Holi, also known as the festival of colours, is a vibrant and joyful celebration that is widely celebrated in Nepal, India and some other parts of the world. However, with all the fun and excitement of playing with colours, it can turn out to be quite harsh on your skin. Therefore, it is crucial to take proper care of your skin before and after the festival to ensure that it remains healthy and glowing. And, to help you achieve that, here are some skincare tips for you to follow this Holi festival.
1. Apply oil or lotion
Apply coconut oil, almond oil, or a good quality lotion all over your body before stepping out to play Holi. This will create a barrier between your skin and the colours, making it easier to wash them off later. Moreover, oil or lotion can also help nourish your skin, preventing it from drying out due to its colours. If you do not apply oil or lotion to your skin, the colours can penetrate deep into your skin and cause itching, redness, and rashes.
However, if you do happen to forget to apply lotion, you can mix lemon juice with water or rose water and apply it to your skin after playing Holi to remove the colours. Lemon juice has natural bleaching properties that can help remove the colours from your skin.
Apply the oil on your hair as it can lead to hair damage too. If you do not cover your hair or apply oil to it, the colours can make your hair dry and brittle, leading to breakage and split ends.
2. Cover up
This perhaps is the most common element of skincare tips but is equally important. Cover as much of your skin as possible with clothes that cover your arms, legs, and face. Wear long sleeves, pants, and a hat or scarf to cover your face and hair. This will minimise the amount of colour that comes in contact with your skin.
Furthermore, wearing comfortable clothes that cover your body can also protect it from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Playing Holi can expose your skin to the sun’s harmful UV rays, leading to sunburn. If you do not cover up or apply sunscreen, you may experience redness, swelling, and pain.
3. Protect your eyes
Wear sunglasses or goggles to protect your eyes from getting colour in them. The colours used during Holi can be harmful to your eyes, as the colours can get into your eyes, leading to eye infections, redness, and irritation. It is important to take steps to protect them. It can also help protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
4. Use natural colours
Try to use natural colours made from flowers, vegetables, and herbs instead of synthetic colours, which can be harmful to your skin and cause skin irritation because they can contain harmful chemicals like lead, mercury, and copper sulfate, which can trigger allergic reactions. If you have sensitive skin, you may be more prone to allergic reactions.
You can also make your colours at home using natural ingredients like henna, turmeric, and beetroot. These natural colours are not only safe for your skin but also eco-friendly.
You can also make a paste of sandalwood powder and water or rose water and apply it to your face and body before playing Holi to protect your skin or after playing Holi to soothe your skin. If you happen to have irritation, you can mix turmeric with water or milk to form a paste and apply it to your face and body to ease skin infections and rashes.
5. Keep hydrated
This is perhaps the most unusual of skincare tips, but drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated and flush out toxins from your body, which can accumulate due to the harsh chemicals used during Holi. Make sure to drink enough water to keep your skin looking healthy and glowing. Moreover, drinking water can also help prevent dehydration caused by prolonged exposure to the sun.
6. Cleanse your skin
Use a mild cleanser to wash your face and body as soon as you finish playing Holi. Rinse thoroughly to remove all the colours from your skin. Cleansing your skin can help remove any residue left by the colours and prevent skin irritation.
Do not scrub your skin too hard as it may irritate. You can use gram flour as a natural exfoliator that can help remove dead skin cells and impurities from your skin.
7. Avoid chemical-based makeup
The next on the list of skincare tips is to avoid using chemical-based makeup as it may react with the colours and cause skin irritation. It is best to avoid using makeup altogether during Holi. If you must wear makeup, choose products that are safe for your skin and do not react with the colours.
If you happen to wear makeup though, use oil-based cleansers to remove makeup, dirt, and impurities from your skin effectively. You can also use coconut oil, olive oil, or almond oil. Simply apply the oil to your face and massage gently, then wipe it off with a damp cloth or cotton pad. You can use micellar water on a cotton pad to remove your makeup.
8. Moisturise
Apply a moisturiser or aloe vera gel to soothe and hydrate your skin after cleansing. This is particularly important after playing Holi as the colours can dry out your skin. Choose a moisturiser that is suitable for your skin type and apply it liberally. Moisturising your skin can also help restore its natural pH balance and prevent dryness and flakiness.
Coconut oil is a natural moisturiser that can help protect your skin and hair from damage. Just like the skin, you can also apply coconut oil to your hair before playing Holi to prevent dryness and breakage.
