As of last Friday, I – along with millions of Muslims around the world – am observing the holy month of Ramadan, which includes abstaining from all food and liquids from sunrise to sunset. As you can imagine, doing so requires making quite a few changes to my lifestyle. From revamping my eating habits and navigating irregular sleeping patterns to optimising my work schedule and social life, it’s only natural that committing to fasting for a whole month will affect practically every aspect of my life.
And while some changes are bigger and more obvious than others, I find myself paying more attention to my beauty routine – be it through prioritising barrier repair for my skincare regimen, “scent-scaping” my home, reaching for skin-loving makeup heroes or strategically taking energising Ramadan supplements, my elaborate approach to beauty during this holy month is so much more than vanity.
You see, during Ramadan, my wellness and beauty routines become one, reflecting my intention to go into the fasting process in an empowering and holistic state of mind. After all, Ramadan is a time to focus on family values, charity, self-reflection, spiritual growth and, most importantly, faith. By fasting, we have the opportunity to sympathise with those less fortunate who don’t have easy access to food and water.
It’s also a great time to practise healthier habits, such as avoiding arguments, limiting your exposure to entertainment and abstaining from sexual relations, all of which can have a surprisingly enlightening and awakening effect that is much needed in the chaotic world that we live in. And that alone has the power to put the world into a whole different perspective, allowing us to treat our daily routines just a little bit differently.
As I’m writing this, it’s only been about 24 hours since Suhoor, which is the first meal of the day just before sunrise, and about 10 hours since my first Iftar (the evening meal). I won’t lie, going a full 14 hours without water has been challenging to say the least. The days do seem a lot longer than normal, but nothing’s helped me as much as putting a big emphasis on self-care. And this is precisely where my beauty routine comes into play.
Rule #1: Keep skincare simple yet effective
Given the significant change to our sleeping and eating habits during Ramadan, our skin (which is our largest organ, fyi) may very well be affected too, so it’s only natural that you might want to give it some extra TLC. Shortly after becoming a beauty journalist, I started wondering as to how well my dry and sensitive skin actually copes with me not drinking water, so naturally, I made sure to have some of the most nourishing and hydrating skincare products at the ready.
Plus, there’s no denying that the process of applying skincare can be extremely therapeutic and calming, and I’ve found that between Suhoor and the start of my working day, there’s no better pastime than slathering my face with skincare. Having said that, Ramadan is all about taking a step back from our usual routines, so when it comes to skincare, I like to keep it condensed to just a few steps while taking a more laid-back approach to my actives (retinol, BHAs and the works).
I can’t reiterate enough that prioritising barrier repair and moisture retention is key. I tend to reach for products that feature hydrating and barrier-strengthening heroes such as ceramides, peptides, hyaluronic acid, squalane and centella asiatica. An easy way to prioritise such ingredients is through my ride-or-die face serums, including the SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier, which is hands down one of the best hyaluronic acid serums around. And on the days when I feel like my skin could use that extra pick-me-up, I can never go wrong with a rejuvenating Korean face mask such as the CryoRubber range from Dr. Jart+.