From autumn-adjustment treatments to repairing beach hair, we have a cure for the back-to-work beauty blues

BeautyLifestyleEmma McCarthy

Head first

Nothing says summer like beachy, sun-kissed locks. But in the cold light of the office fluorescents, the sun-bleached look is not so hot. Before you book in for the prerequisite three-inch September snip, there is a solution for those who wish to salvage their summery lengths - put it on the Dukan diet. 

“Protein is the key ingredient to help rapidly repair any post-summer damage,” says Aveda master creative director Michael Lendon, who recommends Aveda’s quinoa-powered Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair range. It’s newest launch - Split End Repair (£25, from Sept 22 at House of Fraser) - is a perfect post-holiday fix and already has a waiting list (aveda.co.uk). 

“Split ends are most likely to occur in summer, when hair is dried out by heightened exposure to sun and salt-water,” says Lendon. Containing South Pacific nangai oil, the serum fuses frayed ends back together for the most effective no-scissors-required solution yet.

As for coloured hair that’s had a few too many encounters with chlorine, book in for John Frieda’s Take the Plunge treatment (£20, johnfriedasalons.com). Its new, deeply cleansing, 15-minute add-on originates from the coast of California and is designed to lift any lingering green tinge and leave hair shining with health. Shame it’s too late for Ryan Lochte. 

Prime time

Autumn may involve a few more clothes than its seasonal predecessor but there’s no need to neglect your skin. Hang on to your fading holiday glow by adding Tan Luxe’s Illuminating Self-Tan Drops (£42, tan-luxe.com) to your moisturiser.

Or for a top-to-toe overhaul there is Elemis’s Thousand Flower Detox Wrap (£85, elemis.com). The hour-long treatment at its Mayfair flagship salon involves an omega-rich, green- tea seed oil massage before your entire body is swaddled in a detoxifying wrap enriched by Somerset soil. It may not sound glamorous but the earth is packed with plant-based nutrients to help flush out all that summer rosé and leave you feeling fully re-invigorated.

Face forward

Following a few months of hardcore sun worship (or in most cases a few days spent sat in a beer garden with no SPF on) your complexion is often more sensitive than usual in September. For an intensive repair programme try Haute Custom Beauty’s Soothing Rescue Extraordinaire (£90, hautecustom beauty.co.uk) - a seven-day at-home solution designed to soothe, hydrate and repair stressed summer skin - or La Roche-Posay’s innovative new Toleriane Ultra Overnight Care lotion (£17.50, boots.com), which has been clinically proven to desensitise your skin while you

sleep. 

If a sluggish September complexion is your bugbear, give it a boost with the Vitamin Nectar Vibrancy Boosting Face Mask from Boston-based skincare brand Fresh (£52, fresh.com/uk). With its marmalade-like texture and 50 per cent pure citrus-paste formula it’s not only good enough to eat, it also feeds your skin with brightening vitamin C.

Or for a full MOT, book in for the Hydrafacial at Michaeljohn’s Medispa in Belgravia (£155, michaeljohn.co.uk). Cult among A-listers and beauty insiders, the treatment involves a nifty little vacuum-like device that works to suck out grime from clogged pores and leaves skin sparkling clean. 

A new perspective

Feeling prepared to face the colder months is often a case of mind over matter. Uma - a luxury aromatherapeutic oil brand from India - has earned a devoted following for its Pure Energy Wellness Oil (£60, cultbeauty.co.uk). Spiked with peppermint and rosemary, the elixir promises to bring more mental focus and physical vigour than an extra-shot flat white with just a few drops to your pulse points. The Restore Aura Spray from world-renowned aromatherapist Michelle Roques O’Neil’s brand Therapie (£28, cultbeauty.co.uk) is also charged with fortifying essential oils and crystal essences to restore energy levels. 

Or for a treatment that promises to get your mind and body in gear for autumn, there is Annee de Mamiel’s Seasonal Attunement ritual at the Sanderson Hotel’s Agua Spa (£245 for two hours). Using a combination of facial and body acupuncture, meditation and sound therapy alongside a host of Chinese rejuvenation techniques such as herbal compresses and chi massage, the holistic treatment is designed to ensure a smooth transition between seasons and leave you ready to face whatever September throws at you.

ArticleAutumn-adjustment treatments to cure the back-to-work beauty bluesMichael LendonJohn FriedaTan LuxeHaute Custom BeautyLa Roche-PosayElemisBack-to-work beauty tips from autumn-adjustment treatments to repairing beach hair

The best beautifying pick-me-ups for a refreshed new season

From autumn-adjustment treatments to repairing beach hair, we have a cure for the back-to-work beauty bluesGalleryPublishedMedium width1Monday, September 5, 2016 - 10:54OnEnable video endboarddefault