On world beautician day a few little tips that would help you take care of you skin during the Monsoons. During monsoon, even when the humidity is at its peak, do not over wash with harsh soaps; instead use astringents to wipe off the skin. Try oatmeal & tomato juice pack to shrink large pores & slough off dead skin instead.

• To a tablespoon of tomato juice, mix enough oatmeal to make a thin paste.  Add one drop of essential oil of peppermint. Apply to a dampened skin, avoiding the eye and mouth areas.  Leave on for 10 minutes, then wipe off with damp cotton or a sponge and rinse with cool water.

• Olive oil infused with few drops of Rosemary oil alleviates an itchy scalp in monsoon.

• To avoid prickly heat, twice a day, dust the body liberally with equal quantities of boric powder (available in chemist), sandalwood powder & talcum powder.

• Avoid using cream or oil – based make –up products, use only water –based cosmetic products & powder make-up.

• Since the face has to be cleaned several times a day, use minimum make –up.

• A very good toning mask for monsoon. Make a paste of one beaten egg white, 1 tablespoon yogurt and multani mitti (fuller’s earth) and apply on the face till it dries.  Later rinse off with clear water.  Use this toning mask at least twice a week.

Skin care during monsoon season:

An effective skin-care regime which yields maximum benefits to the skin comprises the cleansing, toning, moisturising and conditioning routines. The skin care, of course, varies from one skin types to another and the relative emphasis of the various routine in it also differs.

Cleansing is the most important aspect of skin-care.  It is undertaken primarily to remove the stale make-up, clean the skin pores and exfoliate the dead cells which otherwise cause blockages on the skin’s surface.

The daily cleansing routine should be followed with toning.  The toning exercise helps in the stimulation of the skin, pores and invigorates the blood circulating the moisturizing and conditioning routines conclude the daily skin care.  Moisturizing helps in keeping the moisture in the skin.  The conditioning routine restores the acid balance on the skin and corrects other such imbalances. Always use a sun screen before going out & preferably use gel products in summer.

Dryness during monsoon, moisturiser & homemade packs.

To combat humidity in monsoon, use a gentle cleanser to clean the face morning & night. Then tone with alcohol-free skin freshener & apply a moisturizer which is lotion based.

Once in a week use this nourishing mask.

• Mash a banana & beat in a teaspoon of salad or vegetable oil .Brush it on the face & leave it on for 20mins till it dries. Then rinse it off.

For oily skin.

Clean the skin with an oil free cleanser morning & night.  Twice a week use this exfoliating scrub:

• Mix together multani mitti (Fuller’s Earth), Channa Ka atta (gram Flour) and Sandalwood powder in equal quantities. Store in an air tight container.  Use a teaspoon of this scrub mixed to a paste with water.  This rids the skin of flakes and dirt.
• Use seasonal fruits as facial masks because they are economical and highly moisturizing.
• Crush the pulp or squeeze in a blender and apply as quickly as possible.  Papayas are useful on blackheads and blotchy or sallow skin.  Cucumber is cooling and improves a dull and greasy complexion. 
• Watermelon juice applied to the face and neck freshens up the skin. 
• All these lotions should be left on the skin for 15 minutes and then rinsed off with cool water.  Drink a lot of water to replace the liquid lost through perspiration.  It is important to nourish the skin from within.

MAKEUP

• Avoid using cream or oil – based make –up products, use only water –based cosmetic products & powder make-up.
• Since the face has to be cleaned several times a day, use minimum make –up.
• Use Kajal to make your eyes look bright.
• Matt lipsticks, colours like coral, brick, chocolate, and plum go with this season.
• Even nail colours are going matt this season.