When summer in the Balkans means 90 percent humidity and five minutes in the sun give you a shine on the forehead as if you just stepped out of a sauna, the skincare routine that worked in winter stops working. Dermatologist advice for the season that is starting now - no detox, no brand, no magic, just concrete ingredients and moves.

In climates with high humidity, the skin produces more oil and the pores enlarge. Dermatologist Juliana Machado says it plainly: "The goal is to control excess sebum without drying out the skin." That means - cleansing with salicylic acid, glycolic acid or formulas with zinc, which unclog pores without being aggressive.

For texture - "light gels" instead of thick creams, on the face and the body. A thick hydrating cream in August in the Balkans is a mistake: it suffocates, does not help, and creates the kind of stickiness no shirt manages to absorb. A gel absorbs without worrying that it will smear the make-up.

Make-up artist Gabriel Llano recommends thin layers and fixing only where needed. Heavy foundation is the enemy in these conditions - both for the face and for the fabric of your clothes. Contour, highlighter, blush - all in minimal amounts, with a fixed matte accent.

For hair - anti-frizz lotions and closing the cuticle. A scalp peel twice a week is one of the few effective solutions for hair that gets weighed down under the crown. Finish with cold air on the dryer, not hot - that keeps the cuticle closed. And "long-lasting" make-up setting sprays - not for fashion, but for the fact that nothing else will survive 8 hours at 35 degrees.

For dry climates - a different story altogether. There the skin scrapes, the barrier breaks, and serious patching is needed. Hydrating creams with panthenol, glycerine, oats or ceramides. Cleansing with a syndet (soap-free formula) - that is the "gentle cleansing" the skin demands when it is cracked. Layered application: essence, serum with hyaluronic acid, a thick cream to seal in the moisture.

Hair in a dry climate needs a mask before travel, then light oils for daily upkeep. On the face - a hydrating primer before the foundation, otherwise the make-up will crack along the dry parts. That is the difference between "a woman who came back from holiday" and "a woman who decided to skip the routine at the hotel." Nobody wants to be the second one.