The monsoon brings with it fickle weather; one day it showers heavily, the next day there’s excessive humidity. This constant change in weather wreaks havoc on the skin, causing problems like excessive sebum production and sweat that attracts dirt and leads to acne. While you can’t control the weather, you can definitely tweak your monsoon skincare routine.
We brought in an expert to give you all the dope on how to maintain healthy monsoon skin. Follow along as Hinaa Khan, Education Head at Dermalogica India shows you how to tackle some common monsoon skin woes.
- Double cleanse
- Skincare acids are a must
- Wear sunscreen
- Pick the right formula
- Avoid heavy makeup products
Double cleanse
Hinaa recommends double cleansing both morning and night, especially during the monsoon to avoid comedones and acne breakouts.
“Double cleansing is the process of cleansing your face twice to truly rid your skin of daily build-up of pollutants, makeup and sebum. The first cleanse helps remove makeup, bacteria and dirt from the skin. The second cleanse targets your skincare needs, deeply cleansing it and prepping it for your serum and moisturiser to absorb better,” she explains.
Benefits of double cleansing:
- Maximises the absorption and efficacy of your serum, face oil, and moisturiser.
- Reduces breakouts, blackheads, and blemishes
- Brightens a dull complexion
Hinaa recommends: Dermalogica PreCleanse Oil + Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel
Skincare acids are a must
“During the monsoon, oil glands work overtime due to heat, and sweat evaporates more slowly because of humidity in the air, leading to clogged pores and breakouts. Hence, salicylic acid from the BHA family works wonders as it is oil soluble. It also helps remove dead skin cells from the follicles and provides antibacterial benefits too,” says Hinaa.
Wear sunscreen
Yes, wearing sunscreen is as important in the monsoon as any other time of the year. “During this season, the sun is hidden behind the clouds, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it won’t harm your skin. Sun rays consist of UV and infrared rays, which can cause a host of skin problems like premature ageing and pigmentation. Protect your skin with a broad spectrum sunscreen that provides moisturising benefits and improves skin concerns,” recommends Hinaa.
Hinaa recommends: Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport SPF50
Pick the right formula
While building your monsoon skincare routine, it is important to pick products with the right ingredients and formula.
Hinaa suggests the following:
- Look for an oil-based cleanser to remove debris, dirt, grime, and excess oil from the surface of the skin. Then to cleanse your skin thoroughly pick an antiseptic and purifying formula.
- Pick an exfoliant with charcoal powder to absorb environmental pollutants, excess sebum, and other impurities from the skin.
- Opt for a serum with Terpineol and Thyme extracts that kill the acne causing bad bacteria without harming the good bacteria.
- Switch to a lightweight moisturiser that provides oil-free hydration and works to promote a healthy microbiome to prevent attack of environmental pathogens.
- Look for a water-resistant broad-spectrum sunscreen during the monsoon.
Avoid heavy makeup products
Your skin finds it difficult to absorb heavy skincare and makeup products during the monsoon; as a result, you might find your pores getting clogged. “Avoid use of cream based makeup and opt for powder-based makeup during these rainy days,” advises Hinaa.
And there you have it; a complete monsoon skincare guide to help you sail through the rainy season.
Written by Sanya Hamdani on Aug 03, 2020
Sanya Hamdani is a skincare enthusiast and lipstick hoarder, she truly believes no two red lipsticks look exactly alike. With a Master's degree in Communication & Journalism and 5+ years of digital writing experience up her sleeve, Sanya has some of the biggest beauty experts in the country on her speed dial. When she's not swatching products or writing about the latest trends in beauty, you will find her watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S. or cooking up a storm in the kitchen.