During Ramadan, it’s easy for your skin to take a backseat.
With a busy schedule and fasting throughout the Holy Month, we’ve sought the advice of the experts to ensure your skin stays hydrated and nourished.
A few effective tweaks can be applied to your skincare routine to ensure it always remains hydrated, especially as the sweltering summer is beginning. From recommended facials to luxury skincare guidance, it’s always imperative to address the experts for the best possible advice this year.
Emirates Woman sat down with Nellie Habibi, the Spa Manager at Sofitel Spa with L’Occitane, to understand the best methods for women to overcome any skin-related concerns especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
What is your daily skincare routine?
Every morning and evening I cleanse my face and neck with a gentle bacteriostatic cream cleanser, as it has all the botanicals that help keep blackheads at bay. Then, I use a toner that is flower-based to bring back my PH and help the rest of my products penetrate into the dermis. I then apply a serum, which has ingredients such as vitamin C and hyaluronic acid that are ideal for age management. My final step is my cream, which has a key active ingredient called red algae. Red Algae is known for its lightening properties and its ability to help with hyperpigmentation as well as hydration.
What are your top three skincare tips during the Holy Month of Ramadan?
My top tips would definitely be to start by avoiding fatty food which will help avoid excess sebum, hence fewer blackheads and less oily skin. Drink a cup of lukewarm water with fresh organic lemon while breaking your fast as this will help the liver to detox, resulting in great skin and just generally, drink lots of water, especially after Iftar as this will help the body to eliminate the toxins.
What hydrating facial would you recommend guests to have?
The Aqua Reotier Source of Hydration Facial here at the Sofitel Spa with L’Occitane is essential for general skin health, and especially for hydration while fasting. It uses natural products with essential active ingredients, like reotier water, hyaluronic acid and glycerin, that are key in ultra-hydrating skincare, and that the skin recognizes and instantly absorbs. The facial helps the skin recharge, refresh and glow, leaving it looking radiant, and feeling softer and plumper.
Which treatments are currently popular in the Middle East?
We have noticed people embracing self-care more and more with many opting for laser resurfacing and peels as they work from home and can heal their non-ablative treatments at home. The majority prefer massages and in particular the Sleep and Reset massage, which is an 80-minute ritual that starts with a guided breathing technique that we offer at Sofitel Spa with L’Occitane.
How vital do you feel deep cleansing or even clinical treatments like regular facials, peels or others are outside the home are to maintaining your skin over time?
It is important to have a professional perform a regular facial, peeling, laser treatment and other treatments, but of course, the frequency is dependent on each individual’s skin type. On average, it should be on a monthly basis, because as we age our cell turnover slows down and we need that extra boost from professionals to get the exfoliation or assistance needed.
What do you suggest for busy women who don’t have a lot of time in their schedules but want to have good skin?
For an easy guide to gaining and maintaining good skin, I’d recommend the below:
- Eat well
- Avoid processed foods
- Sleep before 10 pm and make sure to get 6-7 hours of sleep.
- Drink ½ of your body weight in ounces (water)
- Always remove your makeup every night
- Sweat (do some yoga, go to a sauna or a steam room) to get rid of toxins
Nellie Habibi, Spa Manager at L’Occitane Spa
What innovations are in the pipeline for Sofitel Spa with L’Occitane?
At Sofitel Spa with L’Occitane, we currently use all-natural health and beauty products and are looking into ways to increase our sustainable offering as well as introduce non-ablative technologies in the future to continue to provide result-oriented products and treatments.
What piece of advice would you suggest for those struggling with acne?
The most important action to take for acne is to see what you are eating and how you react to it. White sugar is a big culprit for the P-Acne (Propionibacterium) and so is dairy. Listen to your skin because it talks to you. Some individuals may also experience deficiencies such as zinc or certain hormones. There is always a root cause of why you have acne which can be found and eradicated.
Any natural remedies that you suggest to overcome the issues with their skin that women face during Ramadan?
During Ramadan, I always suggest a hammam after Iftar as it helps sweat out all the toxins and removes all the dead cells from the skin. Having Omega 3 is also important while fasting because individuals do not eat enough fish during the month, so taking supplements helps keep the skin look good and prevents hair fall. To avoid or slow down the ageing skin, especially during Ramadan, avoid white sugar as this creates an increase in blood sugar which in turn creates glycation which reduces the collagen and elastin in your body and makes your skin prone to age. The use of green clay is also very good to use during the month of Ramadan. I recommend that individuals do this once a week on the face and neck. Green Clay is very powerful and great for restoring balance to the skin as it soaks up excess oil that may clog pores and lead to acne and imperfections. It is considered a deep cleanser that helps to balance the skin’s pH.
Located at Sofitel Dubai, The Obelisk, if you’re looking for some rejuvenating skin therapies, you can book a session at Sofitel-dubai-theobelisk.com
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Images: Supplied, Feature Image: Unsplash
