Your Skin Isn’t the Only Thing That Changes in Autumn. Your Autumn Skincare Ritual Should Too.

It’s not just my wardrobe that changes with the seasons. My skincare does too.

When autumn arrives, we reach for another layer, close the windows and switch on the heating. Yet we often carry on using our beauty products exactly as we did in summer.

Then our skin starts asking for something different.

Your cheeks might feel tight after cleansing. Your legs may look dry beneath your tights. Make-up may settle around flaky patches, even though you’re using the same products that worked a few weeks ago.

For me, autumn is a reminder to pay attention. What does my skin need now? Which parts of my ritual still suit me, and which need adjusting?

Traditional Persian Medicine offers an interesting way to explore those questions through the seasons and your individual temperament, known as Mizaj.

Featured snippet: How should your skincare change in autumn?

An autumn skincare routine should prioritise gentle cleansing, moisturising and daily sun protection. Adjust exfoliation if your skin becomes dry or sensitive, and moisturise your body after bathing. Traditional Persian Medicine describes autumn as cold and dry, offering a seasonal framework for reflecting on your individual beauty ritual.

Why does your skin feel different in autumn?

Autumn can mean moving repeatedly between cooler outdoor air and heated rooms. As indoor humidity falls, your skin can lose moisture and feel drier.

The American Academy of Dermatology explains how indoor heating can contribute to dry skin. That can help explain why your usual routine suddenly feels less comfortable. aad.org

You might notice:

• Tightness after washing.
• Rough patches on your face or body.
• Flaking that becomes more visible beneath make-up.
• Itching or discomfort.
• Dry hands as the weather cools.

These changes do not automatically mean you need a whole new shelf of products.

Start by reviewing how you cleanse, how often you exfoliate and whether your moisturiser still leaves your skin comfortable.

Your autumn skincare routine should respond to what you notice.

What is autumn’s temperament in Traditional Persian Medicine?

In Traditional Persian Medicine, autumn is traditionally described as cold and dry.

A published review of temperament in Traditional Persian Medicine describes seasonal qualities as part of the wider Mizaj framework. Spring is warm and wet, summer warm and dry, autumn cold and dry, and winter cold and wet. jtim.tums.ac.ir

These are traditional classifications. “Dry” does not mean that every autumn day is rain-free, and Mizaj is not interchangeable with a dermatological skin type.

The useful question for your beauty ritual is this: how do you respond to the season?

The four familiar temperaments are:

These categories belong to the traditional humoral framework. They do not establish which cosmetic ingredients will suit you. The following suggestions use Mizaj as a reflective starting point, with skincare choices guided by your skin’s current condition. jtim.tums.ac.ir

Autumn skincare for your Mizaj

Phlegmatic: cold and wet

If you identify with the Phlegmatic temperament, you may appreciate a beauty ritual that feels warming, comfortable and easy to maintain as the days cool.

That does not mean using hotter water or skipping moisturiser because your temperament is traditionally described as “wet”.

For your autumn ritual:

• Choose a comfortable room for your skincare, rather than compensating with a steaming shower.
• Use a gentle cleanser.
• Choose moisturiser according to actual dryness, oiliness and comfort.
• Make body care part of your routine, even when your skin is covered by clothes.

Your practical action: after your next shower, check your shins, elbows and hands. Give dry areas attention rather than judging your whole body by how your face feels.

Choleric: hot and dry — my temperament

I identify with the Choleric temperament: hot and dry.

For me, the seasonal perspective is a useful reminder to think about dryness, even when I still enjoy warmth.

Feeling cold outside does not make a very hot bath the best choice for dry skin. Equally, a dull-looking complexion does not always need more exfoliation.

For your autumn ritual:

• Keep cleansing gentle.
• Review whether your moisturiser leaves your skin comfortable through the day.
• Reduce exfoliation if you notice tightness or sensitivity.
• Avoid repeatedly polishing skin that already feels dry.

Your practical action: check how your cheeks feel shortly after cleansing. If they feel tight, review that step before adding another treatment.

