During the month of Ramadan, those who observe can come across a few issues with their skin due to fasting. Due to this, many feel they need to adjust to a specific “Ramadan skincare routine”. This is because, during this time of reflection, fasting, and praying, the skin ends up feeling uncomfortable in many ways. This is not to say that your focus during this period should be vanity or appearance, but you can take a moment to take care of your skin because it impacts your health and well-being. Skincare is seen by many as self-care, and this is also a moment to reflect on how you nourish your body, your mind, and what is around you. We’ve compiled our favorite skincare tips for Ramadan to help you understand your skin.
What are the effects of fasting on the skin?
Scientific advice regarding skincare during Ramadan is scarce, but there are some things we do know about how the skin behaves during this period of fasting:
- Due to no water intake during the day, the skin gets easily dehydrated. It may feel uncomfortable, tight, sore, and irritated. Cracked lips and noticeable fine lines are also common;
- Even though you may be consuming your recommended dose of vegetables during the allowed period, your skin may still be duller from the lack of hydration;
- It’s common to have more issues on the eye contour area, not only from dehydration but also because you’re sleeping in shorter blocks instead of getting a full night of rest;
- In areas where there is hard water, it’s common to have more sensitivity and rosacea flares due to frequent washing of the face;
- Acne breakouts are very frequent during Ramadan, although some people actually see improvements in their acne-prone skin during this period;
- Lastly, skin recovery becomes compromised. If you’re in the process of healing your skin from an injury, it will probably take longer and be prone to more issues.
How to adjust your skincare routine during Ramadan: Our 10 tips
1: Drink water
We know this isn’t exactly skincare, but given that most skin issues come from the lack of hydration… it really is the best skincare tip. Get a good-sized water bottle and make sure you drink it before the sun rises.
2: Layer your hydration
Make sure to apply your hydration in layers: say, try using an essence, a serum, and then a moisturizer. An essence like the COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is a great way to start creating a hydrating shield. Then, a serum like the Sesderma C-Vit Serum Liposomal is a great way to combine hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, in order to fight dull skin. Lastly, a great moisturizing sunscreen such as the Eucerin Sun Pigment Control Sun Fluid helps you to shield the skin from any aggressions. This way, you will ensure your skin absorbs all the hydration it needs to feel comfortable throughout the day.
3: Carry a hydrating mist with you
Given that you will end up washing your face several times a day, carrying portable and practical hydration can be key to your Ramadan skincare routine. A hydrating mist is a practical way to ensure comfortable skin and is extremely easy to apply. One of our favorites is the Sensilis The Cool Rescue Hydra-Soothing Mist, as it both hydrates and soothes the skin. This is the perfect combo for those skin sensitivity issues related to hard water, for example.
4: Get your daily dose of antioxidants
Besides ingesting your daily dose of fresh ingredients during the time window in which you can do it, make sure to also nourish your skin with much-needed antioxidants. It will thank you if you keep on applying antioxidants that allow it to be as luminous as it can be. The Garnier Skin Active Vitamin C Anti-Dark Spot Serum, for example, is a great and affordable way to achieve this.
5: Avoid harsh cleansers
To avoid compromising your skin (or irritating it further), try a gentle double cleansing routine. Start with a gentle oil like the Clarins Total Cleansing Oil, then follow with a gentle cleanser like the Bioderma Sensibio Mild Cleansing Foaming Gel. Make sure to avoid excessively foaming products, which may strip your skin.
6: Keep a neutral chapstick with you
We’re focusing on chapstick here, but you can use any other type of rich ointment to protect your lips. (We recommend keeping things unscented, since no one needs a flavorful lip balm while fasting.) The popular Eucerin Aquaphor Repairing Ointment, for example, is a perfect way to prevent water loss throughout the day and avoid chapped lips.
7: Trade your usual foundation for a hydrating one
If you tend to use a mattifying foundation, this may be a good time to switch it for a hydrating one. Otherwise, the dehydration will be showing on your skin behind the foundation, and the dehydration wrinkles will be even more pronounced under the matte finish. Another solution some people adopt is to forgo foundation entirely and just use concealer on specific areas. After all, constant face washing can be incompatible with foundation. If you’d like to try this concealer tip, one of our favorite products is the Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Eraser Concealer; it’s super luminous, and it’s available in a pretty diverse color range.
8: Apply a hydrating mask (always a good idea!)
We know we keep on going on and on about the same issue, but hydration is key to a successful Ramadan skincare routine! Taking a few minutes to apply a hydrating mask can be a great opporunity to replenish your skin and get back in touch with yourself. We really love the Uriage Eau Thermale Water Sleeping Mask, because it’s super refreshing. If you prefer a sheet mask, you can always try the Missha Airy Fit Sheet Mask Green Tea, for an extra dose of antioxidants.
9: Repair your skin barrier
As we’ve previously discussed, the skin barrier can become compromised during this period of fasting. A great way to make sure you don’t get cracked and painful skin is to use a proper moisturizer. This is valid for your face, body and hands. We know these healing and repairing creams can be a bit joyless, but our favorite, the Filorga Neocica Moisturizing Repairing Care, is a real joy to use.
10: Skip the harsh actives
If you’re a fan of retinol or highly concentrated exfoliating acids, it may be a good idea to tone them down a bit. You can either space out their use, go for lower concentrations, or stop them altogether. The idea behind this is that the skin is already suffering, so it’s time to nurture it, not push it to its absolute limits. Ramadan skincare is all about tending to your skin and making sure it feels as comfortable as possible.
We hope you have a Ramadan in which you feel comfortable in your own skin. If you can, take a few moments each day to get in touch with your skin and practice a little bit of self-care.
In case you’re already thinking ahead and looking for skincare and beauty gifts to offer during Eid celebrations, make sure to visit our shop: our curated selection of Eid beauty gifts might just be what you’re looking for.
