Advice needed from people who go to humid places a lot!

[ShinyFace]

Off on holiday soon to a very hot and humid rainforesty place.
I'd love some top tips for staying as cool as possible - and for keeping my face from resembling a wet tomato, if at all possible!
Is there any magical shine-control powder, for example?
Any tips very welcome! Thanks!
Disclaimer - obviously I fully expect to be a sweaty mess a lot of the time and that's part of the experience...but now and again I'd like to be a bit presentable.

Thanks to all and apologies for not responding to every post.
I'm really looking forward to the trip! 🍅 🥵

Perspirex do facial wipes and a small spray that you can use (not on face) that's very good

We just got back from an outdoors wedding in tropical heat and humidity so a couple more tips. If you have a cold drink you can hold it against the inside of your wrist to help you cool down. Wear breathable, loose clothing, relax and accept that you're going to sweat! Pray for a breeze...

frequent cool showers whenever you can
bring damp flannels in a plastic bag so you can wipe sweat off your face and the flannel may be slightly cooler than your face!
I use talcum powder on my body after showering (douse yourself once, then do it a second time). This really helps delay the onset of feeling unbelievably sweaty!!

You won't be able to wear any make up in places like that

So you need to manage your expectations

Your body should get used to the heat so long as you're not overweight

Wear loose flowing clothes

Wear loose sports material tops maybe from Sweaty Betty that will dry out in you in the sun and in the evening after you've washed them

Cotton and linen will take ages to dry when they get wet on you so you need to mix it up with specialist materials

Ive discovered I love viscose in humid weather

I have lots of cotton and linen clothes but viscose is great in humidity because it dries quickly and is very thin and airy

I've taken a handheld small fan with me recently which was life saver

Oh sorry clearly didn't rtft with my suggestion

Do everything slowly, much more slowly than usual. Drink freely. Technical fabrics eg sporting kit might be more appropriate than natural fibres. I feel cooler with light clothing covering my arms and legs and everything in between.

There is no way to look groomed and dry faced in a humid rainforest in my experience!!!

Hotel room or cabin with air con is the only answer!

I wear only linen or cotton.

I have that Prince Andrew thing where I don't really sweat but in high humidity I do around my hairline and the front of my neck.

In the absence of air conditioning a wet hand or tea towel that has been soaked in coke water and wrung out and places around the neck is an instant cool down.

I use a Driclor roll on my forehead and around my hairline, not in my hair and that stops any sweat on my face.

I do wear make up but I pay on concealer from a pot and then dust with talcum powder as a face powder and that keeps any shine away even in the hottest and most humid environments. Talc is also great on feet, hands and crooks of elbows so I always use a big powder puff.

If you don't like talc you can buy talc free body/baby powder which isn't as finely milled but is still very good. I prefer talc and use if all over.

We holiday a lot in the Seychelles where it is extremely humid. If you watch the locals, they walk slowly, almost gliding around - it's hard to explain but it's all very economical and designed to let their flow around them without having their arms plastered to their sides. Also, wet flannels in the fridge or even freezer for a bit and the same with bottles of water. The secret is plenty of cold drinks. A decent hat to protect your face and light coloured clothing. One thing I got wrong early on is thinking that a white tee shirt would be enough but without sun cream underneath, I still went lobster red. Now I use decent sun cream and a loose fitting white cotton short sleeved tee shirt. If you're on a beach, sit under the shade of a palm tree - (mind falling coconuts), if not, find an umbrella or cool spot. Again, watch what the locals do - you won't find many sitting out in the midday sun. Air conditioning or a fan is a must too - also good if hiring a car.

The issue for me with technical fabrics / sporting kit is they often stink after not very long. But it's absolutely personal preference- some people are less stinky/sweaty than others. They are also often more clingy which I don't like - I prefer looser fitting when it's hot

That is very true. I've tried all sorts for my husbands walking clothes. He'll walk for hours (live in humid SE Asia) and after an hour or two they'll start to smell musky. I've tried washing with vinigar, Vanish, Dettol. It doesn't help that the stupid washing machine is a top loader cold fill. It's a cheap piece of shit tbh.

Such good tips - THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!!

I'm definitely leaning towards cotton - I just don't even like the 'feel' of the technical fabrics. Sounds like I'll be damp whatever I wear anyway so I may as well go with my preference.

We do have some time in hotels with air-con and even one place with a washing machine so hopefully I can keep on top of the wet clothes!

I'm really excited - it's going to be very much out of my comfort zone and a new experience. I've been to Singapore which is perhaps a similar climate - but only for a couple of days and we were certainly not hiking about in a rainforest! 🌳 🐵 🕷️ 🐍

I have two handheld little fans which are brilliant; an 'ice towel'; on my list is a hair band to hopefully soak up the hairline sweat 🤢
A friend went to Japan recently and brought back a pack of 'cold wipes' which are also coming with me!

I noticed the women's health /wellbeing aisle in boots had some stick on menopause ice patches which you could look at. Looked like the heat squares you get for back pain but...opposite

There is a product called Colour Wow super natural spray - helps your hair deal with with the humidity

uk.colorwowhair.com/products/dream-coat-anti-frizz-treatment

I’d agree with everything saying embrace it!! Also I’d say in my case I found an actual fan (the ones you get in Spain for example where you fan yourself) kicked the ass of battery operated fans! Also a nice hydrating face wash for splashing your face in the evening. Loads of water. Insect repellent too! Enjoy!!!

Brazilian blow dry before you go if you have frizzy hair.

Viscose is lovely.

Driclor before you go.

Mossie spray Mrs whites

Just back from a hot humid hols, life saver was a hand held fan with a water spray mist, can pop it in fridge or put ice in it.

I love the little pads of face blotting sheets - they're really good to soak up excess sweat/shine so no shiny face!

I have a neck wrap/neck tie thing filled with dry gel crystals. Soak it in water, the crystals swell up and when you wear it around your neck it is really cooling. You can turn it over when the side against your neck gets warmer. I bought it when I lived in a very hot and humid part of Australia, it worked brilliantly there.