Beauty: Hero products to get skin set for the new season

After the heat of summer’s last hurrah, the start of autumn proper will be a shock to the skin. Smooth the transition with skincare designed to heal, hydrate and give glow, writes Alice Ryan

Forest Essentials Transformative Soundarya Night Cream, £96, forestessentials.co.uk
Night creams don’t come more nourishing than this. Bakuchiol, a herb-derived retinol alternative, targets pigmentation and wrinkles; manihot tuber extract strengthens the skin barrier and staves off cell damage; and cow’s milk desi ghee hydrates and reduces the appearance of fine lines. Stirred through with a silky 24 karat gold serum before each use, the cream is dreamy to apply, too, soaking in instantly and leaving skin looking and feeling velvety.

Peep Club Soothing Coconut Eye Balm, £20, peepclub.co.uk
Our tender under-eye skin comes under constant assault - damaging blue light, desiccating central heating, shifts in hormone and hydration levels - and this balm is the ultimate rescue remedy. Doubling as both a leave-on moisturiser and a wipe-off makeup remover, it combines coconut oil, which is naturally antibacterial and loaded with healing Vitamin E, with protective cureberry and restoring chamomile. Melt a pea-sized blob and pat it onto skin for immediate comfort.

Bed Lab Pillowcase, from £69, bed-lab.com
Mulberry silk pillowcases have long been loved for their skin and hair-caring properties. Bed Lab’s version takes things to the next level: as well as being made from highest quality 22-momme silk, it’s infused with heavy-hitting skincare ingredients - hydrating hyaluronic acid and smoothing, soothing argan oil. Microencapsulated to ensure potency and lasting power, they’ll last for six months as long as you wash the case cool and carefully. How clever is that?

ilapothecary Supreme Silk Face Cream, £79, ilapothecary.com
If you suffer with that ‘tight skin’ feeling when seasons shift, this cream is a dream. New from ilapothecary, the way-making 100% natural beauty brand, it deploys silk amino acids, tuberose stem cells and moringa extracts to tick every single skincare box, from reducing irritation, puffiness and signs of ageing to increasing hydration and radiance. Light enough to use in the morning and luxurious enough to use at night, smooth it into skin with a gua-sha for fullest benefits.

Locako Blueberry & Finger Lime Beauty Collagen, £27.99, locako.co.uk
Collagen supplements have taken the worlds of both health and beauty by storm, promising to benefit everything from skin, hair, nails and joints to mood. This iteration, created by Aussie brand Locako, is formulated with beauty benefits foremost in mind, combining an impressive 8g dose of collagen per 10g serve with added hyaluronic acid, bamboo silica and macadamia oil, all chosen for their ability to smoothe, soothe and hydrate the skin. Simply add to your morning smoothie or brekkie bowl.

Lumene Nordic Bloom Vegan Collagen Essence, £30.90, John Lewis & Partners, Grand Arcade, Cambridge and uk.lumene.com
Designed to both absorb and act at speed, I find essence formulas unbeatable for restoring dry and dull skin - and this iteration, a recent release from natural Nordic brand Lumene, is best in class. Vegan collagen boosts bounce while lingonberry water and a trio of hyaluronic acids increase hydration, smoothness and suppleness. Apply to face and neck post-cleanse and pre-serum and moisturiser.

Dr. Levy The Contour Pro, £249, drlevy.swiss/en
As you’d expect, coming from a brand founded by a renowned pioneer in non-surgical aesthetic treatments, this is a seriously clever bit of kit. Using radio frequency and electro-muscle stimulation sequences to boost skin’s tone and radiance, it’s light, compact and a cinch to use: simply apply gel to your chosen treatment area - eye contour, cheekbones, lips - and follow a prescribed pattern of movements. Effects rival the best salon facial.