How Ramadan Fasting Changes My Beauty Routine

On the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, many Muslims around the world practice Ramadan fasting, which lasts 30 days. The sacred ritual entails abstaining from food and drink, smoking cigarettes, and engaging in sexual activities from dawn until sunset. And, yes, that includes chewing gum and taking medicine.

As you can imagine, spending most of the day without food or water can have profound effects on the skin and hair. Changes in sleeping patterns also bring about their own set of challenges. Due to these factors, your usual beauty routine may need to be adjusted.

Fe Husaint and Devi Madania know the impact of fasting during Ramadan. Having dealt with acne flare-ups and hair shedding in the past, both have come up with a special self-care regimen for the holy season.

Ramadan is meant to be a period of spiritual growth – deepening your relationship with God and doing good deeds. Where does a beauty routine fit into all of this?

It’s a valid question, considering the emphasis on purification during Ramadan fasting. However, taking care of yourself isn’t about vanity or superficiality.

Devi sees her everyday self-care checklist as an act of worship – a way to express gratitude to her maker. “The Hadith says that Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. I believe by maintaining my appearance, I’m honoring the body that Allah has entrusted to me,” she says.

Fe finds self-care therapeutic after going a full 14 hours without meals. “When you look good, you feel good. That’s why I always make an effort to care for myself even if I’m busy.” That boost of confidence is also what helps her power through the day.

Now that’s settled, it’s time to learn the best ways to treat your body from head to toe during the fasting month.

Dry skin is one of the biggest concerns during Ramadan fasting, and understandably so. The lack of hydration can leave the complexion feeling tight, flaky, and dull. The eye area, particularly, is prone to dryness due to irregular sleep schedules during Ramadan. “I use serum-infused eye patches on alternating nights for deeper hydration,” Fe says. They’re also a lifesaver for dark circles!

If you wear makeup almost every day, use Fe’s secret to hydrated skin with minimal touch-ups: face mist. “I spray it after doing my makeup and then a few times more whenever my skin looks tired.”Look for a face mist with 0% alcohol and skin-loving ingredients.

Meanwhile, those with oily skin like Devi are more likely to suffer from dehydration since they often use harsh products that strip away excess sebum. And as much as you love your exfoliants and astringents, too much can overwhelm your skin.

Focus on moisturizing products that can also repair the skin barrier. In place of heavy creams, Devi relies on gentle cleansers and toners to quench her skin’s thirst. You can use Dove Facial Cleansing Mousse Moisture Care at the start of your AM and PM skincare routine. It’s formulated with 40% Active-boost serum and hyaluronic acid, giving your skin an extra boost of moisture that lasts for up to 24 hours.

A few years back, Devi had what she called a “tomato face” after cocktailing different serums and treatments. Her skin was red and shiny with clusters of acne papules covering her cheeks for weeks, all because she wanted to clear one pimple on her chin ASAP before an iftar gathering. “No more,” she shudders. “I learned my lesson quickly and have since stuck to the basics.”

Nowadays, “less is more” is her mantra. She keeps her facial care routine to a minimum and does her best to stop getting swept up in FOMO. “I tried slugging before, and it was not my thing,” she recalls. 

Fe, on the other hand, prefers to streamline her body care routine with Vaseline Gluta Hya Serum Burst Lotion Flawless Bright. It has 10x Pro-Retinol that helps shed dead skin and brighten dark spots. Plus, it absorbs quickly into the skin without any stickiness.

Wearing a hijab and keeping your hair healthy is always a struggle. The friction between the fabric and your strands can cause problems like breakage and thinning. In fact, there’s a term for it: hijab alopecia.

Covering her head with a hijab has been Devi’s daily practice since elementary school, so she’s familiar with such issues. And with Ramadan fasting, it seems to intensify. Clumps of hair fall out every time she showers or removes her hijab. “I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t faze me,” she says. Her solution? “Wash my hair with anti-hairfall shampoo, apply tonic and vitamins, and a hair mask once a week.”

Follow Devi’s approach by pampering your locks with Dove Advanced Keratin Treatment Mask. It combines the power of keratin shot, niacinamide essence, and vitamin complex to help repair damaged hair and make it stronger.

If you have bleached hair, you might need to supercharge your haircare with additional steps. Fe, who has been a honey blonde for so long, doesn’t play around, especially since fasting tends to dry out her ends. Aside from hair masks, she applies a silicone-free hair primer after shampooing and before styling her tresses. It softens her strands, tames frizz, and gives protection against heat. To curb hair loss, Fe does scalp treatment twice a week and uses a hair serum every night.

Since Devi hits pause on active ingredients during Ramadan, she counts on in-office treatments to do the heavy lifting. Botox is her go-to for controlling the oiliness on her face. She also likes the skin-refining effect it instantly gives.

She also always gets a facial two weeks before Eid so she will look her best. “I notice that my makeup also sits much better after a facial,” she adds. “Because I’m going to wear makeup from the early morning until late at night during Eid festivities, it makes all the difference.”

Looking for a more practical option? Indulge in face masks, just like Fe. “I pamper myself with sheet masks. Eye massage is a nice way to cap off the evening to cap off the evening, if time allows.” When suhoor comes, you’ll wake up with plump and refreshed skin.

There’s nothing wrong with treating your body well during Ramadan fasting. In fact, it’s an important part of celebrating the holiest month of the year, as Devi and Fe have shown. Listen to what your skin needs and adapt your routine accordingly. Even small adjustments can make such a big difference.