As the last warm rays of the summer sun fade away and the monsoon clouds roll in, it is the season of grey days, intermittent rain and endless humidity. Most of us know that it is time to change our skincare regimen during this time of the year, but questions abound on what changes we need to make now.
Should we stock up on hyaluronic acid to stabilize moisture levels on our skin? Should we use creams with superfoods like kiwi and moringa extracts? Will prebiotics fight the humidity in the air or is it the age of bio-retinoids?
If you are wondering where to start your skin care and beauty regimen for the season, here’s a compilation of the best trends of the year that you can check out. Read on…
Keep it Minimal
When the weather turns humid and your makeup melts even before you step out of the door, you need to reduce your beauty regimen by half. Most people have a 10-step routine that they follow, which begins with a cleanser, toner and serum and ends with foundation and face powder. However, as the weather becomes more humid, you must cut it down to half. Go on a product-diet during the monsoon months. You can skip the heavy creams and the multiple serums that you might be using now.
It is best to buy multi-tasking products whenever possible. For instance, if a certain product contains a toner, essence and moisturizer, it might be a good idea to use this instead of slathering each product separately and blocking all the pores on your face. With the onset of monsoon rains, you will find that you could be perspiring more, so keeping your makeup and skincare to the bare minimum which will prevent breakouts and acne due to clogged pores. By taking certain products out of your routine, you will find out what your skin truly needs.
Be ‘App’ Happy
When in doubt, find an ‘app’ to solve your problems. This seems to be the mantra among most women today. Thanks to app developers, you can find an app to enhance your looks at any time of the day and for all seasons. There are apps that can give you beauty tips or instant feedback on your makeup and also give you advice on how to use your makeup. For example, if you love a certain eyeshadow or lipstick in a magazine, you could snap a photo of it and upload it onto the app on your phone. The app will identify the shade and will tell you which shop the product is available. Some apps will give you suggestions on how to improve your beauty routine. Some can assess your stock of skin and eye makeup and offer suggestions on how to improve your range of beauty products. Others can also give you specific colors and shades to help you perfect your beauty routine each time.
Load up on SPF
When you see the clouds in the sky, it is easy to think that since it is not sunny, you can reduce the SPF (short for “sun protection factor”) protection that you need. This is very far from the truth. You need to, in fact, increase the SPF in your regimen on cloudy days. There are two kinds of UV radiation that hit your skin when you are outdoors – the UVA and UVB. The UVB rays are the kind that are responsible for sunburns, while UVA reaches deeper into the skin and causes skin ageing. SPF is a measure of how well a sunscreen protects you from UVB rays.
Most of us know that it is important to follow a skincare regimen with SPF all year around, but according to a new study, using a higher SPF can make a big difference. SPF 15 protects against 93 percent of UVB rays, SPF 30 protects against 97 percent, and SPF 50 is about 98 percent, say dermatologists. So, you would get double the sun exposure when you opt for SPF 15 instead of SPF 30. Make sure you opt for products with high SPF for maximum protection during the monsoon months. These days, there are also products that fight blue light damage to the skin and SPF products that come with added ingredients like Vitamin C, Vitamin E and other antioxidants.
Mask it to Perfection
Face masks are a very good investment during the monsoon months. Since the oil producing glands in the face actually produce more natural oils during this season, and since your sweat glands work extra hard to keep you cool, you may face break-outs, acne, and greasy skin. One of the most popular masks for monsoon is the Clay Mask. Most clay face masks available in the market today are made from bentonite clay, kaolin, French green or Moroccan red clay, or a combination of clays. All you need to do, is apply the mask on your face and wait for it to dry. The clay will draw out dirt and grime that may be caught in your pores, absorb extra oils, and exfoliate dead skin cells. Once you remove the mask, your face will be smooth and oil-free. Make it a part of your beauty routine every week
A Mist in Time
The face mist has gained great importance in recent times, because it helps hydrate the skin and provides nutrients to the face. Some people use a facial mist to freshen up and rehydrate the face. When the skin is dehydrated, it is not only dry and flaky, but can look older and with more prominent lines. The main mission of a face mist is for hydration, but nowadays, there are facial mists with different properties. When selecting a mist, you need to choose a product, according to your specific needs. You could opt for a mist that offers antioxidants, rejuvenating essential oils or special ingredients to reduce inflammation or calm the skin. You will see that the benefits are numerous because a good face mist will always lead to glowing skin.
Water-based Serums
As we approach the monsoon months, our skincare products also need an upgrade, just as we change our wardrobes to make them more humidity friendly and to stay cooler. Serums help moisturize, clarify, regenerate and heal the skin at a level deep within the epidermis. Water-based serums absorb much more quickly into the skin, and are therefore perfect for hot and humid months. Since serums contain the highest concentration of active ingredients, they are very beneficial for the skin. Use water-based serums for beautiful skin during the monsoon.
Pollution Protection Pollution Protection
When we think of skincare or beauty, the last thing we think of is protection from environmental pollution. However, this is big news this year because many of our skin problems can be traced back to environmental damage as our cities are getting more polluted year after year. Air pollution includes the many tiny particles called particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and chemicals, like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, that are in the air. There are studies showing that women living in big cities age more quickly than those living in rural settings. Research has shown that urban dwellers are more subject to the skin effects of pollution.
Pollution can lead to things like inflammation and premature aging, so the increasing popularity of anti-pollution products isn’t a coincidence. Prevention is really the first step to combating the effects of pollution, which is why many skincare companies are working round the clock to create products that are designed to safeguard you from the harmful effects of pollution. Today, many dermatologists believe that products that help in protecting you from pollution are just as important to use as sunscreen. Look for creams that will fight the free radical damage, as this is always a by-product of pollution.
Trendy Makeup
It is very important to brighten the grey days of monsoon by using makeup, and nothing can do this better than a pop of colour. Neon eyeliners and sparkly eyeshadow and even colourful mascara can add drama to your eyes. Skip the nudes that were very trendy in winter and embrace colour as much as possible. Go for bright lipstick shades, brighter blush and beautiful contouring. Glowing skin is very trendy this year, so you need to invest in products that double as skin care or foundations that have brightening properties. Coloured lip balms in vibrant shades might be a better option than heavy lipsticks. Among the trendy colours for the season, coral for the lips is on top of the charts, followed closely by a cobalt eyeliner, rose gold blush and metallic eye shadow.
So, as the monsoon approaches, update your skincare and makeup routine to combat the negative elements and brighten your days. Remember, beautiful skin is only the right product away.