The American Academy of Dermatology’s guidance on choosing a moisturiser highlights that dry, peeling skin may need moisturising rather than further exfoliation. aad.org

Sanguine: hot and wet

For a Sanguine temperament, autumn offers a useful moment to reassess your routine rather than automatically making every product richer.

You may have comfortable skin, oily areas, dry areas or a mixture. The traditional “wet” quality does not tell you which applies.

For your autumn ritual:

• Look at your cheeks and T-zone separately.
• Give dry patches the moisture they need.
• Keep textures lighter where heavier products feel uncomfortable.
• Maintain a routine you can repeat consistently.

Your practical action: spend a minute checking different areas of your face. Adjust where you apply products instead of treating every area identically.

This approach also reflects dermatological advice to adapt moisturising to combination skin. aad.org

Melancholic: cold and dry

Melancholic temperament shares autumn’s traditional cold and dry qualities.

Within the Persian framework, that makes warmth and moisture useful themes for seasonal reflection. In your skincare, the practical priority is comfort.

For your autumn ritual:

• Keep your routine simple if your skin becomes sensitive.
• Use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser.
• Apply moisturiser after washing.
• Pause exfoliation on irritated or cracked areas.
• Remember hands and body as well as your face.

Your practical action: put your body moisturiser beside your towel so applying it after bathing becomes easy to remember.

For anyone experiencing dryness, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends shorter, warm baths or showers and moisturising while skin is still damp. aad.org

Five adjustments for your autumn skincare routine

1. Start with comfortable cleansing

Pay attention to how your skin feels after washing.

A clean face should not have to feel tight. Choose a gentle cleanser and resist the temptation to scrub harder when your complexion looks dull.

2. Review your moisturiser before buying another serum

If your skin feels dry despite using a hydrating serum, review your moisturiser too.

A richer cream may suit dry areas better than the light lotion you enjoyed in summer. Look for a fragrance-free option that your skin tolerates.

3. Make exfoliation responsive

Exfoliation can remove dead cells from the skin’s surface, but it is optional and does not suit everyone.

If you choose to exfoliate, use light pressure and a schedule your skin tolerates. Avoid combining several exfoliating steps simply because your complexion looks tired.

The American Academy of Dermatology’s safe exfoliation advice recommends considering your skin type, other products and the strength of the method you use. aad.org

4. Include your body

Your face may get daily attention while your legs and arms stay hidden beneath layers.

After bathing, moisturise your body while your skin is still slightly damp. The Academy’s cold-weather skin guidance explains that this helps retain existing moisture. aad.org

5. Keep sun protection in the routine

Cooler weather does not remove the need for sun protection.

When outdoors, use broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher alongside shade and suitable clothing. Apply it to exposed skin and reapply as directed, including on cloudy days. See the Academy’s year-round sun protection advice. aad.org

Bring Persian beauty rituals into your autumn routine

At The East To West Lifestyle Co.®, I bring Persian beauty traditions into everyday routines through skincare, eye definition, brow care and tea rituals.

The Complete East to West Ritual, listed at £89, brings together:

• Sefidab® Face Detox Peel Powder.
• Sefidab® Body Detox Peel Powder.
• Sormeh® Natural Persian Loose Powder Eyeliner.
• Brow Nourishing Serum.
• Four Damnoosh™ Tea Tonics: Skin Radiance, Hair Strengthening, Gut Detox and Immunity.

It offers a collection of rituals to incorporate alongside your usual moisturiser and SPF. You can adapt the steps and frequency to suit your skin rather than using everything at once. etwlife.com

Sefidab® for face and body

Sefidab® Face brings rice powder, rose and minerals into a Persian-inspired exfoliating ritual.

The product directions suggest using it one to two times weekly. In autumn, let your skin’s comfort guide whether you use it less often or pause. etwlife.com

Sefidab® Body offers a separate exfoliating ritual for the body. etwlife.com

Keep pressure light and follow exfoliation with moisturiser. If your skin is irritated, cracked or sore, leave exfoliation out of your routine. aad.org

Eye definition, brow care and a cup of tea

Your seasonal beauty ritual can extend beyond your complexion.

