey-ness, such as under eyes, chest and hands. Using a 0.6mm, three-pronged ‘nano’ syringe, a mesotherapy solution containing 52 skin nutrients and quenching hyaluronic acid is injected between the skin layers, where it will stimulate collagen production and bring instant radiance and long-lasting hydration. £250 per session; three are recommended.

Home and dry

We love dry shampoo for a hundred reasons, but its scalp-clogging residue is not one of them. So the clever bods at Living Proof have invented Perfect Hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo. Blast the silicone-free powder into hair and scalp, wait 30 seconds, then brush or shake out, removing the product and every trace of dirt, sweat and odour with it. There’s conditioning and pollution-fighting ingredients in there, too, so hair is left soft, protected and volumised. It’s the end of hair washing as we know it. £23.

Beauty dust

Great skin-from-within has become a national obsession, with us popping beauty pills, potions and gummies in droves. Powdered vitamin and adaptogenic herb blends are the latest (and fastest absorbing) way to supplement your way to a pretty face: just sprinkle into your drink or over your breakfast to look and feel epic (apparently).

The top of the skin-from-within charts (Seana Redmond)
The top of the skin-from-within charts (Seana Redmond)

Shanti Hair, Skin and health formula

Ashwagandha, blackberry powder, amla and other body and mind-balancing Ayurvedic botanicals in single-dose pouches. £40 for a one-month supply.

Dr David Jack Bioclear

Adaptogens, antioxidants, phytonutrients and probiotics that balance hormones and fight acne-causing bacteria. £54 for a one-month supply.

Grown Alchemist Cellular Repair

Key minerals, antioxidants and astragalus root to boost the production of fresh tissues and protect existing ones from free-radicals. £59 for a 20-day supply.

First aid for problem skin

Superdrug has launched the nation’s first high street pharmacy advice and skincare service, making clinical help for moderate acne and eczema conditions a damn sight more accessible for all of us. In-house pharmacists have been trained to provide support and advice, and can suggest the right cosmetic skincare as well as a number of prescription-only skincare solutions.

Meanwhile, over in derm world, Dr Stefanie Williams has developed a cleanser for grown-up women prone to breakouts and rosacea. Delo Rx Hybrid Cleanser (£85; delorx.com) deep-purifies without irritation while protecting and healing ageing skin with salicylic acid, antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. And Dr Sam Bunting has added an ace spot treatment to her line-up: Flawless Neutralising Gel (£28; drsambunting.com) combines salicylic and azelaic acid with bakuchiol for a spot-busting (but non-irritating) triple threat.

Get your (re)fill

Forward-thinking skincare brands are reducing, re-using, recycling… and refilling your precious potions to cut down on the (gulp) 120 billion units of packaging the industry produces each year. Leading the charge are these innovative schemes.

Reduce, reuse, recycle (Seana Redmond)
Reduce, reuse, recycle (Seana Redmond)

Skingredients 03: Skin Protein

Skingredients skincare now comes in a container-for-life outer pump dispenser with your fully recyclable, airless tube of cream or serum inside. Once you’ve used it up, you toss it (in the recycling, obvs) and pop in a refill. It’s a system that keeps the active ingredients fresh and potent. £49, refill £44, at cultbeauty.co.uk

Emma Lewisham Illuminating Oil Cleanser

All-natural Emma Lewisham skincare lets you pop any four or more of its empty bottles, jars or refills in a box to send to them, free of charge. The brand will either re-use them or recycle through specialists such as Terracycle, ensuring it’s done responsibly. £46, refill £42 (emmalewisham.com)

UpCircle Beauty Night Cream with Blueberry Extract

Fully recyclable, you can now have your UpCircle skin and body care refilled as well. Buy products from its ‘Return + Refill’ collection and you score a 20 per cent discount and a Freepost return label; they will be sterilised, refilled and returned to you, free. £18.99