Monsoon is a joyful time of the year, because the earth revitalises itself. For many Indians, it is a time of festivity because a good monsoon means an abundant harvest.

So get into the spirit of the season and discover the long-lost delight that the monsoons herald.

The Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand

If the drizzling rain brings out the adventure junkie in you, then grab your hiking gear and head to the Valley of Flowers. This is an untouched piece of paradise open only between June and October, when the snow melts. The nearest airport is Dehradun and the nearest railway station is Rishikesh, after which the adventure begins, as you have to complete the journey either by jeep, local bus, on foot or on a mule till you come to Ghangaria. Visitors have to stay at the base camp Ghangaria because there are no lodges in the valley. It is a trek of three kilometres from Ghangaria to the Valley of Flowers.There is only one entrance and you have to pay an entry fee. After entering the park, it is another long trek to where the actual valley begins. Despite all that strenuous hiking, the vision that you encounter makes it all worthwhile. Flowers create a colourful carpet, while charming birds toot away with snowy mountains looming at a distance. Visitors must carry their own food and water and be considerate of the environment.

The best time to visit is around August when the flowers blossom. It does rain fairly often here and the weather becomes extremely cold, so raincoats and jackets are a must. If you are lucky, you might spot the elusive fauna. The gurgling rivers, tinted flower carpet and scenic beauty of the place will have you keeping your hiking boots out—for a return visit.

Alleppey, Kerala

There’s a reason why Kerala is called ‘God’s own country’. Green trees, blue rivers and oceans and vivid-hued birds and animals flourish here. Time literally stands still, allowing you to take in the splendour of the land. Alleppey or Alappuzha is known as the Venice of the East and it has retained much of its old-world beauty.

So while the grey clouds abound, spend your monsoon cosy and warm inside a houseboat, leisurely cruising the backwaters of Kerala. You can glimpse an earlier era as you sail pass the brightly coloured houses along the canals. While the surroundings might take you back to simpler times, you don’t need to rough it out. Though thatched and traditional on the outside; most houseboats have modern amenities. There are oarsmen and chefs onboard to cater to your every need. But if you are looking for a bit of excitement, you can attempt to catch your lunch. The peppery cuisine Alleppey is known for will keep you warm during a windy monsoon.

The famous Nehru trophy boat race is held on the second Saturday of August, while smaller Snake boat races are held from July to September. Watch the locals battle it out in the long, brilliantly decorated boats. These rambunctious races are an integral part of Kerala’s culture, so make sure to catch at least one of these thrilling events.

And if you do decide to venture onshore, pamper yourself with that famous Kerala ayurvedic massage.

As you drift along, relax with a hot cup of locally-grown coffee and enjoy the beauty of Alleppey as the rain drops fall all around you.

Puducherry, Tamil Nadu

It’s summer in Europe and you long to stroll down the French Riviera, but you can’t due to various constraints? If you can wangle some time away, Puducherry [formerly known as Pondicherry] is the perfect place to visit.

The monsoon begins here in late June with light sprinkles of rain and goes on until November, when the rains get considerably heavier. There is cohesiveness in the city as both the Tamilian and French culture are represented through the architecture, people and gastronomy.

The city is divided into Ville Noire [the Indian quarter] and Ville Blanche [the French quarter]. The smell of the wet earth arises as you amble down Ville Blanche and the pastel shades of the colonial houses are pronounced against the overcast sky. The immaculate beauty of the cobblestone streets and French construction makes you feel like you are walking down a rue [street] that could be anywhere in France. Sit at a quiet café and munch on a croissant as you watch the world go by. If the foodie in you is still not sated, there’s the traditional Chettinad fare and fusion food, along with the authentic French cuisine.

While there are several places of worship, museums, parks and beaches to visit, the more notable sites are—Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Beach road, Raj Niwas and the Jawahar Toy Museum. If it’s excitement that you seek, you might be disappointed. Puducherry is more of a destination where you immerse yourself in the serenity and culture of the place. Experience a petite piece of France right here in India.

Udaipur, Rajasthan

Indian literature and Bollywood movies depict the monsoons as the season of romance. If a romantic getaway is what you are looking for, the city of Udaipur is where you should go. Luxurious palaces, exotic camel rides and robust Rajasthani food all complete the affair. Take a sunset cruise on Fateh Sagar lake followed by dinner at the Lake Palace, which lights up at night. View Udaipur’s past at the museum Bagore-ki-Haveli; it has a vast collection of Mewar paintings, glassworks and over a 100 rooms with costumes and modern art.

