5 Ingenious Beauty Hacks To Help You Deal With Malaysia’s Heat and Humidity
Beat the heat

In our sunny climate, sweat stains and chafed skin may be common, but it doesn’t have to be the norm. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best tried-and-tested beauty hacks to help you beat the heat.
Malaysia may be an ideal tropical paradise for a week-long holiday escape, but if you live here year-round, you’ll know that our temperate weather isn’t always a plus. The perpetual summer leaves us all vulnerable to sticky skin, greasy locks, chafed thighs and more—so, what’s one to do?
Unfortunately, dressing for the heat isn’t always event-appropriate (apparently, daisy dukes and crop tops in the office are generally frowned upon), so one has to get crafty to stay cool on the go. From antiperspirant between your thighs to frizz- and grease-busting hair hacks you’ll love, here’s how to fix all the problems you may face in our humid Malaysian climate:
Problem #1: Sweaty boobs and chafed thighs
Nothing hits curvy girls harder than heat and humidity. Everyone loves a well-endowed chest and a bubble butt… until the sweat hits. Suddenly, instead of strutting down the street confidently, you’re hunched over to cover the track marks on your shirt and wide-stanced to stop the friction burns between your thighs. As you frantically search for an air-conditioned room to cool off in, you’re left wondering: “Why does this happen to me?”.
The answer to that is simple. You’re suffering from success. Fortunately, you don’t have to live like this. To minimise boob sweat, steer clear of skin-tight shirts and polyester—the goal is to maximise breathability to stop you from sweating so much in the first place. Plus, it can help to swipe some antiperspirant on your problem areas—this stops the sweat in its tracks before it can wreak havoc on your skin and clothes.
Another top tip for thick-thighed gals? Wear biker shorts under your skirts or opt for longer pant legs on your shorts to stop chafing altogether. And, if the chafe creeps in through the fabrics, top up with some antiperspirant or baby powder on your skin to further stave off the moistness.
Problem #2: Melty makeup
There are two solutions here: either you need to wear less makeup overall or you need to get yourself a good blotting powder and setting spray combo. If your makeup is melting off in the heat, your best bet is to skip liquid foundation entirely. Instead, spot-treat blemishes with your go-to concealer, and set your face with a powder foundation. In addition, opting for waterproof eyeliners, shadows and mascaras will also help your beat stay in place throughout the day.
If you cannot give up foundation, then your best bet is to invest in a grippy primer and top up with a good blotting powder and setting spray combo. Primer goes under your foundation to help absorb excess oil, the blotting powder helps to set your base and mattify throughout the day, and the setting spray helps to lock it all in.
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Problem #3: Greasy hair
If you can’t get through the day without being weighed down at the root, you’ve got greasy hair. It’s an issue that is only exacerbated by hot and humid weather, so if you’re desperate for a fix, we’ve got you covered.
The simple solution here is to use dry shampoo on your clean hair—yes, clean—so that it can prevent your hair from getting greasy in the first place. Not only does it help to prevent greasiness, but it also works to texturise and volumise your roots. Indeed, it’s a win-win!
Of course, dry shampoo does also work on greasy hair but just be wary that the more you spritz, the more product buildup you’ll have to deal with. Essentially, being too liberal with dry shampoo can make your problem worse.
Another great tip is to make sure you’re cleansing your scalp properly. With every shower, you’ll want to double cleanse (read: shampoo twice), preferably with a clarifying shampoo. This ensures that there is no product buildup left on your hair that could potentially clog up your scalp and encourage sebum production.
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Problem #4: Bad BO
Body odour is inevitable in the heat. Now, the logical course of action would be to turn the air-conditioning on. But, if you’re out and about and can’t get to a unit in time, fret not—in a pinch, an antibacterial wet wipe or alcohol swab can work wonders. Simply swipe your pits and any other offending areas as needed (optional: follow up with an additional layer of antiperspirant deodorant to keep the good times rolling!).
READ: Why do I stink? 5 Reasons why your BO is bad and how to fix it
Problem #5: Frizzy tresses
Imagine this: You’ve spent an hour styling your hair to perfection, only to have your efforts foiled by Malaysia’s high humidity. Now, instead of sleek, straight locks or perfect curls, your hair is giving ‘80s prom night (and not in a good way!).
Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do to change the weather, but there are ways you can protect your hair against the harsh environment. Anti-humidity sprays and sealing treatments work wonders to keep your styles going strong—here are some of our picks for the best of the best!
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