Bridal skin care during monsoon

For a monsoon bride, high humidity poses a problem, especially for those with oily or combination skins. In this humid season, oily skin looks oilier and dull, due to sweat and oil secretions being deposited on the skin. Sweat on the skin also attracts dirt and pollutants easily.

Deep pore cleansing with facial scrubs is important, in order to keep the pores free of clogged oil and dirt. It also helps to brighten the skin. After washing or cleansing the skin in the morning, use a facial scrub twice a week. Apply it on the face and rub gently on the skin, using a circular motion. Then, rinse off with plenty of plain water.

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Looking beautiful on the wedding day is not merely a matter of makeup and dress. It needs weeks of care. If a skin care programme is followed four to six weeks before the wedding, it can really help to reinvent your beauty

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A flower based skin tonic or freshener is a boon in humid weather. Rose water can be mixed with witch hazel to make a refreshing skin tonic. Witch hazel will be available at a pharmacy. For oily skin, mix them in equal quantities.

For dry skin, mix one part witch hazel with three parts rose water. Or, you may use a rose-based skin tonic. Keep the mixture in a bottle in the fridge. Wipe the face with it, using cotton wool pads. It not only refreshes the skin but also helps to tighten the pores and prevent spots and pimples.

In humid weather, the skin can be prone to blackheads and eruptions. A facial scrub should be used on the blackhead-prone areas. But do not apply scrubs on acne, pimples or rash. The scrub can also be applied on the open pores and the marks left by acne.

Or, mix oatmeal with egg white and apply on the face twice a week. Wash it off when it is dry. Stubborn blackheads should be removed at a skin-care clinic, by a trained therapist, using proper methods. Pinching blackheads, or trying to remove them at home, not only leads to infection but also scarring.

A multani mitti pack is useful during the monsoons. If there are eruptions, add sandalwood paste to the mask.

For a monsoon face mask, you can also mix three teaspoons oatmeal 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.

By: Shahnaz Hussain