Skincare Tips To Take You Through Ramadan And Beyond
Make sure to stay hydrated!
Dr. Lana Kashlan from Cosmesurge weighs in on the best ways to keep your skin glowing throughout Ramadan.
1. Keep your skin hydrated.
Your fluid intake directly affects both the pH and the hydration of the epidermis (the top layer of the skin) so it is important to make sure that during non-fasting hours we’re drinking as much water as possible. In the Middle East, the combination of a 13-hour fast and the summer heat can lead to the loss of both water and electrolytes. Dehydrated skin loses elasticity which makes fine lines and dark under eye circles appear more pronounced. During Ramadan, I recommend adding electrolyte supplements like Nuun Electrolytes to your post-iftar water to help restore sodium, potassium and magnesium levels. I also recommend increasing your use of daily moisturisers.
Nuun Electrolytes, SuperCare Pharmacies
2. Food can also help you stay hydrated.
Try to avoid salty foods because they tend to dehydrate the body. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, tuna and flaxseed oil, help retain skin’s moisture. Load up on foods that contain silica which can be found in water-rich vegetables, like cucumbers and bananas because they help improve skin hydration. Nuts are also a great option because they are rich in vitamin E which is a key ingredient in most moisturisers. It’s also a good idea to avoid too much caffeine because it dehydrate skin.
3. Give your skin some TLC during Ramadan.
During Ramadan, the biggest skin issues we see are dullness and dryness as a result of dehydration. I recommend using a vitamin C serum in the morning to brighten skin. I love Obagi C-Exfoliating Day Lotion because it has glycolic acid in addition to vitamin C so it gently exfoliates as well as brightens skin. Then I always apply sunscreen. At night I use a moisturiser packed with hyaluronic acid which is great for restoring hydration and plumping skin. For oily skin types, I usually recommend Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 gel or Skinmedica’s HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator because they’re super hydrating but still lightweight. For more dehydrated skin, I’m obsessed with Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Restore because it contains ceramides, lipids and fatty acids which really makes skin soft and smooth. I also recommend applying a hydrating mask once a week for an added boost of moisture. I really like Filorga’s Hydro Filler Mask and Rodial’s Dragon Blood Hyaluronic Mask.
4. A facial can give your skin that extra glow.
Hydrafacials are great for Ramadan. They’re incredibly relaxing and the combination of exfoliation and serum infusion gives the skin a beautiful glow to the skin without stripping away natural oils. I also love skin booster treatments like Juvederm Volite injections. Volite is a low concentration hyaluronic acid injectable but it doesn’t give volume like traditional HA fillers. Rather it is injected using a microdroplet technique into the superficial layers of the skin to improve hydration to the skin and make the skin look plumper. This treatment is a single session and people usually notice a glow in the week after the treatment. Results can last up to 6 months. In preparation for Eid celebrations, I love doing what I call a “baby Fraxel” laser treatment. I adjust the settings to give a very superficial treatment which minimizes the downtime and gives a gorgeous glow 4-5 days later.
All treatments can be booked at Cosmesurge with Dr. Lana Kashlan, +9714 447 1777.