Puppet shows, desert safaris, musical concerts… there are so many things to do in Udaipur. The picturesque Saheliyon-ki-Bari or the ‘Garden of maidens’ should also be on your agenda. Its lush greenery, gorgeous flowerbeds, bubbling fountains and tranquil lotus ponds create quite the romantic ambience.

The maharajas knew a thing or two about the enchantment of the monsoons and even built a palace to see and enjoy the rains. Sajjan Garh, or the Monsoon Palace, is situated atop a hill and overlooks Lake Pichola. The massive windows of the palace were particularly designed to view the sunset. And offer stunning views they do, especially when the sky turns red and orange to signal the impending rain. Udaipur is filled with colour and exuberance that even the heaviest downpour cannot dampen. So if the passion has been missing from your relationship, rekindle it in Udaipur.

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I often have patients come to me with a pre-conceived notion of the state their skin is in. Sometimes, it really takes lots of patience before I can make them see sense. You need to understand that the state of your skin is never constant, especially if you are a woman who goes out to work and spends time in different environmental conditions.

Understanding your skin

The external conditions—pollutants, dirt, grime, and changing weather—play a major role in how your skin feels or behaves. You might be born with a certain type of skin, but over the course of time, weather changes can aggravate a skin condition or change its texture. I am sure you must have noticed that if your skin is prone to oiliness, summer time can be a pain because suddenly the greasy factor increases tenfold. Similarly, if in normal conditions your skin is dry, it becomes dull, flaky, and dehydrated in winter.

You need to examine your current skin care regimen and adjust it to meet your skin’s ever changing needs, based on shifts in climate and sun levels. It’s critical to establish [and diligently follow] a routine that meets your skin’s specific needs during specific climatic conditions.

Adjust your skincare to the season

Many of us jet-set across the globe; often, in the span of just one week, our skin faces different conditions. For instance, you may start off from a summer country and land into a country experiencing winter. While you do your travel packing, make sure your skincare products are packed accordingly. Your skincare routine must remain the same but according to the changing climate conditions, you must use specific products.

Do not go by what you think is your skin type to choose products round the year. Be tuned in to the changes in the weather and how your skin reacts to it. Once you start recording the changes, you will naturally be in sync and treat your skin accordingly. Change your face washes, cleansers, moisturisers and sun protection products to match your skin condition. You will be surprised that all it really takes is to make small adjustments in your daily regime to keep your skin perfect and glowing round the year without any special skincare treatments.

Monsoon

Who doesn’t love the rains? After the scorching sun and all that dust, it is a relief to feel drops pouring from the sky onto your face. I do enjoy a cup of steaming coffee as the rain lashes around, cooling and cleaning everything. There is such a sense of freshness, but I cannot say the same for my skin. The monsoons bring with it a series of skin woes for many—open pores, dull skin and infection along body folds. In simple words, we have summer skin plus increased humidity. A bit of moisture is good, but a lot isn’t.

Look and feel of monsoon

Skin feels hot and humid since the pores are still open from the summer months and can get further aggravated. Acne and skin infection along the body folds can also occur. Sweating can be even more irritating in the humid weather.

Hair swells and is more vulnerable to damage, especially breakage, so it is advisable not to go for too many salon treatments. Even a simple blow dry can cause damage.

Monsoon special care

• Refreshing face wash: Do it four times a week and with cold water
• Toner: Optional
• Scrub: Once a week
• Day cream: Use only a sunscreen
• Skin actives: Apply in the form of serums and gels
• Post summer care: Tan removing creams and skin soothing ones
• Night care: Skin lightening actives, AHA and BHA [Acids at 6 – 20 per cent are available OTC]
• Just hydrant minus the cream: Magic mist
• Hair and scalp: Sun protection for hair
• Body: Couple of showers a day

Pick powders: For this season, you must look for the powder form of most things like compacts, deodorants etc. There are some collagen boosters in powder form too.

Dry up ASAP: If you happen to get wet, wash your face and feet as soon as you can. Then dry them; this removes any impurities you might have picked up. A good idea is to carry some wet wipes and then reapply your skincare product or make up.

Stay with sunscreen: If you are planning to stop the sunscreen regimen, thinking that the clouds will protect you, you are greatly mistaken. Cloudy skies do not guard you from the sun. You can look for a light textured version of sunscreen. There are also some gel variants that offer you protection without clogging your skin. Try the new powder sunscreen with nano-particle technology.

