Tips on Monsoon Skin & Hair Care        

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Skin Care:

Rash, eruptions, open pores, dull skin are some of the skin problems when the weather is hot and humid. Impurities and pollutants also tend to adhere to oily and sweaty skin.

Deep pore cleansing with a facial scrub is essential, to keep the pores free of hardened oil. Use a facial scrub twice a week. Make a facial scrub at home by mixing ground almonds with curd, and dry and powdered lemon or orange peels. Apply it on the face and rub gently on the skin, using a circular motion. Then, rinse off with plenty of plain water.

A flower based skin tonic or freshener is a boon in humid weather. Rose water is a natural toner. Keep rose-based skin tonic or rose water in the fridge, with cotton wool pads soaking in it. Wipe the face with it to cleanse and refresh the skin.

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. Dry and powdered lemon and orange peels can also be added to face packs.

Mix sandalwood with a little rose water and apply on the entire face. Wash off with plain water after 20 to 30 minutes. This helps to prevent eruptions and rash. Sandalwood paste can be applied on pimples.

For blackheads, mix oats with egg white and apply on the face twice a week. Moisten when dry and rub gently on the face. Then wash off with plenty of water.

Carry moist tissues when you are out during the day. After wiping the face with wet tissue, use compact powder. It helps to refresh the skin and remove the oily look.

The products needed for monsoon skin care are a face wash containing ingredients like tulsi and neem and a flower-based skin toner to cool and refresh the skin. A face mask would also help. A clay mask may be good. Mix multani mitti with rose water into a paste and apply on the face. Wash it off when it dries.

Monsoon Hair Care

Sticky dandruff is common during the monsoons. Heat sesame seed (til) oil or olive oil. Apply the oil on the scalp with cotton wool, rubbing gently to dislodge the sticky flakes. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around the head, like a turban. Keep it on for 5 minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap 3 or 4 times. Repeat this three or four times. Leave the oil on overnight. Next morning, apply the juice of a lemon on the scalp and wash your hair after 20 minutes.

Add two handfuls of neem leaves to four cups of hot water. Let it stand overnight. Next morning, strain the liquid and use it to rinse the hair. It relieves itching and keeps the scalp healthy and free from infections. A paste can also be made of the soaked neem leaves and applied on the scalp, rinsing off with water after half an hour.

At times there is bad odour from the scalp during the monsoons. For a fragrant hair rinse, add the juice of a lemon and half a cup of rose water to a mug of water and use as a last rinse.

Apply egg white on the hair 15 minutes before shampoo. It helps to reduce oiliness and also adds body.

Marigold (“Gainda”) flowers can be used to prepare a hair rinse. It is particularly useful during the monsoons. Add a handful of fresh or dried marigold flowers to three cups of hot water. Allow it to stand for an hour. Strain and cool the water and use as a final rinse. It benefits oily hair and adds body and shine.

By: Shahnaz Husain