Most skincare advice is written for cold, dry countries. In The Gambia — heat, humidity, sun and dust — your skin lives a different life, and it needs a different routine. The good news: simpler works better here.
Cleanse gently, twice
Sweat and sunscreen build up fast in humidity. A gentle foaming cleanser morning and night clears it without stripping your skin — stripping just makes oily skin produce more oil.
Hydration is not oil
Humid-climate skin can be oily and dehydrated at once. Skip heavy creams in the day; a light hydrating serum under a fluid moisturiser gives water without weight.
SPF is non-negotiable
Sun exposure here is intense year-round, and it's the main driver of dark spots and uneven tone. SPF 50 every morning — cloudy days included — does more for your skin than any serum.
Exfoliate — but only weekly
Dust and sweat mean congestion; over-scrubbing means damage. One gentle exfoliation a week is the balance, and a monthly hydra facial does the deep version properly, extractions included.
Keep it boring, keep it up
Cleanser, light hydration, SPF, one weekly exfoliation. Four steps, done daily, beat any ten-step routine done occasionally. Not sure what your skin needs? A facial analysis gives you an honest answer — and everything we use is in our shop to take home.
Book a hydra facial or a facial analysis — open daily 9–9.
