Why my beauty routine is so important to me during Ramadan

This week marks the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, during which millions of Muslims around the world fast from sunrise to sunset while abstaining from eating food and drinking liquids (including water). It is a time to focus on family values, charity, self-reflection, spiritual growth and, most importantly, faith. By fasting, we have the opportunity to sympathise with those less fortunate who don’t have easy access to food and water. And that alone has the power to put the world into a whole different perspective, allowing us to cherish our loved ones and be thankful for what we have that much more. 

2023 has been especially important to me for many reasons, but most importantly, because it also marks my first time fasting during Ramadan. Growing up in Kazakhstan, which is a predominantly Muslim country, I’ve watched my parents and grandparents fast each year, but it wasn’t until recently that I reconnected with my faith and heritage to truly understand the deeper meaning behind Ramadan. 

Having the chance to focus on what really matters most and practise healthier habits, such as avoiding arguments, limiting your exposure to entertainment and abstaining from sexual relations can have a surprisingly enlightening and awakening effect that I believe is much needed in the chaotic world that we live in. And for me, being able to embark on this journey means that even though my entire family is on the other side of the globe, I get to feel closer to them in spirit, and developing that sense of community is what Ramadan is all about.

As I’m writing this, it’s only been about 24 hours since my first Suhoor, which is the first meal of the day just before sunrise, and about 10 hours since my first Iftar (the evening meal). I won’t lie, going a full 14 hours without water has been challenging to say the least. The days do seem a lot longer than normal, but what’s helped me most is not only going about my normal routine such as taking walks, working and doing chores, but also focusing on doing things that are therapeutic to me, such as my beauty routine.

Skincare

Given the significant change to our sleeping and eating habits during Ramadan, our skin (which is our largest organ) may very well be affected too, so it’s only natural that you might want to give it some extra love. Going into Ramadan, I had a few concerns as to how well my dry and sensitive skin would cope with me not drinking water, so naturally, I made sure to have some of the most nourishing and hydrating skincare products at the ready. Plus, there’s no denying that the process of applying skincare can be extremely therapeutic and calming, and I’ve found that between Suhoor and the start of my working day, there’s no better pastime than slathering my face with skincare. Having said that, Ramadan is all about taking a step back from our usual routines, so when it comes to beauty, I like to keep it simple yet effective, while mainly focusing on making sure that my skin retains as much moisture as possible throughout the long day ahead.