Sormeh® offers Persian-inspired eye definition. Brow Nourishing Serum provides a dedicated brow-care step. A cup of Damnoosh™ can become a moment to enjoy a botanical blend and make time for yourself. etwlife.com

Choose a tea you enjoy and that suits your circumstances. The blends are not presented here as treatments for dry skin or as prescriptions for a particular Mizaj.

Autumn skincare FAQs

Why is my skin dry even though autumn is rainy?

Rain outdoors does not guarantee that the air in your home is humid. Indoor heating can contribute to dryness, while your cleansing and bathing habits may also affect how your skin feels. aad.org

Should I exfoliate flaky skin more often?

Not automatically. Flaking can accompany dryness or irritation. Start with gentle cleansing and moisturising rather than assuming that visible flakes need scrubbing away. aad.org

Do I need a completely new autumn skincare routine?

Often, small changes are enough. Review your cleanser, moisturiser, bathing habits and exfoliation frequency before replacing everything. Keep products that still leave your skin comfortable.

Can Mizaj tell me my skin type?

Mizaj is a traditional temperament framework. It does not replace an assessment of dry, oily, combination or sensitive skin. Use it to reflect on your habits while making skincare choices according to your skin’s response.

What if my skin keeps itching or cracking?

Persistent itching, cracking or a rash deserves advice from a pharmacist, GP or dermatologist, rather than repeated changes to your beauty products.

Make your autumn ritual personal

My wardrobe changes with the season, and my beauty ritual deserves the same attention.

For you, that might mean a more comfortable cleanser, regular body moisturising or less frequent exfoliation. It might also mean making room for Persian beauty traditions you enjoy.

Start with one question: what does your skin need today?

Explore the Complete East to West Ritual and choose the steps that suit your autumn routine.

For more founder-led guidance and Persian beauty stories, explore My East To West Lifestyle.

Sources & References

Article-specific sources

• The Concept of Temperaments in Traditional Persian Medicine — Explains Mizaj and the traditional seasonal classifications.
• A Review of Cold-Wet Mizaj and Phlegm Dominance Indices in Persian Medicine — Examines the cold and wet temperament within Persian medical literature.
• American Academy of Dermatology: Dry skin overview — Supports the discussion of low humidity and indoor heating.
• American Academy of Dermatology: Relieving dry skin — Supports bathing, moisturising and seeking advice for persistent symptoms.
• American Academy of Dermatology: Choosing a moisturiser — Supports adapting moisturising to skin condition and avoiding exfoliation of dry, peeling skin.
• American Academy of Dermatology: Safe exfoliation — Supports gentle technique and individual frequency.
• American Academy of Dermatology: Winter skin survival kit — Supports body care and moisturising after bathing.
• American Academy of Dermatology: Sun protection — Supports SPF 30 or higher and protection on cloudy days.
• The East To West Lifestyle Co.®: Complete East to West Ritual — Current bundle contents and listed price.
• Sefidab® Face and Sefidab® Body — Current product descriptions and directions.

Traditional Persian Medicine Reference Library

General background reading supplied by the founder. This collection spans Persian, Unani, Islamic and Ayurvedic traditions. Individual passages from these books were not consulted for this article.

• The Yoga of Herbs — Dr David Frawley & Dr Vasant Lad
• An Introduction to Islamic Medicine — M. Salim Khan
• The Golden Key To Discovering Yourself — M. Salim Khan
• The Traditional Healers Handbook — Hakim G. M. Chishti
• Theoretical Principles of Tibb — Rashid Bhikha
• Temperamental Approach of Medical Disorders in UNANI Perspectives
• The Canon of Medicine Volume 2: Materia Medica — Ibn Sina (Avicenna)
• The Canon of Medicine Volume 3: Special Pathologies — Ibn Sina (Avicenna)
• Avicenna’s Medicine
• Unani Dermatology — Dr Izharul Hasan
• The Wisdom of Temperaments — Hamid Eslamian & Persian Bell