There's a particular kind of quiet that settles in with October. The light softens earlier, the air turns crisp enough to notice, and somewhere between packing away summer sandals and reaching for a heavier coat, our skin starts its own seasonal shift too.

This issue is about that shift in skin barrier—and how to meet it with the right boosters, not just a heavier moisturiser and a shrug.

The goal this month isn't to fight the season—it's to build a routine that moves with it. Welcome to October.

What Actually Happens to Skin in October

As humidity drops and indoor heating switches on, moisture gets pulled out of skin faster than most routines can replace it.

Cooler air slows oil production, leaving skin drier and tighter than it felt in August.

Cell turnover slows too, so texture can look duller and flakier. And even though UV exposure feels lower, skin's barrier function genuinely weakens this month—making it more reactive to wind, hot showers, and actives it handled just fine a few

weeks ago.

Perimenopause isn't something to just endure — it's a stage that responds well to understanding and small, consistent care. A conversation with a healthcare professional or skin specialist can help turn a confusing transition into a well-supported one.

Caring for Perimenopausal or Menopausal Skin

Skin often shows the effects of hormonal change faster than anything else, but a few consistent habits go a long way:

• Skip scalding showers, which strip moisture from skin.

• Moisturise while skin is still slightly damp to lock in hydration.

• Pat skin dry rather than rubbing.

• Keep water intake steady throughout the day.

• Wear SPF daily — there's no such thing as a "safe" tan, and

• unprotected sun exposure accelerates ageing and pigmentation.

• Consider professional treatments that stimulate collagen production for fine lines, sagging, and pigmentation.

• Build a skincare routine around active ingredients suited to your skin's specific needs.

• Support skin from within — nutrients that aid collagen production and gut-skin health can make a visible difference over time.

Menopause Awareness Month exists to break the silence around a life stage millions of women go through largely unsupported—pushing for open conversation, better workplace understanding, and easier access to care and information.

BABYGLOW

FOR HIM & HER

This treatment helps restore moisture levels within the skin while improving skin barrier function, radiance, and overall texture. The amino acids and antioxidants support the skin's natural repair processes rather than simply adding surface moisture.

babyGLOW's precise 8-point technique spreads the booster evenly through the subdermis for consistent, homogeneous hydration, while keeping the treatment fast, more comfortable, and lower in bruising or downtime compared to denser multi-injection skin boosters.

NEW CELLULAR TREATMENT FACTOR

NCTF's 60-ingredient formula packs hyaluronic acid, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants into a single solution designed to nourish skin at a cellular level. Paired with microneedling, those micro-channels act as a delivery system, letting this rich cocktail bypass the skin's natural barrier and reach deeper layers where it can do the most good — while the needling itself triggers collagen production.

The result is a true synergy: microneedling amplifies NCTF's absorption and effectiveness, and NCTF fuels the skin's repair response, together delivering deeper hydration, faster visible results, and a stronger, more resilient complexion than either treatment could achieve alone.

HA DENSIMATRIX

An absolute favourite with clients who understand the difference between low quality and premium ingredients. This is an Intensive concentrate that

combines hyaluronic acid in several molecular structures for penetration at different levels. Provides anti-ageing, plumping and filling action. All types of skin.

MULTI-LEVEL MOISTURISING: it contains ha densimatrix complex, a combination of HA (cross-linked, high,

middle and low) for a long-lasting deep moisturising. PROTECTIVE ACTION: the action of anti-hyaluronidase

complex protects from HA degradation and blocks the action caused by external aggressions.

FIRMING AND ANTI-AGING ACTION: anti-ageing pro complex promotes collagen and elastin synthesis to

provide the skin with firmness and elasticity.

CEBELIA COMFORT CREAM

Nourishes, soothes and protects against environmental stress such as pollution, cigarette smoke, harsh climatic conditions

and temperature variations.

Cebelia Comfort Cream has a slightly thicker consistency than Cebelia Extreme Care, and is designed to hydrate and shield the skin from pollutants, while reinforcing the skin’s natural lipid barrier.

Tests have shown that Cebelia Comfort Cream reduces skin reactions to pollutants by 93% and by 50% to temperature variations e.g. going from cold air to a heated interior. Sensitivity, dryness and irritations are also significantly decreased.

Q&A WITH

RUTH

Q: With so many skin boosters available,

how does a client choose which one is

best for them?

A: Honestly, the best starting point is always a proper consultation — not a quick chat, but a real conversation with a practitioner who understands the science behind these products. As a pharmacist, I look closely at ingredients: what's in the formula, how it interacts with the skin, and what your skin actually needs versus what's trending. Two boosters might both

promise "hydration", but the mechanisms and ingredient profiles can be completely different, and that matters for getting the right result safely.

The other big factor is how the client feels about the delivery method. Some people want the least invasive option possible — like an injectable skin booster with minimal downtime, like babyGLOW.

Others are happy to go further with microneedling, which creates micro-channels to drive ingredients deeper and adds a collagen-stimulating benefit on top. Neither is "better" — it really comes down to your comfort level, your skin's specific concerns, and how much downtime you're willing to accept.

That's exactly why the consultation matters: it's not just about picking a product; it's about matching the right ingredients and the right technique to the right person.

As temperatures drop and indoor heating dries the air, the skin barrier faces its toughest test of the year, but good nutrition can help it hold firm.

Healthy fats like those in oily fish, avocados, and olive oil replenish the lipids that keep moisture locked in, while foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus and leafy greens, support collagen production to keep skin resilient.

Zinc and vitamin A, found in eggs, nuts, and orange vegetables, aid skin repair and renewal, helping combat the flakiness and sensitivity that often creep in during winter.

Staying hydrated from within is just as important as any topical routine, so pairing warming, nutrient-dense meals

with plenty of water gives the barrier what it needs to stay strong, supple, and protected all season long.

In the above sheet-pan meal — roasted potatoes, tenderstem broccoli, cherry tomatoes, spinach, and a fried egg, are all packed with skin-loving nutrients. How eating this way nourishes your skin barrier:

• Eggs are rich in biotin and healthy fats, both essential for maintaining the lipids that hold the skin barrier together.

• Tomatoes are loaded with lycopene, an antioxidant that helps protect skin cells from environmental damage.

• Spinach delivers vitamin A and C, key nutrients for skin repair and collagen production.

• Broccoli brings vitamin C and sulforaphane, which support the skin's natural defence against oxidative stress.

• Olive oil (likely used for roasting) supplies monounsaturated fats that help lock in moisture and keep the barrier supple.

There's something quietly magical about an autumn hike

— the air turns crisp and clean, and every breath feels

sharper, more awake.

The world slows down: birds gather for the season ahead,

the scent of damp earth and fallen leaves fills the air, and

the usual summer crowds have thinned to a peaceful hush.

It's a season that asks

you to look up, breathe

deep, and simply notice

— the perfect reminder

that beauty often lives in

the quiet, fleeting

moments of change.