Fasting teamed with soaring temperatures can wreak havoc on your complexion… but there are ways to limit the damage.
Breakouts, dryness, dehydration and dullness… your skin might be familiar with these symptoms during the Holy Month.
Fasting during daylight hours mixed with summer temperatures can leave your visage looking a little less healthy than usual, but there are a few things you can do to tackle the adverse effects.
We’ve rounded up a few of the best tips below to help you take care of your skin in the coming weeks.
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Know any other helpful tidbits to battle dehydration and pimples? Share them in the comments below!
Drink as much water as (and when) you can
While your water intake will be limited during fasting hours, make sure to keep well hydrated overnight.
“Drink no less than eight cups (or more) per day,” says Dr Mohamed Mokhtar, the medical and scientific affairs manager at LEO Pharma GCC.
And stick to the water outside of fasting hours too, Dr Mokhtar says, steering clear of other fluids.
“Limit the intake of caffeine such as soda, coffee, and tea. These can absorb minerals and fluids for your body and it can lead to dry skin.”
Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise
To counteract potentially dehydrated skin, make sure to lather on the moisturiser at least twice a day (or more, depending on how parched your face and body feels).
Pick a moisturiser or serum rich in hyaluronic acid for an extra kick – this bad boy can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, so can help your skin better retain moisture.
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(We’ve had great success with products from Paula’s Choice, but most brands will do a serum or moisturiser featuring the stuff).
It’s recommended you keep a facial mist (rosewater is a great option) on hand as this will help cool off the skin and provide necessary hydration throughout the day.
Also make sure you’re applying SPF to counteract those harsh UVA/UVB rays. Check out our list of some tried-and-tested options that didn’t make us break out.
And don’t forget those eyes
Make sure to moisturise around your peepers – “the lack of sleep during the Holy Month could increase the appearance of dark circles,” says Dr Mokhtar.
We’ve also been told by several Dubai-based facialists that the eyes are the first place to show signs of dehydration, so use a rich eye cream to help beat fine lines and dryness.
Be careful with what you eat
During iftar and suhoor, it can be tempting to just reach for anything and everything – but plenty of foods can negatively impact your complexion.
Steer clear of too much salt and sugar, and instead plump for plenty of veggies and nuts.
“Almonds and cashews are rich in fibres and fatty acids, which will help rejuvenate your skin,” says Dr Mokhtar.
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Bedouin tea, nuts and dried fruit
“Carrots are amazing for clearing breakouts, and tomatoes can help eliminate skin-ageing free radicals caused by ultraviolet rays. Just cook them down and they will do wonders for your skin.”
Carrots, broccoli, lettuce and spinach also contain vital vitamins and minerals that your skin needs, while fruits such as strawberries and blueberries contain skin-enhancing antioxidants.
Dates are a great source of vitamin A, iron, potassium, magnesium and calcium, while dried apricots can help to boost the brightness of your skin.
Avoid heavy make-up
Heavy-duty foundations and powders can clog the pores – so paired with heat and dehydration, breakouts can be more likely than normal. Opt for oil-free formulas and lighter-coverage BB and CC creams to let your skin breathe.
Still got dull or congested skin? Well, plenty of spas around the UAE are offering Ramadan deals, so now might be the time to treat yourself to a facial…
Images: Getty
