Keep your skin radiant during Ramadan

During the Holy Month of Ramadan, the whole routine of life changes for those fasting. A combination of several factors may have a negative impact on our bodies, including our skin.

Long hours of fasting hours and fewer hours of sleep combined with warmer weather may leave your skin dehydrated and susceptible to breakouts and dry patches. Here are my five skin care tips to keep your skin refreshed, radiant, glowing and healthy leading up to Eid.

1. Water…much more

Drinking water is the mother of all skincare tips. I recommend drinking two to three litres of water during iftar hours. Even better, adding mint, cucumber or lemon makes it all the more refreshing and appealing. Water will hydrate your skin, reduce breakouts and aid in digestion and bowel movement. 

Recommended: Water-rich food — fruits like cantaloupe, watermelon, grapefruit, oranges and cucumber are full of water. 

Avoiding or limiting: Milk, coffee, soda, sugar and salt are dehydrating.

2. Hydrating and moisturising your skin 

Moisturising is a must any day of the year but it’s even more important when your skin cannot be internally hydrated. I recommend using a moisturiser in the morning, not forgetting the sunblock, applying a serum before bedtime and moisturising your body after every shower.

Recommended: A homemade face mist: Simply find a bottle mist, add one quarter rosewater, two quarters filtered water and 10 drops of pure glycerine (you can get it from any pharmacy). Whenever you feel the need or after each wudu’ (ablution), just spray it over your face to lock in moisture. 

Avoiding or limiting: Long sun exposure — sunblock should be reapplied every two to three hours for optimal protection Showering in hot water: Hot water dries the skin faster.

3. Extra eyecare

Regularly staying up late and interrupted sleep may impact our eyes with darker circles, puffiness and more wrinkles. Extra care is needed to stay looking refreshed throughout the month. I recommend using a water based eye cream and searching for these ingredients in your eye cream: amino acids, peptides, hyaluronic acid.

Recommended: Perfume-free, paraben-free and glutenfree eye cream.

Avoiding: Sleeping with your makeup on and harsh ingredients that irritate the eye area.

4. Eating foods that make your skin glow

Raising your antioxidant intake during iftar and suhoor will give you radiant, healthy looking skin even when fasting. I eat foods that are rich in fibre and antioxidants, such as berries, almonds, dark chocolate and pomegranates and have a handful of berries as they are a great source of the vitamins and minerals our skin needs after a day of fasting.

Recommended: Plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and fish as they are rich in vitamins and minerals.

Avoiding or limiting: Fast food, sugar and refined carbohydrates as they are really bad for our skin. Eating this sort of food can lead to skin blemishes, breakouts and makes skin look generally dull.

5. Less makeup during the day

The combination of heat, dehydration and heavy makeup can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. I recommend products that are light and moisturising such as BB creams (also known as beauty balms or blemish balms) and lip balms with added SPF. If you want extra coverage, go for a water-based foundation.

Recommended: Rosewater mist (mentioned above) before applying your makeup for added moisture.

Avoiding: Oil-based makeup and applying foundation directly onto your skin — cleanse, moisture and apply sunblock before spreading on your foundation I wish you all a blessed month! Let us make smarter decisions about our skincare throughout Ramadan and may this be the perfect opportunity to get into good habits for the rest of the year.

Reprinted with permission from Family Flavours Magazine