Work towards healthy hair

• Coconut oil massage
• Dry wet hair with low heat
• Do not brush wet hair
• Use loose hair accessories
• Avoid salon treatments—any chemical treatment will harm the strands since the cuticles are open

Have happy hair: Hair care should not be ignored during this season. Since the summer’s intense UV damage makes the hair dry, frizzy, damaged, getting your hair wet in the rains will further weaken it. So say no to all hair treatments that make use of heat and chemicals. Ironing semi-wet or wet hair is a sin.

Monsoon must dos

Getting wet in the rain is fun but change your clothes as soon as possible. Damp clothes increase the risk of skin infections, especially in body folds.

• Dry your hair to remove as much moisture as possible. Blow-dry your hair gently if needed.
• Keep wet wipes, moisturiser, face wash, and sunscreen in your purse to keep your skin in great condition.

Supplements to take in monsoon

• Go high on immune boosters—multivitamins.
• Add anti-inflammatory ingredients to your diet like ginger and turmeric. These ingredients are a major part of our Indian diet.

Monsoon kitchen goodies

• Apply a papaya face mask to remove dead skin layers and reduce tanning.
• Turn over half a lemon and use it as a gentle loofah on the face and the body.
• Use a mixture of lemon juice and rice flour paste on face and body to slough off dark, dead skin.
• Apply lemon, curd, and sandalwood powder as mask and then scrub gently to de-tan.

At your skin doctor’s

Most treatments are safe to receive in this season. Concentrate on de-tanning treatments like peels and microdermabrasion.

Start off laser treatments for skin lightening, tightening, or hair removal.

Adapted from Age Erase by Rashmi Shetty. Published by Random House India

This was first published in the July 2014 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

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Tips for monsoon make-up

With monsoon showers, there are high chances that your make-up gets absolutely ruined or washed out. Dense makeup has a risk of being smudged and washed out severely and so it is better to use light and sheer make-up.

“First of all, wash the face with a mild soap and use cleansers to clean the face. After this rub an ice cube for about 10-15 minutes on the face for lowering the level of sweating. It also helps the make-up to stay for a longer period,” says Dr Apratim Goel, a Mumbai-based dermatologist.

Before wearing make-up, it is essential to put on a velvety base to cool and refresh your skin. Women with oily skin can use an astringent while women with dry to normal skin can use a toner after the ice to cool and refresh the skin. Also, use an oil control face wash before applying make-up to minimise oil production.

Foundation

“It is better to use an oil-free and water-resistant foundation during monsoon. Try and avoid using concealers in the rains”, says Nandini [Jadhav] D’Rozario, make-up and celebrity hair stylist, Muah Salon, Mumbai. Use the foundation as a concealer; apply it only on spots – like dark circles around the eyes and acne marks – that need touching up.

Powder

Use powder sparingly. Use it just to remove the grease off your face and nose. Avoid using pressed powders in monsoons since they tend to become patchy.

Mascara

Use a waterproof variety of mascara to avoid weeping black tears. “Forget the eyeliner and kajal during monsoons. Instead, use a kajal pencil – it lasts longer and does not smudge”, adds Nandini.

Eye-shadow

Since creams can melt off the face, stick to powder formulas. Pastels are a good choice. A thin film of light brown, beige, or pink cream eye shadow can be used with a coat or two of waterproof mascara.

Blush

Apply blush lightly—it’s best used when you can barely tell that you’re wearing it. “Cream blushers are a good option as they are water-friendly. If your face gets wet, all you do is dab it with a tissue and your blush stays put. Blushers give you the perfect natural look”, notes Nandini.

But, be sure to blend the blush outwards so that it does not look like a blob of colour on the cheek. Shades of peaches and browns are good colours to choose.

Eyebrows

Keep up with your tweezing/threading, but forget the eyebrow pencil this season. Instead, use a brow brush with a little hair gel to keep brows looking shapely.

Lips

“Matte lipsticks are the best option during monsoons. You can use lighter shades for the lip liners and shades of pink or soft brown, with minimum gloss, for lipsticks. Avoid creamy, glossy ones and opt for powder matte tones or creme matte tints”, Apratim suggests.

Concentrating just on make-up is not enough for the perfect look. Use water-based moisturisers during rainy season to avoid oily skin, acne, and water loss due to perspiration and sweating.

These tips should be handy to survive the monsoon in style.

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