Monsoon Skincare Routine: What to Change and Why

Monsoon humidity increases oil production and creates a breeding ground for fungal and bacterial breakouts, so the main routine shift is toward lighter, non-comedogenic textures and more frequent (but still gentle) cleansing — not toward skipping moisturiser or sunscreen, which many people mistakenly do in humid weather.

Why Skin Behaves Differently in Monsoon

Humidity keeps skin's surface moisture higher, which can feel like you need less product, but underneath that surface moisture, excess oil and sweat trapped by humidity often triggers more breakouts and clogged pores than in drier seasons.

What to Change

●        Switch to a gel or foam cleanser if you were using a cream cleanser in winter — lighter textures manage the extra oil without over-stripping.

●        Swap heavy, occlusive moisturisers for lightweight, gel-based ones — skin still needs hydration in humidity, just in a lighter format.

●        Don't skip sunscreen — cloud cover during monsoon doesn't block UV rays, and a lightweight, non-greasy formula like [link: Biome Double Defense Sunscreen] is easier to keep up with daily in humid weather.

●        Watch for fungal acne (small, uniform, itchy bumps) versus regular acne — humidity specifically increases fungal breakouts, which respond to different ingredients than bacterial acne.

●        Exfoliate consistently but don't over-do it — regular gentle exfoliation (1–2x weekly) helps prevent clogged pores from excess oil and sweat without irritating the skin barrier.

What NOT to Skip

The most common monsoon mistake is skipping moisturiser and sunscreen because skin "feels oily enough already." Both are still necessary — the fix is switching to lighter textures, not removing the steps entirely.

A Simple Monsoon AM/PM Adjustment

FAQ

Q: Should I stop moisturising in monsoon since skin feels oily?

A: No — skipping moisturiser can actually trigger more oil production as skin compensates for lost hydration; switch to a lighter gel-based formula instead of stopping.

Q: Is sunscreen necessary on cloudy monsoon days?

A: Yes — UV rays penetrate cloud cover, so sunscreen is still necessary regardless of visible sunlight.

Q: What are those small itchy bumps that show up more in monsoon?

A: These are often fungal acne (malassezia folliculitis) rather than regular acne — they tend to be small, uniform in size, and itchy, and respond better to anti-fungal ingredients than typical acne treatments.

Q: Can I use the same sunscreen year-round or should it change for monsoon?

A: You can typically keep the same sunscreen if it's already lightweight and non-greasy — the main adjustment needed is usually to moisturiser and cleanser texture, not necessarily sunscreen.