Ramadan is arguably the biggest month of the Islamic calendar. For Muslims, it’s a month of reflective rituals and gratitude, an act of coming back to oneself. I liken it to a state of meditation – a 30-day meditation – of focused clarity without losing touch (I would like to add here that I am no meditation expert – I’ve only dabbled in the practice – but I’m going with it).

For me, Ramadan presents itself as an opportunity to get my priorities straight. You know, answer the big questions: who am I? What is the purpose of life? What is it to be a good person? It can get pretty deep, but it becomes the transitional retreat that I didn’t know I needed.

Alongside this journey, my skin goes on one, too. Skin can be volatile. It changes with the seasons, it changes with our diet, it changes depending on the air quality – the list goes on and on. So, it only makes sense that it changes with Ramadan.

Navigating our daily skincare is a minefield, but a Ramadan skincare routine is a whole new ball game. Understanding how your skin changes during Ramadan is paramount. But it isn’t an easy task when the mainstream skincare narrative doesn’t talk to the millions of Muslim individuals who are currently fasting and looking to give their skin a much-needed refresh and revival.

Fasting not only comes with spiritual benefits, but it has physical and mental benefits, too. Karen Lee Thompson, founder of skincare brand Wo, says fasting can help to “reduce inflammation, improve overall fitness and boost cognitive performance”. However, the fast observed in the month of Ramadan includes inhibiting the consumption of water.

“During fasting, you can experience short-term dehydration, which leads to skin dehydration,” explains Thompson. It’s hard enough to keep your skin hydrated outside of Ramadan, let alone with no water to drink. The key lies in a combative and preventive approach. First up, powerhouse ingredients such as hyaluronic acid are what you’re looking for. Hyaluronic acid works to retain as much water in the skin as possible.

To compensate, your skin can produce extra oil as a result of dehydration. “Fasting can increase the sebum level in the skin and, in turn, make your skin oilier,” explains Dr Yannis Alexandrides, dermatologist and founder of 111Skin.

I can confirm this is certainly a thing. My typically dry skin has joined the oily skin camp. Dr Alexandrides recommends homing in on the basic rituals of your skincare routine, starting with cleansing: “It’s important to cleanse twice a day to ensure that you remove dirt, impurities and dead skin cells from your pores.”

It’s times like these when you need a hard-working cleanser, so look for a formula with active ingredients that will take the burden off your load. Scout out gentle exfoliating cleansers that make use of AHAs and BHAs, as these will do the majority of the work for you.

With increased sebum and oiliness come blemishes. Exhibit A: my forehead.

“As your body goes through a detoxification process, the skin might flare up, which causes blemishes or skin sensitivity,” explains Thompson. This is my cue to strip back my routine to the very basics: cleanse, moisturise and SPF.

As well as the disruption to a normal day of food consumption, there is a heavy focus on nightly prayer. For many Muslims, this is the opportunity for a night of contemplation, as well as getting up to get your last fill of food and water just before dawn breaks.

By now, we can all acknowledge sleep is to good skin like water is to a thriving house plant. Lack of sleep manifests on your face: the dark circles, lacklustre complexion and puffiness are a dead giveaway. 

“Ensuring the use of a product containing ingredients such as vitamin C will brighten and promote collagen in the skin,” says Dr Alexandrides.

As I go through this routine every year, I realise that the real beautification takes place over Ramadan. The precious 30 days see a betterment of my character, realignment of my priorities and strengthening of my expression of gratitude.

For Muslims, Ramadan is so much more than the abandonment of food and drink – it’s the warmth, compassion, sense of community and a return to a truer self. And while my skin has felt the impact, it’s something I look forward to every year.

Images: Getty; courtesy of brands