Skin care tips

• Use a good soap-free cleanser. You could also use a gentle scrub (with uniform mild beads) once a day.
• Cleansing should be followed by toning using an alcohol-free toner, since increased humidity could open up your pores.
• Use a sunscreen even on a cloudy day. The clouds may obscure the sun, but the sun and its rays are still there.
• Use a light lotion-based moisturiser or serum, which will gently rehydrate your skin and also brighten it up
• Avoid heavy makeup and use waterproof make up when necessary
• Remember to nourish your skin from the inside, too – eat salads blanched in boiling water to disinfect them, vegetable soup, which will keep you warm and healthy and drink the usual 8-10 glasses of water. Your skin is always thirstier than you are!

Skin care regimen

• Cleansing: Your skin will require regular cleansing in order to keep it looking fresh and healthy. Avoid harsh soap products that strip the skin of protective oils. If you have dry skin, avoid deodorant or antibacterial soaps, since they might be drying the skin.
• Moisturising in the rains is as important as it is in summer. Monsoons can mean a de-moisturizing effect on dry skin and an over-hydrating effect on oily skin. The skin gets wet often and with the constant wetting and drying, a lot of dehydration (yes, in the rains!) takes place. That explains the itchy feeling one gets during monsoons. Use a non-water-based moisturiser, if you happen to get wet often. Otherwise a water-based moisturiser will do. 
• For dull skin: Exfoliation of the skin is very important. This not only helps to keep the pores free of hardened oil, but also clears the skin of dead cells.

Foot care

Given the state of our cities, your feet will invariably be exposed to a lot of grime and muck, and so an effective cleansing of feet is very important as well.

• Dry your feet completely to prevent fungal infections
• Avoid wearing boots as these can hold water for a longer duration, creating a soggy environment for your feet.
• A home pedicure should be done once a week: Soak feet in warm water, which has 3-4 drops of an antiseptic agent (Savlon or Dettol) for 15-20 minutes. Follow this by cleaning your nails and scrubbing your feet with a foot scraper. Complete the pedicure by applying a light moisturiser
• When you go for pedicure to a beautician, ensure that the instruments used are sterilised / cleansed with disinfectants, or if possible use your personal instruments. Also instruct your aesthetician to avoid pushing the cuticles, as toenail fungal infections are very common in monsoons

Hair care 

• Use a good ‘volume-enhancing’ shampoo, twice or thrice a week for washing your hair. It also helps since hair tends to go limp in this season
• Post-shampoo use a volumising conditioner, once a week or as required
• If you need to blow dry your hair, apply a leave-on conditioner prior to it
• Avoid excess application of styling products, as this could make your hair very greasy due to increased humidity
• Do not tie-up wet hair
• Oiling once a week helps
• Make sure your diet has these hair-friendly foods: milk and milk products, nuts, soya products