The sudden drop in temperature and humidity that we usually experience in September can lead to a compromised skin barrier, leaving skin more vulnerable and prone to irritation. As we start to turn the central heating on, brave colder, windy walks and indulge in relaxing evening baths, this can further exacerbate dreaded dryness. Switching my focus to strengthening the skin to protect from external elements, I start to reach for more fortifying skincare products.

With this in mind, I recently turned to a reliable K-beauty favourite of mine, Medicube, and began incorporating a selection of their PDRN Pink Collagen products into my autumn skincare arsenal with the intent of supercharging my skin barrier. PDRN (yes, the polynucleotide notoriously sourced from salmon sperm) is the skincare ingredient that everyone's currently obsessed with, and for good reason. It's a regenerative DNA fragment that's highly biocompatible with human DNA and widely used for its reparative benefits. When applied topically, PDRN is used to hydrate, calm inflammation, support skin barrier recovery and stimulate collagen production - just what our skin needs for autumn!

One of the best ways to lock additional moisture into your skin when it starts to feel dry is by layering a few drops of hydrating toner between each skincare step. The Medicube PDRN Pink Cica Toner drenches the skin in lightweight moisture. Don't be deceived - it looks just like water and has no fragrance, but it feels immediately comforting and soothing on application. It's perfect for dehydrated, thirsty skin in autumn as it plumps and smooths without leaving behind any greasy or tacky residue. Used immediately before your serum step, it'll help your serum to absorb more deeply and effectively into your skin.

The real star of the show in Medicube's Collagen range is the Medicube Collagen Glow Booster Serum. Wow. Infused with PDRN, hydrolysed collagen-elastin, ceramides, beta-glucan, niacinamide and 1% milk protein extract to condition your skin and promote firmness, the thick, milky gel serum literally melts onto the skin to leave it with a firmer feel and glass-skin level of dewiness. The unique injection-like packaging decants the serum hygienically without any waste and just two pumps is plenty, so each tube is sure to last for a good while. One thing to note is that it has the most beautiful clean, floral fragrance to it, but it is quite strong so may not suit more reactive skin-types. 

I reserve my richest creams for the depths of winter when my skin is really craving some TLC and ease myself into September with something more moisturising than my summer lotions yet still lightweight to avoid overloading the skin too soon. The Medicube PDRN Pink Hyaluronic Moisturizing Cream fits the bill perfectly. Of course it combines that hero ingredient, salmon PDRN, along with a whopping ten forms of hyaluronic acid, five ceramides, panthenol and cica for intensive nourishment. This cream also contains niacinamide and peptides to brighten the complexion, which is particularly helpful in addressing any pigmentation concerns after summer. Combining all of those restorative ingredients, you'd expect this cream to feel heavy, but it's not at all. It starts off with quite a thick, balmy consistency, but it soon sinks in fully to give your skin a plumped, bouncy feel. Your skin is left with the most smooth-looking, glazed sheen - an ideal canvas for makeup application.

When it comes to makeup, I swap out summer's dewy skin, glazed cheeks and barely-there glosses for velvety textures, higher-contrast hues and longer-lasting formulas in autumn. We don't want to ditch the radiance completely, but more of a soft-focus, lit-from-within glow feels more appropriate. Estée Lauder is a brand famed for their infallible makeup products and it's one I can always depend on for reliable formulas that stay looking good come rain or shine.

Estée Lauder's foundations are some of my most repurchased. The brand's iconic Double Wear Longwear Matte Foundation is an absolute classic that's guaranteed to stay in place no matter what all day and night. It's truly a miracle product and I'm never without a bottle in my stash for special occasions and extra long days. Double Wear's finish is on the heavier side, though, so I've recently been loving the Estée Lauder Futurist SkinTint Serum for a slightly less 'done' everyday option. Impressively, 85% of this skin tint is made up of skincare. It's crammed full of moisture saccharides, glycerin, botanical oils, glucosamine and trametes versicolor extract (from a mushroom, apparently) which all work to moisturise, smooth and even out the skin during wear, so it's an especially great choice for those with normal-dry or mature skin. All that added goodness gives the serum a really unique slick, lush consistency. It leaves the skin with a healthy (not sweaty) lustre and creamy smoothness like no other base product I've tried. The sheer yet buildable coverage perfects the skin just enough for a second-skin finish, but the formula is surprisingly long-wearing for a lighter base, even through sweat and humidity.

