1."The best parasol is a white or silver umbrella which can bounce the sun rays off," says make-up artist Cory Walia.

2. Up your intake of protein. Perspiration causes a loss of nitrogen from the body, and protein is needed to balance the metabolism. Doctors suggest cheese, pulses, meat, fish and cold hard-boiled eggs to be the best protein sources.

3. Don't bother with perfume when in the sun. It tends to irritate the skin in the heat.

4. While applying a sunscreen keep in mind those obvious areas such as your lips, neck and the top of your hands where the sun can wreak havoc over time.

5. Stick to waterproof eye make-up, as non-waterproof ones trickle down with sweat and may lead to allergies and infections.

6. If you drive a lot, watch out when the sun passes through the windscreen of the car - glass ups the intensity of the sun and burns the skin. Get your screen tinted!

7. Drop the use of toners and astringent unless you have an oily T-zone. Cosmetic dermatologist Dr Rekha Seth warns, "Don't use alcohol-based toners because it's too harsh on the skin and makes it more prone to reaction. It also darkens the skin."

8. Keep room temperatures steady - as shuttling between extremes of temperature like from an AC room to the hot sunny outdoors affects the elasticity of skin, leading to wrinkles.

9. Keep cotton close to your skin. Use undergarments and clothes in cottons which absorb perspiration faster than synthetic fibres. Put your Lycra away this summer, it tends to increase body heat.

10. Smelly feet? Wash them twice a day and dry them thoroughly. Says Dr. Seth "Thorough drying of the feet, especially between the toes, is crucial to keep fungal infection away."

11. Step outdoors with UV-absorbing eyewear. It prevents wrinkles that are formed due to crinkling the eyes in the sun. When picking up glares examine the UV labels carefully to ensure that the lenses absorb at least 99 per cent of UVA and UVB light.

12 Splurge on an after-swim shampoo, which particularly cleanses chlorine and copper from your hair.

13. Keep breakouts at bay by exfoliating skin with a mild soap and a loofah, but only thrice a week.

14. Avoid oil-based foundations or kajal. Discard your cream based make-up. For a great looking mouth, forget gloss and use lip pencils to line and fill the lips.

15. Keep hands off your eyes - you could introduce infection or allergies.

16. It helps to take cold showers on a hot day is a fallacy. For a long lasting cooler effect, pamper yourself with lukewarm or tepid water baths. Research shows that it dilates the vessels to release trapped body heat.

17. It's no good splashing water inside your eyes. "This washes away the tear film that is a protective layer and can cause 'dry eyes' in the long run," reveals Dr Anand Shroff, eye surgeon.

18. Eschew the use of excessive amounts of powder; it just mixes with perspiration, leaving the face more patchy and powdery. Don't cake yourself!

19. Steaming is of little value. The skin is more receptive to dust after you steam and pores are more open during the hot and humid weather anyway. Steaming only aggravates the condition.

As You Already Know

• Stick to Nature's own drinks - juices, coconut water and H2O - when in the sun. Experts say that drinks containing caffeine have a diuretic effect upon the body, that causes fluid loss - the last thing you need during hot weather.

• Drink at least eight glasses of water per day to be a glow-getter. Top up with the body fluids lost during summers.

• Splash your face using water only. Never use soap more than thrice a day - harsh soap strip the skin off natural acids and oils.

• Don't linger in the glare for more than 20 minutes at a time. Dr Jamuna Pai, cosmetologist and aesthetician, explains, "Over-exposure in the sun does irreversible and permanent damage to the skin, causing ageing, blistering and dryness."

• Avoid going outdoors between 10 am and 3 pm, as the sun is most intense then. If there's no choice, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 55, as recommended for Indian skin.

• Pass on the hair oil. Oil even reacts with the sun leaving the hair crunchy and straw-like.

• Let your feet breathe with open sandals and strappy shoes. Say a temporary adieu to boots!