The ultimate guide for pre and post-Holi Skincare

The shower of colors, long hours under the sun, and color-infused water pours team up and does quite the assault on your skin, if not taken care of. Holi - The festival of colors is around the corner, and gives just the right reason to light up your spirits. The arrival of the festival is marked by throwing kaleidoscopic powered dyes (Gulal) at each other, wishing each other by rubbing colors on faces, and streets thronged by people waiting to ambush you with water & more colors.

As much fun and Instagram-worthy as the festival is, Holi skincare is something that you should not miss. Prepping your skin before and after Holi is what you need to protect your skin from the wrath of the colors. Don’t stop your playing your heart out during Holi with just a little pre and post-Holi skincare.

How do Holi Colors Impact Your Skin?

It is no surprise that Holi colors might damage your skin if you have a compromised skin barrier or are prone to skin allergies. It is crucial for people with sensitive or acne-prone skin to take care of their skin even more to reduce any damage. While organic Gulal is available now in the market, you never know what type of Holi colors anyone is rubbing on your skin. Most colors contain a lot of chemicals that cause dryness, inflammation, and irritation.

Exposing your skin to Holi colors causes a lot of side effects if you don’t take care of your skin:

• Causes allergies and makes skin prone to rashes, irritation, and other skin problems.
• Exposure to silver color can be a cause of skin cancer.
• The colors are harsh on the skin and might cause dryness, acne, and dermatitis.
• Excessive chemicals in colors might damage the skin barrier.

Pre-Holi Skincare Tips 

As Holi is approaching, you might want to jump on the skincare bandwagon early and prep your skin well to sustain the load of the colors. Here’s everything you need to on how to take care of your skin before Holi.

Hydrate Your Skin 

Hydration for the skin and body is a must all the time. One of the first steps to prep your pre-Holi skin is to keep it hydrated with the use of the right serum or moisturizer. Hydrated skin builds a barrier between the skin and the chemicals, preventing their penetration and strengthening the skin barrier. Before going out to play, make sure you slather your face with a good hydrating moisturizer. Make sure to use skincare products that are enriched with hyaluronic acid, ceramide, or squalene for maximum hydration. Also, drink enough to keep your body hydrated.

We recommend: Re'equil Ceramide & Hyaluronic Acid Moisturiser with Mango Butter

Apply facial oil 

It is highly recommended to apply a facial oil before stepping out to play Holi. Oil creates a barrier on the skin preventing color particles from penetrating the skin layers. Also, with an oil barrier, it becomes easy to remove the colors. If you have dry skin, it is best to use a facial oil that’s rich in argan or jojoba oil whereas, for oil to combination skin, facial oil with hemp seed or grapeseed is good.

We recommend: Earth Rhythm Nettle Facial Oil

Rub Your Face With Ice

Ice cubes do wonders for your skin and are a much-recommended pre-Holi preparation. Before stepping out to play Holi, roll ice cubes or an ice roller on your face to close the pores. As the pores close, it prevents dirt or colors from clogging the pores. This step is helpful and recommended for almost 15 to 20 minutes before stepping out to ensure harmful chemicals don’t penetrate the skin and negatively impact the skin.

We recommend: Ghar Soaps Ice Roller, Purple

Don’t Forget The Sunscreen 

Sunscreen is that staple that makes it to every AM routine. Playing under the sun for a longer time might cause sun damage to the skin if not for the sunscreen. Generously, apply sunscreen to your face and neck area before stepping out to play Holi outdoors. As there will be splashes of water from all sides, it’s best to apply a water-proof sunscreen to prevent skin damage from heat, sun, and colors. Apply sunscreen for at least 15 to 20 minutes before stepping out so that it is well absorbed.

We Recommend: Suntique I'M Aqua Sun Essence SPF50+ PA++++

Post-Holi Skincare Tips

Your face is a riot of colors after spending the morning or afternoon playing Holi. Now is the time to gently cleanse off the colors and pamper your skin with post-Holi skincare. Here is everything you need to know about post-Holi skincare routine.

Use an oil-based cleansing water 

The first step in the post-Holi skincare routine is cleansing your face thoroughly. Water and face cleanser is not enough to let go of the particles and colors. Deep cleansing is recommended for removing traces of colors. Use a cotton pad and cleansing solution to first remove the chemicals and impurities. As the skin is already sensitive, do not opt for skin exfoliation as it might make the skin even more sensitive. Avoid scrubbing and tugging your skin.

We recommend: TNW-The Natural Wash Micellar Water with Calendula & Green Tea Extract

Use a gentle cream or oil-based cleanser 

Once you have removed the first layer of the colors and impurities, it is time to wash off your face with a hydrating cleanser. Prefer using a crème or oil-based face cleanser to make sure the skin is not dry, dehydrated, and flaky after cleaning. Not only the cleanser removes dirt, colors, and excess oil on your skin, it helps in retaining the natural moisture of the skin.

We recommend: Conscious Chemist Daily Dissolve Ultra Light Oil Cleanser

Avoid using products with potent formulations

With the skin exposed to so much during Holi, it is best to avoid using potent formulations. Use a gentle toner to maintain the skin’s balance but avoid using toners with ingredients like AHA or BHA. Also, it is best to give your skin time to heal naturally and avoid using serums with retinol or exfoliating ingredients.

We recommend: Love Earth Face Mist with Jasmine

Apply Hydrating Serum/Essence and moisturizer

Once you have cleansed and toned your face, make sure to apply a layer of hydrating serum to maintain the skin barrier. Use of a hyaluronic acid essence like One Thing Hyaluronic Acid Complex or Snail Essence like COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence helps with better hydration and strengthening the skin barrier. The next step is moisturizing your skin well to make sure it is not dry, or dehydrated, and locks in moisture.

We recommend: Foxtale Ceramide Supercream Hydrating Moisturiser.