The key with the Estée Lauder Futurist SkinTint Serum is that you must give it a thorough shake. Adding a small amount at a time, warming it up on the back of your hand and then working it into the skin with your fingers before patting it over with a dense buffing brush if needed is my preferred method of application for a seamless result. The Medicube routine mentioned above creates a nice priming base for the skin tint as it sits best over fewer products. Too much tint applied all in one go with a damp sponge over numerous heavy serums and creams can leave it looking a bit patchy, so less is definitely more with this one. If I want more coverage in certain areas, I'll then follow with concealer to plug any gaps.

Speaking of concealer, paired with the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place 24-Hour Concealer, your skin will look absolutely flawless. Just like the Double Wear Foundation from the same range, this concealer can hide as much or as little as you want depending on how much you apply. Be warned, though, the coverage is deceivingly potent. Consistency wise, it's creamy, smooth, and you have a decent amount of time to blend it out before it sets. Once it's dried down, it will not budge, but it doesn't give you that dry, chalky look that so many other long-wear concealers do. And that's exactly why this concealer is one of my all-time favourites - it remains looking flawless all day long without settling into creases or fine lines, separating, flaking or fading. No complaints!

To perk up your complexion and add some dimension, there is nothing better than the iconic Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Powder Bronzer. As my summer tan gradually fades, I switch to a less intense shade, and Light 01 is a great A/W option for paler skin-tones. The bronzing powder has a completely neutral tone, which allows you to both contour and bronze to define your face shape using just the one product. It's entirely matte, but it still manages to impart a subtle radiance and doesn't ever leave your skin looking flat or dull. Having a finely-milled and silky texture, it sweeps on really smoothly for a natural-looking warmth and blurred, even finish. It's totally foolproof.

Eyes are all about sand, terracotta and espresso tones in autumn, so you really can't go wrong with the Estée Lauder The Essential Eyeshadow Quad in Gallery Hop as it includes every shade you need for a complete autumn eye look. A matte, warm smokey eye with a bright inner corner and diffused depth at the lash line is my go-to at this time of year, and this palette makes it so effortless to create. Equally, if time isn't on your side, you can use just one shade as a quick, all-over wash of colour for everyday. Each shadow is soft and highly pigmented, so they're a dream to layer, blend and build to your heart's content.

For cheeks and lips, bright corals and barbie pinks are out and dusky rose and toasted cinnamon hues are in. The Estée Lauder Futurist Blushmaker Dewy Cheek Tint allows you to customise your blush intensity by adding a light layer for a sheer watercolour finish or doubling up for a more vibrant, stained flush. Opting for a liquid blush over a powder adds a healthy sheen and keeps your complexion looking fresh and more youthful when your skin is on the drier side. The serum-like Futurist Blushmaker Dewy Cheek Tint blends seamlessly onto the cheeks with no harsh lines to contend with. Just a small amount is needed and the colour remains vivid throughout wear, like a lip stain equivalent for the cheeks. Stolen Glance is my pick of the bunch for softly brightening the face. The warm, rosy nude shade gives a really flattering, natural-looking colour to the cheeks and complements a plethora of lip and eye looks, so it'll see you through every season.

To balance out the matte eyes and velvety skin, Estée Lauder's Pure Color Explicit Slick Shine Lipstick is perfect. No Tomorrow is exactly the lip colour I gravitate to in autumn - a deep, rich plum-brown shade (on my paler skin). Layered for maximum impact, it gives an opaque, high-shine, lacquered finish. Not only does it give the illusion of a plumper pout, but the moisturising texture feels comfortable to wear when lips are more prone to flaking. If you want a less intense look, you can lightly dab the lipstick onto the lips before smudging it in with your finger or a lip brush to sheer out the colour and tone down the shine. Diffusing the strong pigment gives a more just-bitten effect, which I also love. However you apply it, the longevity is great. Obviously eating and drinking will disrupt the finish somewhat, but a stain of colour remains on the lips even once the shine has faded. The slim, rounded tip of the lipstick hugs the curves of your lips, which makes it so easy to apply and means you don't have to use a separate lipliner to achieve a clean edge. Winner. And for the finished look...

Which Medicube and Estée Lauder products do you love most?

AGB X