As the month of Ramadan comes to a close, Muslims around the world are getting ready to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Growing up, the important religious date marked a day filled with family time, gift exchanges and a towering plate of briyanni. It was also a day to dress up, to look and feel our best.

The days leading up to Eid involved a trip to Southall to buy a new salwaar kameez, as well as adorning our hands with henna. And as I got older, that involved putting on some extra make-up and styling my hair as we got ready to mark a special occasion.

This Eid will no doubt see me doing the same before a day with family, so I asked seven Muslim women about what the day means to them, the beauty rituals they’ll be following and how they achieve it.

What does celebrating Eid look like to you?

“As a child, I was only allowed to wear make-up on Eid or weddings, so for me, Eid has always been about the glam. As I’ve got older, the focus has shifted to spending quality time with loved ones and making beautiful memories.”

What beauty ritual do you follow to feel your best on the day?

“Growing up, my cousins and I would always get together the night before Eid to do our waxing, henna, face masks and nails all together. As a mum, I don’t have the luxury of getting together with them in the same way any more, but I still love keeping this ritual for myself. I’ll take an ‘everything shower’, use all the best-smelling products and make sure I do a cleansing mask and a hydrating mask, followed by a full skincare routine the next morning.”

What products do you rely on for this Eid beauty ritual?

“If I’m feeling indulgent, I’ll use the Diptyque Eau Rose Shower Foam, £46. I don’t love the fragrance as much, but the body products smell so amazing. I also love the Molton Brown Intense Repairing Hair Mask with Fennel, £30, for a super soft and gorgeous smelling finish to my hair. If I’m having my friends and sisters over, I’ll stock up on the Garnier sheet masks. There are so many varying options for all skin types that are really affordable and do such a good job, so it’s a nice way to spend quality time together while doing a bit of self-care before a busy day.”

You can find Sebina on Instagram @sebinaah.

What does celebrating Eid look like to you?

“As a single mum, Eid can be a day of mixed emotions, but my priority is always making it special for my son. I stay up late decorating the home the night before, so he wakes up to a festive atmosphere and we start the day dressing in our best, wearing fragrance and exchanging a morning gift. After he goes to his father in the morning and Eid prayers are over, I check in with other single mum friends as this time can feel bittersweet. Then I indulge in some make-up therapy before picking up my son and heading to family to celebrate and catch up with those we don’t get to see regularly.”

What beauty ritual do you follow to feel your best on the day?

“Eid beauty prep starts the night before. Eid isn’t Eid for me without adorning my hands with henna, fragrancing the home with bakhoor, incense and candles, and indulging in skincare for glowing skin on Eid.

“On Eid morning, after the whirlwind of preparations and prayers, I take a moment for myself. Make-up has always been a form of therapy for me, so I love creating a look that feels special. My go-to in my late 30s these days is fresh and glowing skin, a winged liner (often in a colour that complements my outfit), a hint of sparkle or glitter (to make it festive) and a brown lip combo that lasts through the day’s feasting.”

What products do you rely on for this Eid beauty ritual?

“For skin prep, I focus on hydration and de-puffing with Pixi’s DetoxifEye Serum, £22. For make-up, I’ve been exploring indie brands recently and love Hildun’s Silk to Set Kajal Liner, £16, for a soft or hard wing.

“Of course, no Eid is complete without fragrance, particularly Oud as it’s part of Islamic tradition. My signature Eid fragrance was Viktor & Rolf Invisible Oud for years, but recently I’ve been adding a spritz of Kayali Vanilla Royale Sugared Patchouli 64 EDP Intense, £79, for a warmer, sweeter scent.”

You can find Safiyah on Instagram @safiyahtasneem.

What does celebrating Eid look like to you?

“I don’t have family in the city, but I am lucky to have so many friends that I have become close to; I’ve spent much of my Ramadan with them, and Eid is no different. We usually go and pray together, then everyone goes off to do their family commitments. I end up house-hopping and see different people, ending up at the same house every year for Eid quizzes until the early hours of the morning.”

What beauty ritual do you follow to feel your best on the day?

“Eid is the perfect time to get dressed up and wear a full face of make-up. I love it! I don’t do ‘night out’ make-up, but I add that extra bit of dew and a sunkissed feeling to bring myself back to life after all the late nights during Ramadan.”

What products do you rely on for this Eid beauty ritual?

“I have been loving Saie products recently and can’t go without the Glowy Super Gel, £22, before I put make-up on, and the Dew Blush, £20, lasts all day. Ilia is another underrated brand; its Skin Rewind Complexion Stick, £40 is my perfect colour match. I also apply Glossier Futuredew, £30, to my temples for an extra healthy gloss and the brand’s beloved Bow Brow, £15.40. 

You can find Basma on Instagram @basmakhalifa.

What does celebrating Eid look like to you?

“For me, Eid is a time of gratitude, joy, and connection. It marks the end of Ramadan and is all about spending quality time with family and friends. The whole family gets together, enjoys delicious food (my family makes the best Kashmiri daal, it’s my favourite dish), plays games, and just enjoys each other’s company. All in all, it’s also a time for reflection and gratitude, as well as appreciating the sense of community and spiritual growth we’ve experienced during Ramadan.”

What beauty ritual do you follow to feel your best on the day?

