You v/s Heatwave: Hacks to Save Yourself From the Scorching Sun

Summer has hit the country with full force, temperatures are rising at a crazy pace. Extreme heat, hot winds, UV rays, constant sweat, pollution and stress: Everything put together can wreak havoc on your skin as well as hair.

We’re also feeling the heat, and that’s why we thought we must devise a heatwave skincare and haircare routine that will come in handy all summer. In this exhaustive guide, we’ll tell you how to keep your summer skin calm, hydrated and glowing - even in the midst of a heatwave.

Heatwave + Skin & Hair = Not the best combo!

Before jumping into solutions, let’s understand the damage:

Your Skin May...

• Overproduce oil, leading to clogged pores and breakouts
  
  

• Lose hydration due to sweat and sun exposure
  
  

• Suffer from heat rash, redness, or even sunburn
  
  

• React sensitively with inflammation or flare-ups
  
  

Your Hair Might...

• Dry out, becoming brittle and prone to breakage
  
  

• Get sun-damaged (yes, hair can get burned!)
  
  

• Turn frizzy, greasy, or lifeless
  
  

• Develop split ends more quickly
  
  

The trick is to adapt your routine to the heat. Think: hydration, protection, minimalism, and cool-downs.

But first, let’s understand why heat bothers our skin and hair so much:

Hot weather brings with it unique challenges and increases:

• Oil or sebum production

• Clogged pores

• Dehydration due to constant sweating

• Heat rash or sunburn due to sun exposure

• Sensitivity, itching and redness

• Acne or skin flare-ups

• Hair burn

• Frizzy hair due to humidity

But, we don’t gatekeep. Here’s a list of tips and tricks that we swear by:

1. Cleansers that work smart, not hard

Heatwave means more sweat, more oil, more sebum. And if you have oily skin, then God help you. But, how do you protect your face from this barrage of heat? Certainly not by washing it 4 times a day. Over-cleansing can strip your skin of its natural oils, and when your skin tries to compensate, it will produce more oil than normal, leading to acne.

What to do for your skin:

• Use a gel-based or foaming cleanser with natural ingredients, like tea tree oil, green tea, lemon or aloe vera. Try Adigo Swoop Face Wash, which offers the dual benefits of Lemon and Turmeric, both extremely beneficial for Indian skin textures.

• Avoid harsh scrubs too frequently; instead, opt for exfoliating not more than twice a week. Try Adigo Swoop Face Scrub, which is made with 1% Salicylic Acid to battle acne-causing bacteria.

• Look for fresh skincare products that remove grime without drying your skin. Pay more attention to those areas in your body where sweat and dead skin can accumulate. Once or twice a week, indulge in a body scrub that contains natural ingredients like walnut, apricot and essential oils. Try Adigo Swoosh Body Scrub, which has real walnut grit that works great on body tan.

For your hair:

• Strictly avoid daily washing. Go for a shampoo about 3 days a week, more than that and you’ll end up making your hair dry and unmanageable.
• Invest in sulphate-free shampoos and conditioners that cleanse, but do not dry.
• On those days when you need to be out and about, dry shampoo is your best bet to banish greasy hair.

2. Hydration is Non-Negotiable

We know, we get it, you are tired of listening to this. But we have come to this understanding that hydration is a non-negotiable, especially in this weather. 

In extremely humid climates, your skin and hair become even more dehydrated from excessive sweating. Thus, you have to compensate for the water loss with hydration.

What to do for your skin:

• Use a lightweight hydrating toner with cooling ingredients like cucumber or rose water. 
• Switch to water-based moisturisers to let your skin breathe without the heaviness or chip-chip.
• Keep a hydrating mist in your handbag. Mist your face anytime during the day to cool it down, keep it refreshed and cancel the effects of the heat.

For your hair:

• Switch to gentle, moisturising shampoos and conditioners.
• Apply a leave-in conditioner or hydrating spray daily to protect your locks from sun damage and humidity.
• Do a deep-conditioning ritual every week to restore lost moisture. Try Adigo Hair Mask that comes with hydrating ingredients like Hemp Seed Oil, Flax Seed Oil and Shea Butter.
  
  

3. The Art of Moisturising in Summer

Peak heat, sweat, humidity and sun exposure - Yes, you still need a moisturiser even in these extreme weather conditions. 

What to do:

• Read the label like your life depends on it. If you have sensitive skin or oily skin that is more prone to breakouts, you need to opt for non-comedogenic moisturisers, which are water-based and not oil-based.
• Ingredients like niacinamide, squalane, and aloe vera are great contributors to the cooling skincare squad.
• Even if you have dry skin, go for a light cream instead of a heavy lotion to give your pores breathing space.

4. Sun Protection: Your #1 Summer Shield

Skipping SPF in a heatwave? That’s a skin emergency waiting to happen, girl.

What to do:

• Invest in a good-quality, broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 50. Try Adigo Swoop Sunscreen that has SPF 50+ and PA++++, is easily absorbable and doesn’t even leave a ghostly white cast on your face.
• Reapply every 2-3 hours, especially if you're outdoors, swimming or sweating a lot.
• Use SPF-infused makeup or powders for top-ups. 

