During the holy month of Ramadan, our routine, diet and food consumption change drastically. This sudden change in your dietary habits, combined with the long period of daily fasting and the summer heat can have a detrimental effect on your skin. Here are some top tips to consider during the fasting period:
1) SUPPLY YOUR BODY WITH ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS
Vitamin A – One of the most important vitamins for healthy skin. It prevents dry skin and dehydration in addition to giving your skin a smooth, soft texture. Carrots are the richest source of vitamin A, which is also available in apricots, spinach and green leafy vegetables. Vitamin A can be found in spinach, mouloukhieh stew and tabbouleh or rocca salad.
Vitamin B – Vitamin B deficiency can lead to skin dehydration, early appearance of wrinkles and premature ageing. Important sources of B vitamins are meat, legumes and whole grains. Include lean meat, grilled chicken and fish in your main meal, as they are the richest sources. Use whole grains by replacing white bread with whole wheat bread, and do not forget to add lentil soup and beans stew to your menu list at Iftar.
Vitamin C – This vitamin plays an important role in maintaining a healthy glow. Vitamin C can be found in rich fruit juices include orange, strawberries and melon juice.
Vitamin E – This is an essential vitamin to help with anti-ageing by minimising the appearance of wrinkles and enhancing cell regeneration. Vitamin E is found in nuts and vegetable oils.
Extra antioxidants – In addition to antioxidants (vitamins C and E), selenium and zinc play important roles in protecting skin cells and maintaining healthy skin. Selenium and zinc are mainly found in meat and seafood. Enrich your iftar with delicious meats, fish and shellfish dishes.
Omega-3 fatty acids – These fats help skin preservation and keep you looking healthy and radiant. These are essential fatty acids. The body cannot synthesise them so it’s necessary to obtain them from food, mainly fish. Eat fish twice a week during your Iftar, but make sure you grill the fish rather than fry it.
2) SKIN ROUTINE
Exfoliate skin – The idea is to remove dead skin caused by the lack of water intake, restore the skin’s natural mineral levels and balance the skin’s oil production. First step is to exfoliate skin. Use scrubs on the face and body or go for a treatment. Try Detoxifying Lime & Ginger Salt Scrub at Bloom Aesthetic and Laser Clinic. It will remove dead skin and smooth out uneven skin tone. It also provides relief from stress and neutralises and eliminates toxic metabolites leaving skin silky, smooth and pure.
Cleanse, tone & moisturise – Wash your face as much as you can with cold water. Cleanse, tone and moisturise skin. The idea is to remove dead skin caused by the lack of water intake, restore the skin’s natural mineral levels and balance its oil production. You should always keep a rose water bottle or spray in your refrigerator and spray it on your face as much as you can.
Facials – Going for a facial is a great way to clean skin thoroughly and add the moisture it needs. Try HydraFacial at Bloom Aesthetic and Laser Clinic. After a quick skin assessment, the facial begins with cleansing and exfoliating to remove impurities. An acid peel is applied to loosen dirt and debris from the pores without any irritation. Deep rooted dirt is then extracted from the skin. A mask soaked in nutrient rich serum is applied to close pores. While the cloth mask is on, LED red light therapy is given for six minutes to help lighten pigmentation and stimulate collagen. The LED blue light therapy is also given to kill acne causing bacteria. The final step of the treatment involves the application of antioxidants and sunscreen.
Eye care – Many of us neglect the area around the eyes and that’s when dark circles appear. In order to enjoy flawless complexion make sure to moisturise the area around your eyes by resting cool tea bags on it three times per week, not to mention sleeping well and applying eye creams.
Sunscreen protection – Make sure to apply a sufficient amount of sunscreen if you’re running errands. Also you might need to re-apply frequently if you’re exposed to the sun for a long period.
3) HYDRATE
Drink – Make sure to drink no less than eight cups of water or during the period between iftar and suhur.
Caffeine – Limit your intake of caffeine as they can easily absorb minerals and fluids from your body, which will leave your skin dry.
4) MASSAGE
Lymphatic drainage massage – The proper functioning of the lymphatic system is critical to our body’s ability to drain fluids, detoxify, regenerate tissues, filter out toxins and foreign substances, and maintain a healthy immune system.
Detoxifying deep tissue massage – Try this at Bloom Aesthetic and Laser Clinic. The massage is customised to an individual’s personal needs. There are various blended essential oils which tailor the treatment to the results you want. The whole body is vigorously worked out in order, usually starting with the back. The therapist uses techniques with her arms and elbows and hands, in a rhythmic motion, making it a unique full body massage.
