Not long ago, our country was blanketed by a thick smog caused by forest fires in our neighbouring countries. A potent combination of fires, dry weather and a northwesterly wind saw the smoke drifting over and choking our airspace. It’s not just us here in Malaysia, Singapore is pretty fogged up too.
While the skies cleared up a week or two back, it quickly got hazy again this week. The air quality is so bad, schools are closed. I think it just plays merry hell with everyone’s plans you know, and with schools opening and closing at the whims and fancies of the air pollution conditions, I think it plays merry hell with education as well. But I won’t go there (Or we’ll be here all day!)
Instead, with news reports warning us that this haze (or I should say smog) is expected to stay with us for a couple of months more (yikes!) I thought I’d share some tips on how to protect yourself from the haze or smog.
If you’re wondering what I’m on about when I talk about this “haze”, you might understand better when you watch part of my video below, in my latest MWStv episode, where I show you just how bad things can look 🙂 Yes, my friends, we have video!
I’ve spoken pretty much at length in Episode 5 of MWStv below, to share my tips on how to protect yourself and your skin from the damaging effects of the haze, so you’ll have to watch it to see what I’m on about 😉
But just very briefly, here are some basic things you should be doing to protect yourself, and your skin.
Wear a N95 mask
Surgical masks won’t do, my friends. You need a proper N95 mask, like the one you see in the picture above, which I didn’t wear properly. Both straps should be securely fastened behind your head, to hold the mask against your face. The purpose is to filter out the little particles in the air that can be very unhealthy if breathed in. It’s unglamorous, but your health is more important than looking glamorous!
Stay indoors and use an air purifier
Where possible, stay indoors. I still see so many people living the al fresco life, and I often wonder what they’re thinking. The best place to be is indoors. So, while you might want to visit your favourite open air hawker stall, now’s not the time to do so. If you want to go out, go to malls, and eat in enclosed spaces. Better still, for those at work, pack your own lunch! Now’s the best time to join me in #pbmademepacklunch on Instagram 😀 If you have an air purifier, use it. I bought one last month and it’s very helpful to keep the air feeling cleaner and more comfortable.
Drink lots of fluids and stay hydrated
Water will not only quench your thirst, it will help clear your breathing passages as well. I take plain water, but I’m now upping my fresh coconut water intake. Ok, it’s just my excuse to buy more coconut water! LOL!
Wear long-sleeved clothing or cover up
While an ironic piece of advice, when the weather is so freaking hot, you might find it helps you stay more comfortable. I find that when the air quality deteriorates to the level that you’ll see in the video below, my skin starts to itch. This is true of my exposed skin, so my arms, legs and even scalp will itch. While regular showers help you feel better, covering up with long-sleeved tops and pants, or a cardigan will actually help you feel better. I commiserate with anyone who has sensitive skin at this point, because I can’t imagine how they must feel, if I already feel this way myself!
I’ve got a few more tips in the video on how you can protect your skin in horrible conditions like this, but I’m not going to spoil it for you 😀
I hope you enjoy the video, and please let me know if you found it useful, or if you have any tips to share.
Comments are welcome both here on the blog, and over on YouTube. I explained about what I meant by makeup, or at least base makeup i.e. foundation, bb or cc cream etc being good for your skin in these situations, as I wrote about here. Perhaps I’m right, or perhaps I’m wrong, either way, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Incidentally also, I’m taking my annual break a little early this year. I’ll be back in a little over a week so be good, kids and keep an eye out for some little changes right here at MWS very soon 😉
xoxo
Paris B
Wearing the mask is AWFUL when you have full make up on. it leaves marks on your face and your mask gets horribly stained from the foundation 🙁
Also, I HATE THE HAZE. Grrr.
I HATE THE HAZE TOO! OMG! I’ve realised that not seeing the sun makes me cranky and lately, we haven’t been seeing the sun or blue skies so I’m super cranky! I stay indoors as much as I can. Seriously, this skin itching this bugs the heck out of me!
