Get your hair, skin ready for monsoon

Heat, humidity and rain come together to create havoc for hair, skin and make-up during the monsoon. It can get difficult to keep up with a beauty regimen, but taking care of a few basic things like never leaving the skin wet for long or keeping it moist can be helpful, say experts.

TIGI Educator Audrey D' Souza, Sushma Khan, National Creative Director - Makeup, Lakmé Salon and Disha Meher, National Expert - Skin and Nails, Lakmé Salon, share tips on how you can keep hair frizz, make-up mess and skin breakouts at bay, especially when the monsoon gets going!
* Skin tips by Disha Meher:

Rainy rituals:
* During the day, cleansing, toning, moisturising and applying sunscreen should be your facial ritual.

Remember to reapply moisturiser and sunscreen if the skin is exposed to rain.
* During the night, stick to cleansing, toning and applying a good night cream.

No-nos for the monsoon:
* Never leave the skin wet for a long time. Fungal infections are very common. Always keep your feet and toes dry to avoid infections.
* Do not wear synthetic clothes and allow your skin to breathe.
* Avoid cold water for bathing. Lukewarm water is best for the skin during monsoon.
* Just dab and dry the face and avoid rubbing it with a towel.

Absolute monsoon musts:
* Keep the skin moist by using soap-free cleansers and scrubs. Go for clean-ups which help in unclogging pores and reducing dead skin and dryness.
* Use an alcohol-free toner to prevent dryness of the skin.
* Moisturising is key. Make sure to select a moisturiser as per your skin type.
* Sunscreen lotion must be used even if the sun is not visible.
* Go for regular manicures and pedicures to keep your feet clean.
* Keep your skin smooth and clean by opting for waxing services regularly. Chocolate and Fruit waxes are good options for sensitive skin.