Monsoon Tips for the Working Woman

Shahnaz Husain *

As a working woman, you need to look your best, because this imparts self-confidence – an attribute all working women need. Yet, you have to go easy on the powder and paint. The skin should be healthy and clear.

The first and foremost step in taking care of the skin is to keep it free from dampness in order to keep it beautiful and glowing. While your career doesn't hinge on your wardrobe, still, your appearance has the power to enhance or diminish it.

The key to dressing up confidently and stylish begins with being comfortable ! When you are comfortable in your clothes, you naturally come off as a confident woman. Nothing beats the versatility and comfort of cotton. I will suggest wearing cotton clothes during this season for comfort, breathable fabric and elasticity.

Wearing cotton tops or dresses will help you look stylish and confident while you're comfortable in it too !

Add a pop of color to your wardrobe ! Bright hues like vibrant pinks, blues, oranges, and yellows are perfect for injecting some cheer into rainy days. Avoid light colors like white and beige that can become translucent when wet, and instead, opt for darker shades that hide rain marks.

Opt for waterproof footwear including sliders or boots that will keep your feet dry and prevent any slips on wet surfaces. Avoid heels or suede options as they can easily get damaged and can also be uncomfortable for the season.

Cleansing is of great importance for the working woman, who leaves home to get to work, battling through traffic and exposing herse.

Refresh your skin with moist tissues during the monsoons, to remove sweat and refresh the skin. Always cleanse the skin at night, before going to bed, so that you can remove make-up, stale sweat and oil deposits, as well as dirt and pollutants.

Since working women keeps on moving and hence they face problems of dehydration mostly who travel long distances to reach office and back home in hot and humid temprature . Eating fresh fruits and veggies high in water content will keep the skin supple for longer hours, in the days with high humidity levels.

Include fruits like cantaloupe, apple, kiwi, tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini for being hydrated inside out. Add Vitamin C, zinc to your diet to ensure healthy levels of collagen and elastin.

Give a plain water wash three times a day, use a cleanser once a day, and follow it up with a good moisturizer. In addition, periodically exfoliate with a good scrub. The scrub is important if you get drenched in the rain often. And last, keep the makeup at minimum.

A tulsi neem face wash would be ideal for the hot and humid season. It would help to remove impurities, soothe and protect the skin from eruptions and rashes.

After cleansing, tone the skin with chilled rose water or a rose-based skin tonic. It not only refreshes and cools the skin, but also helps to stimulate blood circulation to the skin surface and add a glow. A matte moisturizer is ideal if the weather is hot and humid. For dry skins, spray on a moisture mist. If your work entails traveling, apply a sunscreen.

Use a facial scrub two or three times a week. A facial scrub helps to remove dead cells and provides deep cleansing of the skin. It brightens and refines the skin. Twice a week use a face mask. Apply it on the face, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. Wash it off when it is dry.

Here are some Monsoon Face Packs:

Clays like fuller’s earth (multani mitti) have a cooling effect and reduce oiliness. Mix one tablespoon Fuller’s Earth (multani mitti) with rose water. Apply on the face. Wash off when dry.

Mix Cucumber juice (or pulp) with two teaspoons powdered milk and one egg white. Put the ingredients in a blender, for a smooth paste. Apply on face and neck and rinse off with water after half an hour.

Mix lemon juice with water in equal quantities and freeze it in an ice-cube tray.

Whenever you want a refresher, rub a frozen cube lightly over the face and then wipe with cotton wool. Removes oiliness and refreshes the skin.

Mix egg white, lemon juice and honey and apply like a mask. Wash off after 20 minutes. Lemon and Egg white have cleansing effects and reduce oiliness. Egg white also tightens the skin, while honey is a powerful natural moisturizer.

Avoid cold , raw and dry food during this season .Eat hot meal and Include cow ghee in your diet, and ensure you have herbal teas and hot water regularly. Do take a glass of warm milk spiced with some turmeric, cardamom and cinnamon before going to bed. While it will keep the cold/cough at the bay, it will also enhance your skin.

Humid weather slows down digestion, so steer clear of fried, sea food and street food. These can cause indigestion, bloating diarrhoea, or stomach infections