The haze was awful when I was back in Malaysia and even then I couldn’t tahan so I take my hat off to all of you who have to deal with this day in and day out. 🙁 I had a chat with an Australian barista last week about Malaysia and he told me he just got back from a recent trip to KL. He said that he stepped out of KLIA just for a smoke but the haze was so bad that he had to go back in a minute later. At that time, I was thinking “dude, please don’t contribute to the haze” 😛 But I did feel bad for him and other tourists who came to Malaysia for a holiday and thought the weather was simply horrendous. It’s a pity because on good days, Malaysia’s a great place to visit!
Beauty-wise, a clarifying shampoo for the hair will be good as well. Get rid of all the gunk!
Yes, this does messes with the tourism and I honestly don’t blame anyone for staying away. If I were faced with this in a country I was planning to visit, I might change my mind too. It’s sad really. I don’t think even the seasides are spared 🙁 News reports seem to indicate it might stay this way for a while, which is both frustrating and horrible. Were that I had the luxury to just jetset away to cleaner air! 🙁
Don’t know it is problem with my tablet or my ears but the sound of the video is too soft, I can’t hear much…
Thanks for the feedback Bugs, you may have to turn up the volume somewhat. I think I over compensated for volume this time around. Still learning, sorry! >.<
Hi, Paris. I’ve never shopped for myself before. Since the end of the year and Christmas are approaching, I was wondering whether we have after-Christmas sales here? Will the price be dirt cheap? I wanted to know if I should spend money on the advents and gift sets and Christmas specials when they come out or if I should wait for some kind of sale to happen if there are any. Thank you.
Hi Sofia, from recollection, no boxing day sales or post Christmas sales aren’t common here and even if there are sales, prices are never dirt cheap, unfortunately. Sometimes, if you’re eyeing some of the sets at Sephora, they mark them down after Christmas, but you’ll have to go in store and look for them because it isn’t advertised, and it may not be what you want. That said, you can always try your luck 🙂 Personally, if it’s something you really want, best to get it when it comes out. If it’s something you can afford to miss, then wait and see 🙂
I feel so lucky that I live in the middle of no where and don’t have any smog or haze to deal with! I also feel so bad for you guys that do have to deal with it… stay safe 🙁
Hi Michelle, you most certainly are lucky! I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to have blue skies, and what wouldn’t I give to complain about the bright sun again 🙁 Well, I hope the winds come soon and blows all this away! Thank you for your concern 🙂
at the rate of the haze is going, i think i am going to be vit D deficit soon….
I seriously think the lack of sun really affected my mood! Now that the sun is back, although it’s hot, I feel so much better. Confirmed I can’t live where there’s winter 😛
It’s been raining for days where I live and absolutely no one talks about the effect so much of moisture has on your hair! Not a single blog post or you know… fb status about it 🙁 So when you talk about haze and how to counteract damage from hair, I feel like you’re actually looking out for us 🙂 🙂 Very useful tips, all of them! You deserve a thanks from all of us <3
Hi Rage, aww thank you! I love when people can relate to what I say, even if not in the same context! I hope you’ve been well. I remember you said you were getting married, which I assume is already over by now? 🙂
Wow, I can’t believe it’s that bad! That’s crazy…
I totally agree that makeup bases can protect the skin and it makes total sense, after all, makeup even if it’s got some skin loving ingredients in the formula, is designed to sit on top of your skin, so it would work as a filter! And if it has added sunscreen in the formual than even better! I find that if I’m working in the city and don’t wear any makeup (which is very often) I often come up with blotchy skin, which is probably inflamed from all the stress of pollution etc. I need to start wearing my bb cream more diligently!
Happily, Sylvia, it’s all clear now! Blue skies and hot sun! Yay! 😀 And yeah, I seriously do think there’s some truth to the makeup thing. Especially now that technology has progressed and we aren’t using things like mercury in our face powders anymore LOL! 😀