The Holy month of Ramadan is finally here! During the fasting month, our body and skin go through many changes and for this reason you need to take extra care of your skin.

Kick the caffeine.

The trick to taking care of your skin in Ramadan is to avoid certain foods and drinks.

Caffeine and sodas are known to suck out the minerals in the body, which has a negative effect on your skin so if you want healthy and radiant skin, it's a good time to cut back on the caffeine.

Sorry, coffee lovers!

Eat food that makes your skin glow.

During your daily Suhoor and Iftar (breaking fast) ensure you opt for vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, lettuce and spinach as they contain the vital vitamins and minerals that your skin needs. The same goes for nuts and fruits such as strawberries and blueberries, which contain skin-enhancing antioxidants.

Dates are a great source of vitamin A, iron, potassium, magnesium and calcium while dried apricots can help to boost the brightness of your skin.

Avoid the sugar

The adverse effects of sugar on our bodies are endless, but the same goes for skin, too. It is seriously ageing, causes breakouts, weakens the immune system, causes the breakdown of collagen and elastin that leads to saggy skin and wrinkles – you get the gist.

During Ramadan, we often overeat sugar thanks to all the delightful sweets and food on the table during iftar and suhoor.

Sugar can weaken our immune system, and our bodies aren't as effective at fighting off bacteria when our immune systems are suppressed. This can lead to the cause of acne and other inflammatory skin conditions.

Drink more water

We all know about the health and beauty benefits of water, but now's the time to maximize its skin-saving powers.

Load up on water and plenty of superfoods, so that you can get the maximum amount of vitamins and minerals into your body. This will give your skin the best possible chance to survive the fasting period without compromising too much on how it looks.

Your skin and you will become dehydrated, and water helps to plump up your skin, so you can imagine what dehydration does to it!

When you don't drink enough water, the collagen begins to crack and bind together, causing fine lines and wrinkles to become more noticeable. We rely on water to keep our insides sufficiently hydrated, too. So when you ditch it, expect your mouth, skin, and everything else to feel drier than usual.

Moisturise day and night.

Moisturising your skin during Ramadan is extremely important. You should make sure that you're applying a hydrating facial cream and body lotion after showering/bathing and before bed. If you're heading out, try to seek shade where possible and opt for a day cream that contains SPF to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

It's also recommended you keep a facial mist (rosewater is a great option) on hand as this will help cool off the skin and provide necessary hydration throughout the day. Click here to read about Natugee Anti-Aging Power Moisturizer.

Avoid heavy makeup

Avoid wearing a lot of makeup during the day when you're fasting such as thick foundations and concealers. The combination of heat, dehydration and heavy make-up can sadly cause breakouts. Instead, opt for products that are light and moisturising such as BB creams and lip balms with added SPF.

Treat your skin

Use a face mask once or twice a week. Also, make sure to exfoliate regularly; depending on your skin type, you can exfoliate your face up to twice a week. This helps clear clogged pores, and your skin feels smoother and looks more radiant.

Exfoliating regularly also stimulates blood circulation in your face and great against water retention and puffiness, especially in the morning. Rinsing your face with cold water after exfoliating helps close the pores.

Catch up on Sleeps

During Ramadan your sleeping schedule is likely to be disrupted enough as it is, waking up early to eat before sunrise and staying up late to fill up on calories and nutrients you’ve missed out on during the day.

Knowing this you should make a conscious effort to get in as much sleep as possible. Not getting enough sleep can contribute to lower energy and worsen your concentration. It is during sleep that growth hormones are released that repair the skin and muscle tissue.

Try these tips and see if there are any changes for your skin.
Ramadan Kareem to you all!

Skin regards to all.

Rena Rifaee. :)