When the sun is out and the sweat drips down your brow usually your first instinct is to take care of your skin. Sunblock? Check. Oil absorbing tissues? Check. Water? Check. But when the skies are grey and the rain pours do you relax and think “Whew. Finally, I can take a break from lugging all this stuff?” Quite contrary. The rainy season is more of a reason to tend to your skin because of the high risk of infections that can be caused by this damp and humid weather. Try the following tips to give your skin some extra lovin’ during this rainy season:

1. Drink lots of water.
Most of us forget to drink enough water (7-8 glasses a day) during the rainy season because the low temperature hardly makes us feel thirsty. However, keeping yourself hydrated is important (all dermatologists swear by this) to keep your skin healthy. Dehydration leads to dry, blotchy skin and who wants that? 

2. Keep your regimen.
Being indoors in your pang-bahay belting out “This time I’m not gonna let you slip away” while the rain pours is also no excuse to be lazy and opt out on your skin care regimen. Cleanse, tone, and moisturize daily. Use a soap-free or gentle cleanser once a day and an alcohol-free toner since increased humidity can open up your pores. Also, light lotion-based moisturizer or serum with a lightening agent and lactic acid is recommended as it gently rehydrates and brightens up your skin. 

3. Oil absorbing tissues are your best friend.
Some people who don't feel that much oil on their skin during cold weather think this is a sign that their face is fine. But it's the exact opposite. So don’t skip out on the extra pack of tissues just because the sun’s not out. 

4) Rainy days call for sunscreen too.
Sunscreen is very important when it is cloudy and about to rain. Most people make the mistake of not putting sunscreen in this weather because they can’t see the sun. Remember, UV rays are invisible. So use a sunscreen that’s at least SPF 30, water resistant and oil free. 

5.) Nourish your skin from the inside.
All the products and tips in the world are not going to do your skin any good if all you eat is junk. Here are some great sources of vitamins and minerals that will do wonders for you hair and skin:

• Walnuts - fatty acids and omega 3 keeps your skin supple and moisturized
• Salmon - omega 3 and selenium protects your skin from the sun
• Tomato - lycopene for anti-aging
• Spinach - omega 3 and Vitamin E keeps your skin healthy
• Oysters - zinc for skin cell repair