It's no secret that observing Ramadan comes with its fair share of challenges, whether they're physical or mental. But as I – along with my fellow Muslim beauty journalists – have come to realise, our skin is inevitably affected, too.
You can't expect that abstaining from any drink or food from sunrise to sunset for a whole month won't take its toll on our largest organ. From experiencing a dip in our energy levels as a result of irregular sleeping patterns to feeling dehydrated throughout the day, it's only natural that our skin becomes a tad more dull and parched. Not to mention, the resurgence of under-eye puffiness and dark circles.
With this in mind, curating the right skincare routine that puts an emphasis on the right ingredients will be of the utmost importance between now and March 30th – regardless of your skin type. Not only will it help you maintain a healthy skin barrier to keep that moisture locked in, but it can also end up being quite therapeutic too, helping you feel more focused and grounded while you're observing.
The best part is that it doesn't have to be as complicated as you'd think, and you definitely don't have to revamp your whole routine just for the duration of Ramadan. Often, it's just a case of simplifying the steps, prioritising long-lasting hydration and not overdoing it with actives.
To help you come up with the right Ramadan skincare regimen, I quizzed my Muslim friends within the beauty industry to share the ultimate skincare do's and don'ts, so that your skin doesn't stay parched and neglected and you can celebrate Eid looking as glowy as ever. Enjoy.
Best Ramadan skincare buys at a glance:
- Best moisturiser: Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream, £25.99
- Best night cream: Rhode Barrier Restore Cream, £32
- Best lip balm: Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Gloss Balm, £24
- Best toner: Beauty of Joseon Glow Replenishing Rice Milk Toner, £15.50
- Best face mask: Dr. Jart+ Cryo Rubber Firming Mask, £16.36
- Best serum: SkinCeuticals H.A. Intesifier Serum, £120
- Best SPF: E45 Sun Face Cream for Sensitive Skin, £12.99
- Best face mist: Byoma Balancing Face Mist, £11.99
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What are some of the best skincare ingredients to use during Ramadan?
While every skincare routine will depend on your personal preferences and your individual skin concerns, trust us when we tell you that every skin type will benefit from hydration and strengthening your moisture barrier. Below, you'll find a handy breakdown of all the ingredients worth implementing as part of your Ramadan skincare regimen.
- Ceramides: As research demonstrates, these heroes are proven to help with barrier repair, while also preventing moisture loss, protecting it from environmental aggressors and reducing your skin's sensitivity. Shop the best ceramide serums our team loves.
- Hyaluronic acid: A must-have humectant found in practically every skincare product you can think of (hyaluronic acid serums, moisturisers and toners), hyaluronic acid helps attracts and retain moisture, resulting in plump and dewy skin.
- Centella asiatica: A commonly used ingredient in Korean skincare, centella asiatica extract (otherwise known as “cica”) is known for its soothing and antioxidant benefits.
- Glycerin: Similar to hyaluronic acid, glycerin also a humectant that helps attract and lock in moisture, resulting lasting hydration.
- Niacinamide: Praised for its brightening properties, niacinamide helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and minimise the appearance of dark spots. Plus, recent research also suggests that niacinamide also helps support your skin barrier. Discover the best niacinamide serums our team adores, here.
Ramadan is a time for self-care, and that's exactly how I view my beauty routine.
Ahead, the best Ramadan skincare products, as recommended by 5 beauty journalists.
Denise Primbet
- DO: Focus on barrier repair, use hydrating serums, focus on richer formulas for lasting hydration.
- DON'T: Overindulge in actives, use moisture-stripping cleansers.
When it comes to skincare, I've always been an advocate for a “less-is-more” type of approach. As someone who tests beauty products for a living, I've switched up my skincare routine far more than I would've liked, and my sensitive-to-dry skin has never thanked me for it. During Ramadan, I try to follow a simple yet effective skincare routine, often opting for barrier-strengthening and hydrating products in favour of irritation-inducing actives. Think: rich moisturisers full of ceramides, hydrating serums (the SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier is my go-to), brightening eye creams (hi, Ole Henriksen Banana Bright eye cream) and, of course, my trusty face sunscreen.
