by Aarti Kapur Singh
Take a look at skin care routine one must follow during monsoon!
Every time the weather changes, it is not just time to change your wardrobe, but also your makeup products and most importantly, your skincare routine. After bearing that extreme heat of the sun, those sunburns, tans, sweaty (and stinky) summer days. Monsoon comes as a sign of relief. Usually it gets difficult to predict how the skin will behave in monsoon, therefore making it difficult to follow a set skin care routine. 
There is a belief that monsoon skin problems are due to sweating. While this does cause problems, fluctuating humidity is also likely to cause sporadic and patchy dryness on the skin. Further, although one cannot see the sun, the ultraviolet rays penetrate through cloud covers and continue inflicting damage on unprotected skin. It is therefore imperative to use moisturizing lotion with SPF properties even in the monsoon. Dampness and humidity take a toll on your skin – irrespective of skin type. The main culprits why the skin becomes prone to damage during the rainy season are dirt, grime, pollution and the harmful UV rays of the sun.
In most places in India, the downpours alternate with dry days. This fluctuating humidity affects the body’s ability to retain moisture consistently and effectively. Using a lightweight lotion based moisturizer helps skin retain its natural moisture and nourishes it from deep within.
So moisturizing and using sun screen still are the holy grail of monsoon skincare. Follow these rules to keep your skin looking refreshed in the rainy season:
1. Normal skin:
People with this type of skin need to be cautious of greasiness, dust and dirt. Clean your face at least twice a day with non-soapy anti-bacterial face wash. It cleanses and moisturizes the skin. Use a lightweight sunscreen lotion with SPF 30 to protect your skin from harmful sun rays. Exfoliate your skin using a good scrub once a week. You can also make one at home by pureeing a tomato and mixing it with honey. A face pack of multani mitti or Fullers Earth with a little raw milk once a week will keep it looking dewy.
2. Dry skin type:
Dry skin is a result of lack of vitamins in the diet. It also means that the skin isn’t properly hydrated as a result of which it looks and feel dry. Moisturize your skin frequently. This will help in increasing the keep the outer layer of your skin properly hydrated, thereby leaving it with a soft, supple and moist look. To take care of dry skin, use a good quality mild face wash to wash your skin twice a day. Moisturize frequently. You may also use honey and glycerin to cleanse your skin at least once every day to keep your skin healthy. Keep away from alcohol based toners. A flower based skin tonic is ideal. Do ensure you use a serum or night cream to get the glow back. A good foundation or BB cream is the best friend for those with dry skin – it moisturizes and makes the skin look hydrated.
3. Oily Skin:
Monsoon increases skin problems for those who have oily skin. It makes the sebaceous glands, which are responsible for oil secretion, hyperactive. The oil secretion and sweat are deposited on the skin and trap dirt and bacteria. This gives rise to blackheads, whiteheads, breakouts and sometimes painful pimples.
Limit washing your face to two or three times a day as too much washing will stimulate your skin to produce more oil. Avoid heavy cleansing creams. Scrub your face on a regular basis – at least twice a week. This will help unclog the pores and remove the layer of dead cells from your skin. For oily skin, a mint or neem-based skin tonic keeps topical infections at bay. Keep a small mason jar of skin tonic in the fridge, with cotton wool pads soaking in it. This way it is chilled and ready for use. One can do this with rose water too, a powerful natural skin toner. Wipe the skin with it several times a day. Rose is a natural coolant which is refreshing. Use a light weight moisturizer immediately after a bath on damp skin. Before stepping out in the sun, apply a water or a gel-based sunscreen with an SPF 30 or above – to avoid tanning. Opt for light-weight and water-proof make-up during the monsoon.
4. Combination Skin:
This type of skin is characterized with the T-portion as oily and the cheeks are usually normal or dry in condition. Since it combines both the oily and dry skin it should be treated as if it were two different types of skin. The dry area requires gentle cleansing and regular moisturizing. The oily part needs to be deeply cleansed and toned with regular scrubbing. For those with combination skin, cleansing is extremely important. Make sure to use a gentle moisturizing non-soap cleanser to strip away excess oil while also moisturizing and hydrating the dry areas on the skin. Scrub your face at least twice a week to remove dust and blackheads. While choosing makeup, make sure you opt for the mineral range, as this works the best for combination skin.
Tips for healthy skin:
Make sure you are eating right. Include vitamin E and Omega 3 in your diet. These nutrients are rich in oils and will keep your skin nourished.
Avoid wearing heavy makeup. Opt for sweat-proof or water-proof products that are non-comedogenic.
Cleansing is important during the monsoons. The high humidity can cause sweat to run in rivulets over your face. This creates a build-up of dirt, dust and grime along with other toxins on the surface of your skin.
This is the time to go in for detox facials to help drain the body lymphatic and toxins. Exfoliating the skin is necessary to get rid of the dead layers of cells on your skin.
Don’t forget, skin infections are very common during the monsoons. Fungal and bacterial infections are dangerous. Use an anti-fungal powder on all body folds to avoid any infection such as — rashes, ringworm and discoloration of skin due to the harmful UV rays of the sun.
Image source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
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