Okay – you may be thinking, "But why do I need to specifically switch up my skincare routine for Ramadan anyways?".

Allow me to elaborate...

Practicing self care should be an everyday thing however, our skin is no doubt dealing with higher levels of dehydration during this month of fasting. Aswell as not drinking enough water, there's a bunch of things that can cause flakey, dehydrated skin:

  • Not getting enough sleep
  • Exposure to air conditioning
  • Skipping your skincare routine completely
  • Consuming foods with excess salt

Now, I don't know about you but I'm seeing a correlation between that list above ☝🏻 and our Ramadan schedule! The undeniably delicious spring rolls, broken sleep patterns... you catch my drift 🤷🏽‍♀️

So as the beauty and blessings of this holy month radiates, the question is – how do we keep our skin glowing, too?

#1 Ditch the Foam Cleansers / Chemical Exfoliants

I was once an avid foam cleanser user until my skin felt tighter in the T-Zone area, even after intensely moisturising! Even if foam cleansers work well for you – I'd still recommend toning it down when fasting because the skin needs all the moisture it can get.

The top layer of your skin is already experiencing a lower water content, so any products that further remove natural moisture and oils will leave the surface feeling dry and uncomfortable.

What's the Alternative? 🔑

If you're wondering how you'll be able to carry on without your foam cleanser or exfoliants – do not fear! Here's what we recommend instead 👇

  1. Switch to Cream Cleansers – They're an overall great choice for providing intense hydration. They work to remove any build up of dead skin cells and pollution without drying out the surface. Most cream cleansers consist of Goat milk or honey; two ingredients that are known to nourish the skin and leave a silky texture!
  2. Whack on a Sheet Mask! – An easy (and fairly cheap) sheet mask goes a long way. If you need an instant boost of hydration, pop one on anytime of the day to restore that glow and feel fresh again.

#2 Focus on Your Skin Barrier Function

Sorry – what even is that?

I'm glad you asked.

Think of the outer layer of your skin as a brick wall. It's made up of tough cells that prevent harmful toxins from the environment seeping into your skin. Although it's a pretty stubborn layer, your skin barrier can still get damaged if not taken care of properly – and one of the major signs is dry / scaly skin.

Because your overall routine is different to usual in Ramadan, the lack of sleep and water makes it harder for your skin barrier to carry out its function of keeping your skin hydrated.

So, What Should I Do? 🔑

  • At Iftar / Suhoor times, incorporate 'good-for-your-skin' foods such as fish, nuts, spinach, lentils, berries and citrus fruits.
  • Avoid long, hot showers which strip your skin of its natural oils
  • Stay away from the sun at peak times – but if you love the sun then skip to step 3!
  • Use water-based moisturisers – this an easy way to restore your skin barrier function

#3 Make SPF Your Best Friend

SPF isn't just a hot summers day accessory – we should be lathering ourselves with it all year around and especially in Ramadan.

The loss of water content in your skin throughout the day makes us a lot more vulnerable to heat. Whether you're out enjoying the sun, or relaxing at home – applying SPF protects your skin from all sorts of harmful rays.

To prevent heat damage without using a bunch of products, look for moisturisers that already contain a high level of SPF for a 2 in 1 solution!

#4 Keep Those Pores Unblocked

As they say, prevention is better than cure! 🤷🏽‍♀️

Let's face it – getting through a 7-step Korean skincare routine each day when you have little to no energy from fasting may not be as likely as we think. So if our skin is missing out on its usual deep cleanse, what other ways can we protect it?

Take a well-deserved break from makeup 💄

Heavy makeup is the main way our skin pores get blocked. Products like foundation, powder or blush are the big culprits here, especially on oily skin.

During Ramadan, one of the best things you can do to save your skin would be to keep it as clean and free of products as possible.

Although I never was a fan of exposing the red pimples or acne scars, taking breaks from makeup made me more confident in my natural skin and – in the long run – it did a lot more good for my general complexion!

#5 Hold Back on the Caffeine During Iftar

I know what you coffee-enthusiasts are thinking...

"How can I hold back on the one thing I look forward to when opening my fast?!"

Well, if glowing skin is your goal – then this just might be the heart-wrenching solution. 😓

Caffeine has a diuretic effect on the skin which basically means it causes 'water loss'. It's proven to leave the skin dehydrated and saggy and – while the fasting body is already lacking water – this doesn't leave the skin in the best condition.

When Iftar kicks in, fighting the urge to get your evening coffee fix could just be the way for your skin to restore that natural glow (and help your deniable addiction 🤥).

Ramadan Skincare Summary

We've wrapped up the five ultimate skincare tips to try out this Ramadan to save our skin from serious dehydration!

Let's do a recap of what those fabulous five steps are ✨

  1. Ditch the foam cleansers / chemical exfoliants – opt for cream cleansers and a more gentle skincare regime
  2. Focus on your skin barrier function
  3. Make SPF your best friend – Protect your skin from harmful ways to prevent any further dehydration
  4. Keep your pores unblocked – Take a well-deserved break from makeup to keep the skin clean and free
  5. Hold back on the caffeine – Caffeine is known to cause water loss in the body which can leave the skin feeling dry and dull

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