Guide for the night time monsoon skincare routine

Monsoons bring relief from the scorching heat and help in cooling the climate. During the monsoon season, there is a different ballgame to how we commute, what we wear, what we eat and how our skin reacts to the monsoon season. Yes, your skincare routine that you follow day in and out gets altered during monsoons as special care has to be taken due to the humidity in the rainy season, which causes your skin to become extra oily. This we all know- but did you know that extra care and a different skincare routine must be followed at night during monsoons to keep your skin healthy so it does not lose its glow? Yes, you heard it right- following a good nighttime monsoon skincare routine can be a little tiresome after a day’s work, but it pays off in the end, giving you perfect glowing skin!

Yes, they are. Following a daytime skincare routine, you intend to protect your skin while going out in the sun for pleasure or travelling for work. You use broad-spectrum sunscreens that protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet rays (UVA & UVB) and use different products like a cleanser, toners, moisturisers, face wash, etc., that safeguard you against dust, dirt and pollutants that you encounter daily. On the contrary, following a nighttime routine is all about repairing and rejuvenating your skin for the next day-your skin, which has been affected today by ultraviolet rays, pollutants, dirt and environmental toxins. The night skincare routine repairs and nourishes your skin, making it ready to face the next day's challenges; hence, a different daytime and nighttime skincare routine is imperative. During monsoons, when humidity, dehydration and environmental pollutants damage your skin throughout the day, a nighttime skincare routine is essential for relieving and rejuvenating the skin. Our dermatologists at Kosmoderma have compiled a guide for the nighttime skincare routine during monsoons.

Cleansing- Toning- Moisturising (CTM) is a process that should be imbibed in your daily nighttime routine to give you perfect glowing skin, especially in the monsoons.

• Cleansing - During the day, your skin encounters many environmental toxins like dirt, ultraviolet rays, dust, impure water, oil, etc. To get rid of these, cleaning your skin before going to bed with a gentle cleanser is important to remove all the excess oil that may have accumulated, especially in monsoons. You should use a gentle cleanser which does not irritate your skin. You should follow the “double cleansing” method in which you wash your face twice- the first wash after the application of an oil-based product which binds and removes the dirt and dead skin from the surface of the skin, the second wash is after the application of a water-based cleanser which penetrates deeper in the skin and cleanses it fully. This technique cleans your skin in depth, leaving it nourished.
• Toning - This secret weapon refreshes your skin without robbing its moisture. Toning also reduces congestion of the pores after cleansing. Toners add a boost to your skin that has become dehydrated during monsoons. Normally people omit this step in the CTM routine but tone your skin before moisturising it, especially in the monsoons. Toners prepare the skin for the moisturiser to be applied after cleansing. You should choose a toner that meets your skin requirements. Toners should be used after cleansing your face.
• Moisturising - During the monsoons, your skin needs to be moisturised. The main role of a moisturiser is to seal the skin by safeguarding moisture and nutrients - this protects the skin from external irritants. Moisturises have different effects on individuals as no skin textures are alike, so choose a moisturiser suitable for your skin. You should be selective in choosing your toner - always look for a timer with beta hydroxy acids like salicylic acid (BHA) or alpha hydroxy acid like glycolic/lactic acid (AHA). Both are useful in opening clogged pores, removing blackheads and preventing acne breakouts. For dry skin, AHAs work better, and for oily skin, BHAs do wonders. Use a gentle gel-based moisturiser in the rainy seasons as it works wonders on the skin.

Serums are essential as they improve the health of your skin- they are the boosters or heavy lifters of the skin! Serums are made of concentrated nutrients, hydrators and antioxidants that keep your skin supple. In the morning, use a serum that contains antioxidants to protect your skin from irritation and environmental pathogens (Vitamin C serum). It is best to use a moisturising serum that hydrates your skin at night, preventing it from drying (serums containing hyaluronic acids). If your serum is water-based, apply it before moisturisers; if it is oil-based, use it before moisturisers.

After your CTIM routine, do not forget to take care of those “bags under the eyes”- apply eye creams. These should be applied before moisturisers as they are thinner and lighter than face moisturisers. As your undereye area is very sensitive, use the eye cream gently by dabbing it slowly.

Spot treatment (creams) works best at night for scars, pimples, zits, etc., as during sleep, your body is restoring and rejuvenating after returning from a rainy day. If you are using a toner for acne or retinoids, then it is best to use the spot treatment in the morning, as overloading all the products on your skin at night may be harmful.

When going to a party during monsoons, do not apply heavy make-up as it would seal the pores and cause acclamation of dirt and debris. Additionally, it is important that once you are back, you should remove your make before retiring to bed to get rid of the oil and open the clogged pores. Use micellar water or a mild makeup remover cream to remove the oil-based makeup and not cause your skin to dry.

Just as the daytime skincare routine protects your skin, the nighttime skincare routine during monsoons repairs and rejuvenates your skin. If you wish to wake up to healthy, fresh, glowing skin, follow a daily nighttime skincare routine. Consult our dermatologists at Kosmoderma Skin, Body and Hair Clinics to learn more about it!