Skincare Routine© Pexels

This Is What Your Skincare Routine Should Look Like During Diwali

Salva Mubarak
Senior Features Writer

Diwali means parties and dressing up and that, in turn, means your skin is put through the wringer from inside to out. The festive season can be taxing on the skin, especially with the over-indulgence of rich foods and sweets during the celebrations and the extensive use of make-up to look Instagram-ready at all times.

Bangalore-based dermatologist Dr. Soma Sarkar believes that the festive season requires you to be extra strict with your skincare routine. “If you have acne, it can get aggravated during the festive season because we tend to indulge in a lot of sweets, or even because our sleeping patterns get disrupted,” she says, “Your skin can look dehydrated and dull because of all the late-night parties where you tend to eat and drink indiscriminately. There’s also a lot of smog outside because of all the crackers and lights and that doesn’t help.”

The doctor reveals that this is the time when cases of eczema, allergies, and other skin-related issues flare up dramatically. So we asked the good doctor to share the skincare tips that we can follow to help our skin breathe and glow this Diwali. Be prepared to take copious notes!

skincare tips©Pexels

Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate

One of the most obvious, yet overlooked, skincare tips to ingrain in your brain is the importance of hydration, both internally and externally. Dr. Sarkar says that, while your primary skincare routine can remain the same, you need to pay special attention to moisturising. She recommends going for an overnight hydrating mask to amp up the hydration levels. Aside from this, she cautions against skipping out on drinking lots of water.

Add antioxidant serums

To combat dullness and effects of smog during the season, Dr. Sarkar recommends adding an antioxidant serum to your routine, like a Vitamin C serum, in case you haven’t been using it already.

Pay attention to what you eat

No matter how many treatments and products you use for your skin, what you put inside your body can undo all your hard work. “Be mindful of what you’re eating and drinking at parties or at home during the festivities. Stick to natural foods and fresh juices,” she says, adding that even though it’s a tall order, avoid too many sweets.

Don’t over exfoliate

While exfoliating is a great way to unclog your pores and deep cleanse the skin, the dermatologist advises against going too hard on scrubbing your face. If you have to exfoliate, make sure to follow it up with a soothing moisturiser.

Remove make-up before going to sleep

“No matter how tired or sleepy you are, do not go to bed with make-up on,” asserts Dr. Sarkar. This is the worst thing you can do to your skin, especially during a time when you’d be wearing heavy make-up frequently. “Avoid cream-based make-up, instead opt for mineral make-up and double-cleanse your face before going to sleep.” Not doing it is an invitation for breakouts and wrinkles around the eyes.

And there you have it. You can thank us later!