I also aim to steer clear of over-using face exfoliants or actives for the duration of Ramadan, simply because when my skin is dehydrated, I find that it becomes more prone to purging and irritation. For overnight repair, I can never go wrong with the Rhode Barrier Restore Cream, which is my favourite night cream as of late. As for my day-time routine, I recommend going for the Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream, which is a K-beauty bestseller that's great for that extra boost of hydration. Makeup-wise, I tend to reach for skin-loving hybrid formulas, including my newly found obsession – the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Gel Tint. Oh, and if you, like me, also happen to live in a colder climate during Ramadan, a nourishing body cream (my top-pick is the Joonbyrd Little Love body lotion) is a must.
Zeynab Mohamed
- DO: Use the best LED face mask you can, focus on gentle exfoliation, use facial massage tools for lymphatic drainage to keep puffiness at bay.
- DON’T: Overhaul your complete skincare.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the month of Ramadan literally turns your daily routine on its head, and somehow it all shows on your face. As you can imagine, your skincare quickly becomes a priority. Between the late nights and early mornings and the drastic changes to your diet, I am battling with breakouts, dark circles and lacklustre skin. But more than just dealing with what is happening on the surface of my skin, my skincare routine presents the opportunity to escape and a moment of calm. During the month, it becomes a form of self-care.
The days can be overwhelming and busy, and setting aside time to do my skincare, lets me focus on looking after myself to recalibrate and reconnect with what is important in life. It’s easy at the beginning of the month to completely revamp your skincare routine, adding more products and tools in a bid to maintain healthy skin. But, I also find that the practice of Ramadan helps my skincare game. It’s my annual reassessment of my routine, deciding on the products that I really need and the ones I can ditch from my routine.
Zeynab's top skincare picks:
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Humeara Mohamed
- DO: Focus on hydration with nourishing and moisturising formulas, keep your hands moisturised to extend the life of your henna, use brightening under-eye formulas.
- DON’T: Forget to care for the skin on your body.
I have such dry skin, with patches of eczema popping up everywhere, even though I’m also acne-prone. So, during Ramadan – whilst I’m starving my body of water and stripping it of its natural oils during Wudhu multiple times a day – my skin shrivels up. Barrier support and hydration is my best friend this month – everything else (read: BHAs, AHAs, etc.) can wait.
I usually love to use body oils for hydration but – on the advice of Pavan Dhanjal, founder of Pavan Beauty – I avoid getting oil on my hands after henna application to make it last as long as possible. When it comes to my hair routine, oils are a must-have. I aslo get into eye care during Ramadan; my dark circles look so much worse with all the fasting and late nights, so a good under-eye cream is key for me.
Humeara's top skincare picks:
Nassima Iggoute
- DO: Focus on layering ceramide-filled products, use a hydrating mist as a pick-me-up throughout the day, always remember to keep your lip balm close.
- DON'T: Experiment with different routines.
Ramadan is the time to refuel and reset my mind, body and soul but it’s also a time to reflect and focus on my wellbeing. Self-care is an important part of that and for me, my skincare time is precious, especially with all of the changes you see as a result of fasting. My routine is adapted to cater to more dry and dehydrated skin, and allows my skin to take a break from actives and heavy makeup. Instead, I focus on layering, hydrating and nourishing my skin carefully selecting products that have beneficial skin ingredients for my skin health.
Nassima's top skincare picks:
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Sidra Imtiaz
- DO: Enjoy the process, layer your hydration, look for ceramides.
- DON'T: Forget to moisturise your body, skip eye cream, over-exfoliate.
Curating my Ramadan skincare is an important part of my beauty routine. As someone who changes up my products regularly, I know that what my skin needs this month is different to the rest of the year, and I love using these thirty days to treat my skin and indulge in richer, thicker formulas. I also love the mindfulness that comes from a routine – Ramadan is my favourite time of the year to slow down, focusing on spiritual and mental growth.
My routine doesn’t change up heavily morning to evening in Ramadan, other than the addition of SPF. I tend to use a gentle cream cleanser, followed by a spritz of a hydrating facial mist. Whilst my face is still damp, I’ll use an essence or milky toner and then finish off with a conditioning moisturiser. As I do suffer with breakouts, every few nights I’ll still use a stronger acid based treatment to target any congestion – but I’ll ensure to sandwich it in between a barrier repairing moisturiser. I also get extremely dry skin on my body which can definitely get worse in Ramadan, so I pack on the body oil post-shower and keep extra lotion in my bag too.
Sidra's top skincare picks:
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For more makeup, skincare, haircare and wellness content from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Instagram @deniseprimbet.