5. Spot Treat Heat Rashes

Heat rash can appear as small, itchy red bumps - especially on the face, neck, and chest.

What to do for your skin:

• Gently cleanse the area and let the skin cool — this helps soothe irritation and reduce redness. Avoid rubbing it after cleansing.
• Use calming topical treatments like calamine lotion, aloe vera gel, or creams with zinc oxide.
• Avoid heavy products that block pores. 
• In case of a rash, strictly stay away from DIY treatments you saw in a trending Instagram Reel; you could make it worse.

For your hair:

• Use a clarifying shampoo once a week to remove product buildup
• Soothe with aloe vera gel or cooling scalp sprays.
• Avoid heavy oils or thick hair butters during hot, humid days.

6. Control Sweat, Not Your Glow

Sweat-proofing your skin doesn’t mean stopping the sweat altogether - just managing it smartly so you don’t kill your vibe (Or those people around you).

What to do:

• From makeup to moisturisers - go for Matte. Use mattifying primers or setting sprays to keep that oily sheen under control.
• Blotting paper is your bestest friend at this moment. They are a great option to control oil while you’re on the move. 
• Wear breathable, non-comedogenic makeup that doesn’t attract grime or clog pores.

7. Cool It Down - Fast

Need a quick skin cool down after being out in the heat all day?

What to do for your skin:

• Keep your toner or mist in the fridge the night before so it's ready to use the next day.
• After coming back home, calm your skin with a chilled jade roller or ice cube wrapped in a cotton pad. This will cool it down, control acne and make you feel refreshed in just seconds.
• Try DIY masks with ingredients like aloe, yoghurt, or cucumber, which are known to have cooling effects.

For your hair:

• Go for air-drying your hair instead of hot tools and heat styling. If absolutely necessary, use them on cool setting.
• Keep your hair up, not down - Buns, braids or ponytails are a great look in the summer.
• Ditch those ratty old cushions - Invest in some good-quality silk pillowcases that do not cause frizz or friction in the hair.

8. Nourish from Within

Eat and drink right to support your skin barrier and hair strength:

• Drink lots and lots of water because dehydration shows up as dry skin and brittle hair.
• Include biotin, omega-3, iron, and vitamin E through leafy greens, nuts, and fruits in your daily diet. Avoid processed food as much as you can.
• Add cooling foods like cucumbers, melons, and yoghurt to your diet.
  
  

9. Night-time is for Repair

Nighttime is your skin’s chance to recover and breathe.

What to do:

• First things first, never ever make the mistake of going to bed with a full face of makeup. Even if you have used just sunscreen, wash it off before you retire for the day.
• Double cleanse if you wore makeup and SPF all day. Don’t skimp on this.
• Use light serums with antioxidants for that boost to your glow (vitamin C, green tea, niacinamide).
• Avoid heavy retinols or acids during a heatwave. You never know how your skin might react under the sun.

10. DIY to your Rescue

Easy-peasy cool-down hacks at home.

What to do for your skin:

• Honey + Aloe Gel Mask: Calms inflammation and hydrates.
• Ice Water Soaks: Perfect for de-puffing and cooling down.
• Cucumber Slices or Gel: Refresh tired eyes and overheated skin.

For your hair:

• Aloe + Coconut Oil Mask: Soothes scalp and deeply hydrates.
• Banana + Honey Mask: Adds softness and shine.
• Yoghurt + Olive Oil Mask: Strengthens and cools dry strands.

11. Sensitive Skin? Take Extra Precautions

Heatwave can trigger flare-ups if you have sensitive or reactive skin.

What to do:

• Go fragrance-free and alcohol-free. 
• Trust only those ingredients that suit your skin. This ain’t the weather to experiment with newer ingredients.
• Use minimal, barrier-repairing products (ceramides, panthenol).
• Avoid harsh treatments during extreme temperatures.
• Always, always patch test everything you put on your skin. THANK US LATER!

12. Weekly Hacks to Beat the Heat

Build in some extra TLC once or twice a week.

What to do:

• Sit back, relax and indulge your skin in a natural, cooling face mask.
• Use ice water soaks for puffy under eyes. If you’re feeling generous, slap on some undereye cooling patches.
• Don’t forget your lips and under-eye care - use SPF lip balm and soothing gels to take care of both.

13. Keep It Light

What to do for your skin:

• Simplify your routine - fewer, lighter products work better in heat.
• Less is more - Stick to less layers so your skin can breathe.
• Stick to the basics: cleanse → tone → moisturise → SPF (AM) / light serum (PM).

For your hair:

• Trim every 6-8 weeks to prevent split ends from worsening.
• Use serums or oils on your ends to lock in hydration.
• Avoid tight hairstyles that tug at your hair, as it can cause stress and breakage.
  
  

Additionally, Best Ingredients to Look For This Summer

Cooling + Soothing Heroes:

From managing oily skin in summer to preventing heat rash, a heatwave skincare routine is all about staying hydrated, protected and light.

With the right mix of cooling, calming, and detoxifying ingredients, you can breeze through even the hottest days with your skin feeling fresh and looking radiant.

So next time the temperature spikes, don’t sweat it. Just follow these heatwave skincare tips and give your skin the calm and cool it craves.

Ready to beat the heat? Stay cool, stay glowing! 🌞💦