Do's
Do make sure you moisturize your skin even if the weather is humid and muggy. Our skin can get severely dehydrated despite the humidity we ma feel around us. And moisturizing is a must for those who spend time in air-conditioned environments. Rose water, a few drops of glycerin and the juice of half a lemon also makes for an excellent home-made moisturizer.
 
Do make sure you cleanse and tone regularly to close the pores and restore your skin's pH balance. You can prepare a toner by adding five to six drop of chamomile oil in a teaspoon of milk for a dry skin. Likewise, for oily skin, ten drops of lavender poured in a teaspoon of water can be used.
 
Do indulge in facials, cleanups, skin polishing, peels, lasers etc. (as suggested by your dermatologist). The monsoons are the best times to do peels and lasers as the post care is much less due to absence of direct sun rays most of the times.
 
Do use a facial scrub twice a week to exfoliate any dead skin. A good home-made scrub (for oily skin) can be made with just mixing rice flour with a little rose water to be used daily. For normal to dry skin, mix wheat bran (choker) or ground almonds with milk or yogurt and use it twice a week. This will also take care of blackheads.
 
Do remember to replenish your skin with lots of fluids, in particular, water. We tend to lose a lot of water through sweating and it's important that we keep ourselves and our skin well hydrated even in the rainy season.
 
Do visit the dermatologist if you think your skin is looking wrinkled, constantly itchy or if you develop a rash that won't go away within a few days. It could be a fungal infection or allergy caused by excessive moisture and humidity.
 
Don’ts
 
Don't go out without sunscreen. Even though you may not see any sun around you, your skin needs protection from UVA and UVB rays as long as there is daylight.
 
Don't pile on too much on your skin with excess make-up and foundation. Heavy creams and oily foundation will only add to the humidity and excess oil that your skin generates during the monsoons. Use a light mousse or matte compact…or better yet, use a few drops of lacto-calamine as a base to keep you looking make-up free and fresh.
 
Don't forget to give your skin some nourishment with good face packs. While there is a wide range to choose from in the market, you can make your own face pack at home too. For a monsoon face mask, mix 3 teaspoons oatmeal 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.
 
Don't use too many facial products, home-made or otherwise, if you are prone to acne. Too many creams and face packs will only add to the excess oil that the pimples produce. Also avoid touching your face or the acne-prone area in order to reduce spreading the germs.