As the seasons change, your skin and skin type undergo changes as well, and it’s a good time to make some much needed adjustments to your skin care routine, products and practices. Your summer skin care routine, which would help your skin in the hotter months, will do little to give your skin what it needs in the cool & humid monsoon months. While the monsoon brings some much awaited relief, it impacts the skin in different ways. Varied humidity levels can cause drastic changes in skin, especially making it oily due to excessive sebum secretion which ultimately attracts and retains impurities like dust, dirt and pollution, clogging pores. So just the way we change the types of clothes and fabrics we adorn, it’s important to switch up your skin & hair care.
While everyone dreams of having healthy and vibrant skin, It seems to be a far fetched dream for most of us. Hectic lifestyles, sleep deprivation, environmental pollutants, and changing seasons wreak havoc on our skin, making it dull, lifeless, and gloomy. Understand the changes in your skin and pick products based on what it needs. Make sure you recheck your skin type and make the right product choices that suit your skin.
Although your hair and skin type concerns will alter your hair and skin care routine in some ways, there are a few basic steps that every person can benefit from. We sat down with beauty experts from Health and Glow to discuss self care during the monsoons in detail.
Skincare Tips You Need To Bank On
1) Don’t forget to apply sunscreen even on cloudy days. Sunscreen is the holy grail of skin care. Whether you are indoors or outdoors, the UVA and UVB rays & radiation will damage your skin. For monsoons, you can switch to gel or water based sunscreen for a fresher feel instead of lotion or oil based sunscreens. Make sure you reapply sunscreen every 2-3 hours or use it atleast thrice a day.
2) A face mist is a great product to keep the skin hydrated. Keep a small one in your purse at all times so you can refresh yourself anytime you need.
3) Blotting papers are great as a quick fix on-the-go. This is a quick cheat code to get rid of oiliness if you’ve had a long day out and a definite must-have for people with an oily or combination skin type.
4) Switch your regular products with water or gel based ones. Use hypoallergenic and non comedogenic products to avoid clogging of pores.
5) Don’t forget to moisturise daily. This is important no matter the season. Go for lighter moiturisers or gel based ones. You can also use aloe vera gel to keep your skin fresh. (quick tip – apply it on damp skin to seal in the hydration).
6) Use a gentle cleanser or toner with glycolic acid to dissolve the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin. You can also apply a peel-off face mask or a soft scrub (once a week).
7) Don’t forget your body – try and keep yourself dry (especially your feet) and dust the folds of your skin with anti-fungal powders post shower to avoid infections
8) Exfoliation helps remove layers of dead skin cells to reveal the brighter and fresher-looking skin underneath. Don’t use a harsh scrub or rough cloth for the process as they can scratch and damage your delicate facial skin. Exfoliate only once or twice a week as over-exfoliating can bruise and damage your skin.
9) Revive dry hair with oil and hair masks (once a week). Avoid using harsh shampoos, cleansers and conditioners. Use soap-free and SLS free products.
Every skin has different needs and so it’s important to remember that what may work for someone else, may not work for you. Getting into a right hair care and skin care regime is just as important as eating the right food or wearing the right clothing to ensure that it’s healthy and radiant. The first step to doing this is to know your skin – not just your skin type but where your skin is at right now and what it currently needs to look and feel its best.
The process of finding that perfect skin and hair care regime can be tough and daunting at times, keeping in mind so many steps involved. Knowing your skin type and hair type is the stepping stone to achieve that healthy skin and hair. You don’t need a complex 7-step routine to keep your skin beautiful and healthy, picking fewer but the right products will serve your skin better. Keep your skin routine basic and effective, don’t get swayed and overwhelmed by buzzwords and trends. Skin minimalism is the way ahead, so make sure you don’t over-complicate it and always remember, stay confident in your skin no matter what!
Follow @missmalinibeauty for more on everything makeup, hair and skincare!