Every monsoon, the humid weather can leave your skin feeling sticky, sweaty and unusually oily. With moisture hanging in the air, it is easy to assume that the skin is automatically getting enough hydration. However, as explained by the skincare specialist Shaily Mehrotra, this belief is not entirely correct. High humidity might inhibit the process of water evaporation from the skin, but this doesn’t guarantee that the skin itself is properly hydrated.
Indeed, monsoon season creates quite a lot of confusion with issues like oily skin, clogged pores, skin breakouts, sensitivity, and dehydration. The key, experts say, is to understand the difference between oil and hydration and avoid overcorrecting when the skin starts feeling greasy.
Why does skin feel oilier during the monsoon?
Humid conditions affect how sebum and sweat interact with the skin. While sweat may take longer to evaporate, sebum can stay on the skin for longer. Both substances interacting with dirt, makeup, pollution, and other impurities may cause clogged pores and acne, especially in individuals with oily or acne-prone skin.
However, the presence of sebum does not mean that there is enough moisture in the skin. Both substances have different properties. The first one creates a layer that protects the skin from damage, while the second term is defined as the presence of water in the skin. This means someone can have an oily surface while still experiencing tightness, sensitivity or dehydration underneath. Shaily Mehrotra, CEO & Co-Founder, Fixderma & FCL, explains that this can become particularly noticeable when people respond to monsoon oiliness by repeatedly washing their face or reaching for strong oil-control products.
Can washing your face too often make things worse?
When skin feels sticky, washing it repeatedly may seem like the obvious solution. However, constantly stripping away the skin's natural oils can disturb its protective barrier. Once the barrier is compromised, the skin may become more sensitive and lose water more easily. This can create a cycle where a person tries to control excess oil, only to end up dealing with irritation and dehydration as well. Dr Rahul Chaudhary, Medical Advisor, Fixderma, said that high humidity can make the skin feel moist and sweaty without necessarily making it hydrated. He also cautioned that repeated washing to get rid of the sticky feeling can strip natural oils and weaken the skin barrier.
Monsoon can also affect the body's skin
The impact of humid weather is not limited to the face. Warmth, moisture and prolonged sweating can create favourable conditions for certain bacteria and fungi. Staying in damp clothes for too long, remaining in sweaty workout clothes or allowing moisture to remain trapped in skin folds can increase the likelihood of concerns such as body acne, folliculitis and fungal infections. This makes basic hygiene and keeping the skin dry particularly important during the rainy season.
Should you stop using active skincare products?
Not necessarily. However, monsoon skincare should not become a race to use stronger products. Scrubs, exfoliating acids, acne treatments and oil-control products can have a role in a skincare routine, but using several aggressive products at the same time can irritate the skin. Adding more active ingredients does not automatically mean faster or better results.
Instead, skincare should be based on the concern your skin is actually experiencing rather than simply responding to the season.
What should your monsoon skincare routine look like?
A simple approach may work better than an overloaded routine. Cleanse the skin enough to remove sweat, excess oil and daily impurities, while avoiding excessive washing. Moisturisation should also not be skipped simply because the weather feels humid or sticky. A lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturiser can help support the skin barrier without making the skin feel unnecessarily heavy.
Daily sunscreen also remains an important part of the routine. Dr Rahul Chaudhary recommends focusing on gentle cleansing, lightweight hydration and daily sunscreen rather than assuming that humidity alone is sufficient for healthy skin.
Why air conditioning can add to the problem
Indian monsoons often mean moving between very different environments. The skin may spend part of the day exposed to hot and humid outdoor weather before moving into an air-conditioned office, car or home. These repeated changes can affect how comfortable the skin feels, particularly if its protective barrier is already compromised.
The larger takeaway is that humidity, oiliness and hydration should not be treated as interchangeable. Your skin can feel oily while still needing hydration. During the monsoon, the goal is therefore not to make the skin completely matte or excessively moisturised. It is about maintaining balance, supporting the skin barrier and responding to what the skin is actually experiencing. As Shaily Mehrotra, skincare expert, points out, better skincare may sometimes begin with understanding the skin rather than simply adding another product to the routine.
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