Monsoon, while giving us relief from the blistering summer, comes with its own woes. One tends to perspire less in the season, which results in an accumulation of dead skin cells and clogged pores. This could lead to common skin concerns like dry, flaky skin, fungal/bacteria-led infections and oily skin which result in acne, blackheads and so on. A little care and a beauty regime could go a long way in maintaining healthy skin. Dr Sangeeta Amladi of Kaya Skin Clinic tells us what to pay attention to.
Skin Care
l Use a soap-free cleanser for good and effective cleansing
l Exfoliate to remove dead cells from your skin and unclog the pores
l Cleansing followed by toning using an alcohol free toner cleans out the pores which open due to increased humidity
l Use a sunscreen even on cloudy days (Sunscreens of SPF 15 to 30 will be sufficient. Higher SPF will make your skin greasy and is not required)
l Maintain a daily routine of cleansing, toning and moisturizing
l Use a light lotion-based moisturizer or serum to gently rehydrate your skin
l Remember to nourish your skin from the inside too -- eat salads blanched in boiling water, vegetable soup, etc
l Drink about 8-10 glasses of water everyday
Acne-prone skin care
Due to the sultry climatic conditions the monsoon ushers in, chances of acquiring acne multiply manifold. Moisture naturally present in the air acts like a catalyst for germ and bacteria build up that later results in acne breakouts. Deal with it as follows:
l Use a Salicylic acid based cleanser once a day in the morning and a soap free cleanser at night
l Use a scrub once a week or once in 15 days to exfoliate the skin
l Use water-based foundations and avoid heavy make-up
l Use a non-comedogenic moisturizer for oily skin. If your skin still feels dry, you can also look out for hyaluronic acid based skin moisturizer to keep it hydrated
l You may also use skin peels fortnightly
l Take a bath with clean water every time after you get drenched in the rains
l Use a sunscreen for dry days to protect from harmful radiation
Monsoons hand-guide
n Do not constantly wipe your face if it's oily. This will make your skin rough and sensitive
n Use a tissue to dab at your facial skin to keep it dry
n Do not get massages done if your skin is sensitive. Instead exfoliate
Home is where the remedy is If the rains make it difficult to reach your beauty therapist, try these quick-fix home remedies:
For deep cleansing: Mix gram flour, milk and rose water to make a semi thick paste. Apply a generous amount and wash off after 15-20 minutes or after the paste dries.
For scrubbing: Mix 1 table spoon of honey, 2 table spoons of ground almonds, 3 table spoons of fresh orange juice, and 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Gently scrub this mixture and wash with luke warm water