From frizzing hair to breakouts, high humidity can cause beauty trouble – here’s how to cope
Warm weather can bring such pleasure (who doesn’t love dining al fresco, lazing in the sunshine and taking a dip in an outdoor pool?) – but humidity can be a troublemaker when it comes to your beauty routine.
Increased heat and humidity causes your skin to sweat; if you have dry or combination skin, this can be a helpful process and it’s a good way to flush out toxins from your body. But if your skin type is oily, the perspiration process can leave you much more prone to breakouts.
Products that contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide are extremely effective in minimising acne breakouts, but you should take extra care in summer as these ingredients could make you more susceptible to sunburn. It’s much better to use them overnight.
Another issue connected to humidity is heat rash, which can flare when your sweat ducts get blocked, trapping moisture under the skin and leading to a sore and itchy rash made up of tiny blisters or lumps. Although heat rash usually disappears on its own in three to four days it can look red and angry and cause discomfort.
Many people find that humidity has a dramatic effect on their hair: the cause is high levels of hydrogen in the air. Human hair is extremely sensitive to airborne hydrogen, and when hydrogen bonds form between the proteins and water molecules in your hair (the same bonds responsible for a ‘bedhead’ if you fall asleep with wet hair), it can become voluminous, wavy, curly or frizzy.
When the air is humid, it’s tough to limit its impact on your hair. Hair is porous, so it absorbs moisture – and if chemical treatments or heat styling has damaged or dried it out, it will be particularly susceptible to frizz.
Humidity helpers
Luckily, there are a host of products to help you cope with the side effects of humidity on your skin and hair. Here are six of our faves:
Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel – contributing to the regulation of sebum production, this overnight treatment helps to clear skin, calm inflammation and prevent future breakouts by reducing excess sebum, removing impaction plugs and eliminating bacteria.
Redken Frizz Dismiss Duo – this sulfate-free shampoo provides smoothness and manageability while protecting hair from humidity for lasting frizz control; the conditioner is specially formulated with a Humidity Resist Complex to control frizz, leaving hair sleek, smooth and calm. Plus, you’ll save money when you buy Redken’s Frizz Dismiss Shampoo and Conditioner together in this handy duo pack.
Decleor Hydra Floral White Petal Skin Perfecting Hydrating Milky Lotion – with a fresh and light texture that provides hydration in any climate, this milky lotion reduces the appearance of dark spots and skin blemishes, refines skin texture and reveals a bright and radiant complexion.
Moroccanoil Smoothing Lotion – a lightweight smoothing solution, this all-in-one blow-dry lotion provides long-lasting shine and definition while taming frizz and resisting humidity.
Decleor Aurabsolu Refreshing Mist – with salicylic acid to gently exfoliate and refine skin’s texture, this is a great skin pick-me-up for the end of a hot, humid day. Providing an instant moisture boost to skin in need of support, this refreshing tonic has been specially created to refresh skin. It can also be used to set make-up – perfect if you’re going out on a warm and sticky evening.
Alterna Bamboo Smooth Anti-humidity Hairspray– to cultivate stronger, smoother, frizz-free hair, this product acts as a barrier to humid conditions, locking out frizz while locking in style and providing long lasting frizz-free hold without stiffness.