“On Eid, I like to treat myself to a beauty ritual that makes me feel confident and radiant. Skincare prep is important; pimple patches the night before are essential, and I always use a Vitamin E hydrating spray. I make sure my skin is pampered so my makeup sits perfectly.

“As for my hair, I don’t usually need to do much with it. Alhamdulillah, I’m blessed with thick, curly/wavy hair, I just give it a shake, and voila. Sometimes, I’ll slick it back with a little hairspray, depending on how I’m feeling. I’d like to think I’m always the first one ready in my family, though my mum might argue otherwise!”

What products do you rely on for this Eid beauty ritual?

“I’m absolutely obsessed with anything from Charlotte Tilbury. I feel like it’s the perfect makeup for my skin, from the blush to the lip liners, lipsticks, and their Airbrush Flawless Setting spray, it’s the ultimate goldmine! I need an unlimited supply of it. I also love Huda Beauty’s Easy Bake Powder, £34, too.”

You can find Arooj on Instagram @its.arooj.

What does celebrating Eid look like to you?

“Eid for me is definitely food and family focused. The day starts off with morning Eid prayers, followed by returning home or perhaps even going out with the family for a lovely breakfast or brunch. This year will be different as I’m married and will be spending Eid in Saudi Arabia with my husband, so I’ll have to keep you posted on that.”

What beauty ritual do you follow to feel your best on the day?

“I definitely use Eid as an opportunity to indulge in some much-needed self-care the night before. Traditionally, we perform a ‘ghusl’, which is a ritual purification bath that includes washing your body and hair. I do a more in-depth skincare routine, as my day-to-day one is pretty simple, as well as a manicure and pedicure. After prayers at the mosque, I go for a full glam make-up look to match my outfit.”

What products do you rely on for this Eid beauty ritual?

My go-to skincare is Dr Sam’s, but I use homemade face masks and traditional Moroccan black soap and clay masks for the body. I love The Body Shop’s body scrubs, so I usually add that to the routine.

You can find Mariah on Instagram @mariahidrissi.

What does celebrating Eid look like to you?

“Eid is usually very family-oriented and very food-focused. We don’t have a lot of family here in the UK, but we always see my aunt and my cousins for a big dinner out at a new local restaurant in Sheffield. The daytime is usually pretty chill, with a lot of pottering around and maybe going for a walk in the Peak District and grabbing a coffee with my siblings.”

What beauty ritual do you follow to feel your best on the day?

“The month of Ramadan sees my beauty rituals take a bit of a backseat. I don’t socialise a lot and spend the majority of time working from home, so I don’t always have the motivation to keep up with the haircare for my curly hair. It mostly sits in a bun for 30 days! But for Eid, I like to spend my morning doing a proper hair wash and then making the effort to make my curls look the best they can be, which includes patiently diffusing my hair…”

What products do you rely on for this Eid beauty ritual?

“My haircare products are pretty basic, but I’ve been using the Cantu Curl Activator Cream, £6.80, for years now. I’ve tried a couple of other curl creams, but I’ve always found them to be too heavy or too sticky. Cantu is brilliant and gives my curls a good shape and shine.”

You can find Shahed on Instagram @shahedezaydi.

What does celebrating Eid look like to you?

“Celebrating Eid is a joyful and meaningful occasion. It’s a time for families and communities to come together, share meals and offer prayers. Our morning often begins with a special Eid prayer, followed by gift exchanging for my two daughters over breakfast. The day is filled with the hustle and bustle of family at my mother’s house, which is our hub. The atmosphere is festive, with people wearing new or special clothes, often in bright, vibrant colours, and the day is filled with food, laughter and a sense of gratitude and reflection on the spiritual journey of Ramadan.”

What beauty ritual do you follow to feel your best on the day?

“It’s a tradition where my husband will buy me a new outfit for Eid, most likely a beautiful abaya. Nothing makes me feel more beautiful than a new abaya on Eid day. The modesty of the outfit is so elegant and something I absolutely love wearing on special occasions. Make-up-wise, it has to be full glam. I’m either not wearing any make-up or I do a full face; there’s no in between with me. I do my make-up a bit heavier than I usually would, which includes lashes, strong contour and lots of blush.

I’ve got into the habit of really focusing on self-care and things that will better my skin over Ramadan, because of the lack of hydration. So, daily, I’m adding lots of hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to my routine. Same goes for my haircare routine; during Ramadan, you’ll often find me with oil in my hair.”

What products do you rely on for this Eid beauty ritual?

“Haus Lab Color Fuse Powder Blush in Pomelo Peach, £28, is my go-to for make-up at the moment. It’s the most gorgeous, complementary shade for olive and warm-toned skin, and it instantly brightens up my face. It will be a long day, so I’ll definitely need something to hold my make-up all day. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray, £32, is the most budge-proof by far.

My favourite part of my beauty ritual is choosing the fragrance I’ll wear on Eid. Every year I try to wear a special fragrance that I wouldn’t wear all year round, just to create special memories with that scent. This year it will be Guerlain’s Pêche Mirage Eau de Parfum, £295.

You can find Fahreen on Instagram @fahreenlaskar.

Images: Sebina Hussain; Safiyah Tasneem; Basma Khalifa; Arooj Aftab; Mariah Idrissi; Shahed Ezaydi; Fahreen Laskar; courtesy of brands