Which Facial Is Best For Your Skin This Monsoon?

Your skincare routine changes with the seasons, your facial appointments should too.

I have never had a facial in my life. There, I said it. For someone who spends an inordinate amount of time thinking about skincare, trying viral Korean skincare products and testing whatever new serum has taken over my feed, it feels like a strange confession to make. I have my skincare holy grails—the products I keep going back to, can’t stop recommending and always find room for in my travel bag—and yet, when it comes to facials, I’ve always been a little clueless.

Perhaps it’s because the idea of letting someone do that much to my skin has always felt slightly intimidating. But seasons and our surroundings have a way of changing things. The beginning of the rains can make the skin feel oilier around the T-zone, pores more congested and, somehow, the complexion dehydrated. Add humidity, sweat and pollution, and even the most trusted skincare routine can start to feel like it’s missing something.

So, what facial does your skin actually need in this weather? I decided to take baby steps and ask the experts. Two dermatologists help us figure out where to start, what’s actually worth booking and which treatments can wait until the weather cools down.

The One Dr. Manisha Recommends First: HydraFacial

Monsoon and clogged pores tend to go hand in hand. More sweat, excess sebum and pollution can mean blackheads, congestion, and dull-looking skin. To combat this, Dr. Manisha Mareddy, Founder of Shlok Dermatology & Wellness Clinic, puts HydraFacial at the top of her list. “The original HydraFacial is great at exfoliating and hydrating skin without causing any oiliness or congestion. And the best part is that it also cleans out your blackheads.” It combines gentle exfoliation, extraction, hydration, and antioxidant infusion without disrupting the skin barrier.

Dr. Mareddy also considers it suitable for sensitive skin, while the added hydration makes it useful for dry skin too. And if there’s an event coming up, she says the skin can look plumper and fresher afterwards.

When Your Face Needs a Little De-Puffing

Not every monsoon skin problem is about oil. Sometimes, you just wake up looking puffy. A lymphatic drainage facial encourages circulation, helping move excess fluid and inflammatory waste away from the tissues. Dr Bindu Sthalekar, Founder and Medical Director of Skin Smart Solutions, recommends it for facial swelling, water retention and skin that looks dull or tired. “A lymphatic drainage facial is an excellent treatment for reducing puffiness and giving the face a fresher, more sculpted appearance,” she says. It can also be a pre-event treatment or a supportive therapy after certain aesthetic procedures.

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Glo2Facial (L), Fire & Ice Facial, Carbon Laser Facial (R)

If Your Skin Has Suddenly Become Very Oily

For some people, humidity means an oily T-zone by lunchtime. Add enlarged pores and acne, and it can become a little harder to ignore. Dr Mareddy has a personal favourite. “Carbon laser facials are my favourite because they help reduce oiliness, improve enlarged pores and acne as well,” she says. There is minimal redness, and the treatment can also improve skin texture. “The post-treatment result is that the skin is brighter and more even as well.”

Glo2Facial: For When Your Skin Looks Tired

Then there are the days when your skin isn’t particularly problematic. It just looks a bit flat. “Glo2Facial is basically something that works on the principle of oxygenation from within rather than applying oxygen externally,” explains Dr Mareddy. Along with exfoliation and oxygenation, the treatment uses ultrasound to help active serums penetrate, as well as lymphatic massage to reduce puffiness and improve circulation. It can also be tailored to concerns including pigmentation, dehydration, acne and ageing. “The result is that the skin appears brighter, healthier and fresh without any downtime or irritation.”

The Facial to Know Before a Big Event

Fire & Ice has picked up its “Red Carpet Facial” nickname for a reason. It gently resurfaces the skin while infusing it with hydration, leaving the complexion smoother, brighter and refreshed without the downtime associated with more intensive treatments. Timing, however, is key. Dr Sthalekar recommends having it 24 to 48 hours before an event, giving the skin enough time to settle and allowing the glow to peak and makeup to sit beautifully.

Some Treatments Can Wait

Not every treatment needs to happen during monsoon. In fact, a few are better saved for cooler weather. “Procedures that significantly disrupt the skin barrier, such as deep chemical peels or aggressive laser resurfacing, may be better scheduled during cooler months unless there’s a clear medical need,” says Dr Sthalekar.

Heat, humidity, sweating and prolonged sun exposure can make recovery trickier, increasing the chances of irritation, infection, delayed healing and post-inflammatory pigmentation. During the monsoon, her preference is for treatments centred around “hydration, skin repair and gentle rejuvenation”.

Don’t Forget What Happens After

Dr Bindu reminds us of the cardinal skincare rule: do not skip sunscreen just because the day is cloudy or rainy. UV rays are still around, and treated skin is more vulnerable to pigmentation. She also advises against jumping straight back into intense workouts or reaching for retinol and exfoliating acids before the skin has healed. Keep things simple, support the skin barrier and follow the aftercare instructions you’ve been given. “Giving your skin the time it needs to heal is what ultimately delivers the best outcome.”

As a beginner, I think I’ve finally figured out where to start. Nothing too aggressive, nothing booked on a whim, just a facial that makes sense for what my skin is doing right now. Baby steps, after all.