March 29, 2024
Beauty

Tips to keep you glowing during monsoons

Don’t let humidity and grime prevent you from looking your best. Experts share beauty tips for the rainy season

The respite from heat that rains bring can be dampened by the plethora of beauty issues one may have to face. The good news is that it’s also raining ideas to fix them. Industry insiders share all that you need to know about skin, hair and overall care during the monsoons.

Go for glow

“During monsoons, it is important to switch to natural skincare products with more cooling, soothing and purifying ingredients, including aloe vera, turmeric, sandalwood, and neem, as these are enriched with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. These naturally purifying ingredients are suitable for all skin types as they deeply cleanse the skin and maintain the balance in oil production, especially during rainy season. Using a gentle facial cleanser helps remove surface toxins and impurities and balances the pH of the skin. Sulphate-free cleansers keep the skin’s natural moisture content intact and revive the skin from looking dull to more luminous and fresh,” says Dr Taruna Yadav, senior ayurveda doctor at Forest Essentials, a natural beauty brand. Dr Yadav advises spritzing a chilled toner to replenish the skin for a boost of hydration.

Don’t forget the sunscreen

Since the monsoon season comes with a lot of humidity and greasiness , people tend to skip sunscreens. “Not keeping your skin protected is harmful in the long run. Use non-greasy and non-sticky sunscreens in your monsoon beauty routine,” says Aashish Jawa, founder, Personal Touch Skincare, a research-oriented beauty brand.

Dr Sushma Yadav, dermatologist, cosmetologist, hair transplant surgeon and founder of the Bengaluru-based Skinology Centre, agrees. “Whether you follow a seven-step skincare routine or just wash your face, including a sunscreen in your daily skincare is a must,” she says. “You need sunscreens in all seasons and weather conditions. Even if you do not see sun rays during monsoons, UV rays and infrared rays can cause skin problems like premature ageing and photodamage or even skin cancer.”

Exfoliation is the key

Exfoliation is a great way to get rid of dead skin cell build-up and greasiness. “If you are a beginner in skincare routine, I recommend chemical exfoliation once a week at night using a low strength salicylic acid-glycolic acid combination,” says Dr Ameesha Mahajan, consultant cosmetic dermatologist, RM Aesthetics, Amritsar. Apply a serum and moisturiser post exfoliation. “For sensitive skin types, I suggest a DIY made of curd and oats as a gentle physical exfoliant. This is a hydrating scrub combination and can be used 1-3 times a week depending on your skin sensitivity,” adds Dr Mahajan.

Avoid acne

“Skin produces more sebum in the monsoon season, leaving it greasy and sticky. This attracts more dirt and grime that eventually blocks the skin pores and causes acne. And that is precisely the reason why you see acne breakouts the most in monsoon season,” says Sahil Mehta, founder, Man Arden, a male beauty brand. “Acne primarily happens due to deposition of oil and dirt in your skin besides some medical conditions. Follow a proper CTM (cleansing, toning and moisturising) routine and use special face wash for acne-prone skin.”
Do actives work?

In addition to humidity and rain, the monsoon also brings in dehydrated and dull skin. “Skin’s major issue during monsoon is excessive sweating due to humidity. Sweating makes your skin lose moisture. To regain hydration, moisturisers are not enough. Combining actives such as hyaluronic acid is perfect for restoring hydration, which helps our skin cells to further retain moisture,” says Ritika Jayaswal, founder, Nourish Mantra, a natural beauty brand. “Actives such as salicylic acid treat acne by reducing swelling and redness and unplugging blocked skin pores to allow pimples to shrink. This is also a very common problem for acne prone and oily skin and the humidity levels make it even more difficult to deal with.”

Make-up can clog pores

Whether you go all the way for full coverage or just have a hint of it to cover up blemishes, make-up varies from person to person. During the monsoon, the main aspect to keep in mind is the clogging of pores that can happen much more due to rise in humidity. “Switch to water-based products. Hyaluronic acid and allantoin moisturiser work well. This can be used as a primer itself. The foundations should be lightweight mousse-based ones. Powder compacts work best in this season. Waterproof eye make-up is essential. You don’t want it streaming down your face if you’re caught in a downpour,” says Dr Sravya C. Tipirneni, consultant dermatologist and cosmetologist at Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru. “Go easy on the heavy-weight concealer for sure. You don’t want it to get caked up with moisture. A setting spray is important, so the make-up doesn’t wash off.”

Hair care

“The most common hair problems during the monsoon season are oily scalp with greasy hair, severe dandruff and itchiness. It may weaken your hair roots and cause severe hair loss with patchy scalp conditions—also known as monsoon hair fall—if not treated immediately,” explains Dr Noopur Jain, founder of SkinZest, a Delhi-based boutique for dermatology, aesthetics and cosmetic surgeries. Dr Jain recommends a hot oil massage at least twice a week. “Keeping the scalp and hair dry during monsoons is an important hair care tip. Further applying deep conditioner once a week avoids breakage and monsoon hair fall. Simply apply conditioner to your hair’s lengths and wrap it in a warm towel for 15 minutes. The heat will allow the conditioner to penetrate deeper into your hair shafts, combating the extreme monsoon frizz,” she says.

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