Shahnaz Husain
The onset of the monsoon drizzles provides refuge from the scorching summer heat .The cool raindrops make your skin dull and cause Skin Allergies, Hyperpigmentation, Facial Folliculitis, Dull, frizzy hair due to dirt, pollution,wetness and excessive humidity. The sudden downpour take a toll on skin and hair due to bacterial and fungal infection . Your skin needs extra care in rainy season as it can react to humidity and dampness present in the atmosphere making it difficult to keep your look intact amidst the monsoon humidity . If you suddenly notice skin allergies and skin infections on your face due to heat, humidity and rain then don’t worry . Well, a few simple tricks to keep your skin glowing and your hair managed this monsoon
Beauty is not just a question of how you look, but how you feel, and at no time is this more relevant than during the monsoons. The rainy season isn’t such a great time for looking or feeling good. Both the skin and hair suffer due to high humidity. Sweat and oil deposits make the skin and hair really dull. So, I always adjust my skin and hair care routine according to the season.
A flower based skin tonic is ideal. I just can’t do without a rose-based skin tonic during hot and humid weather. I keep a small bowl of rose skin tonic in the fridge, with cotton wool pads soaking in it. This way it is chilled and ready for use. One can do this with rose water too, a powerful natural skin toner. I wipe the skin with it several times a day. Rose is a natural coolant and most refreshing. The chilled toner also closes and refines the pores.
I also use cotton wool pads soaked in the skin tonic as eye pads. It is most relaxing and removes fatigue. Splashing the eyes with cold water also provides great relief. Sometimes, eye fatigue leads to puffiness. For this, I first wash the eyes with cold water and then with lukewarm water and repeat this alternate cold and warm water washing a few times. Sometimes, I soak tea bags in water and then apply them over the eyelids as eye pads. Tea helps to relieve puffiness.
For a monsoon face mask, mix 3 teaspoons oats with egg white and one teaspoon each of honey and curd. If you don’t want to use egg white, add rose water or orange juice. Apply it on the face and wash it off after half an hour. Use it twice a week. Almond meal, or dry and powdered lemon and orange peels can also be added to the face pack.
Or, you can go for a fruit mask. They are most refreshing during hot and humid weather. You can also add cucumber pulp to the fruit mask, as it has an astringent effect and closes the pores. Ripe papaya pulp can be mixed with grated apple, water melon, pineapple and so on. Papaya and cucumber also help to remove tan. Mango can be most nourishing for dry skin. Apply the mask on the face and wash it off with plain water after half an hour.
I wash my hair more often during the monsoons. Tea and lemon juice make a wonderful hair rinse, adding shine to the hair. Just boil used tea leaves again, in enough water. Cool, strain, add the juice of a lemon. Use it as a last rinse after shampoo. The juice of a lemon and half a cup of rose water can also be added to a mug of water to make a fragrant last rinse. Sometimes, I apply the white of several eggs before my shampoo, leaving it on for half and hour. This not only gives body to the hair, but is also a wonderful cleanser.
Soaking the feet in warm or cold water can be most relaxing and also reviving. I add a tablespoon of coarse salt and half a cup of lemon juice to about one-fourth bucket warm water. Sometimes, I add a few drops of tea tree oil to the water. It keeps the feet free from skin problems. I soak my feet in this for half an hour. A cooling foot bath is also a great reviver during hot and humid weather. Add rose water, lemon juice and a splash of eau de cologne in cold water and soak feet in it. Cools, cleans and adds fragrance.
During the monsoons, the body loses fluids through sweat. I take lots of “nimbu paani” and fresh fruit juices. I also turn to home remedies for small ailments. For sore throat and cough, I find ginger tea most soothing. I add some tender tulsi leaves to it, while it is boiling. Water boiled with just tulsi leaves can also be taken as drink in case of sore throat.
