The slightest inkling that it's going to rain, and our carefully curated skincare regime goes down the drain. No matter how much we try, sometimes, our skin has a mind of its own – especially during the monsoons. We've all woken up with a greasy face – or a greasy T-zone, at the very least – as the monsoon sets it, and believe you me, it is not cute. Plus, oily skin ultimately results in clogged pores and can cause pimples, and ugh, acne. Need we say more?
But before we tell you a few easy ways to deal with greasy skin, first things first. Why does it happen? Basically, your skin has these sebum-producing things called sebaceous glands present. While they're good for forming a protective layer over the skin and hydrating the skin, they can sometimes get aggravated. This could be because of genetic, hormonal, or environmental factors – but let's focus on the last one. So, common fact: monsoon days are super humid.
Less common fact: Humid monsoon days lead to less evaporation of sweat, which aggravates excessive sebum production, and leads to oily skin.
But while this is an annoying problem, there are a few simple steps you can follow to avoid your face turning into a sticky, greasy, breakout-inducing minefield. Here they are.
Stop over-washing!
We've all had days when we think that washing our face six times an hour and over-rubbing a harsh cleanser all over our face is the answer. Newsflash: It's not! Over-washing can trigger the sebaceous glands to become more active, causing them to secrete more sebum. Instead, we recommend using a foaming cleanser that treats breakouts and clears out oil. Our top pick is the Simple Daily Skin Detox Purifying Facial Wash. It clears away dead skin cells, dirt, and excess oils that clog pores and cause breakouts – and does a great job of dealing with monsoon-induced greasiness. Plus, it's free of drying ingredients like alcohol and salicylic acid, and chock-full of amazing ones like zinc, witch hazel and thyme, making it suitable for all skin types.
Switch up your diet
We all love our chai-samosa combination in the rain or a huge bowl of pakoras just waiting to be devoured. But if you want your skin – and the rest of your body – to be the epitome of health, you need to switch it up a little! The food we eat reflects on our skin, and the consumption of too much omega-6 fatty acids (present in fried food) can worsen skin health. In the monsoon humidity? Even worse. Eat lighter, healthier food in the monsoon, and watch the difference reflect on your skin.
Mask up
When you've changed your diet and washed your face two times already, what else can you do? Well, in some situations, you might require a heavier hand – and that includes a face mask. Finding the right mask to calm down greasy skin can be tricky, especially considering the fact that some masks can dry out your skin and cause over-oiliness, both of which we're trying to avoid here. We suggest you opt for the Dermalogica Sebum Clearing Masque. It helps clear out breakouts, soothes the skin, absorbs excess oil, and purifies the skin. Use it three times a week, for around 7-10 minutes on the T-zone, and watch the magic happen for yourself.