How to Look After Your Skin During the Festive Season

There is something about October in India. One minute you're going about your normal life. And suddenly there is a garba night.

Then a wedding.

Then Diwali.

Then another wedding.

Then Christmas.

Then New Year's Eve.

And somewhere between all of this, you have apparently agreed to attend three parties, wear makeup for twelve hours, sleep at 2 am and wake up looking fresh.

Your skin, meanwhile, is wondering what exactly it did to deserve this.

The festive season is wonderful. But it can also mean more makeup, more sweating, late nights, travelling, different food, less sleep and generally very little respect for your usual skincare routine.

So, before the celebrations begin, let's talk about keeping your skin happy without turning it into another full-time job.

Don't Try Five New Things Before a Big Event

This needs to be said first.

Please don't experiment with your skin two days before an important event.

New facial.

New peel.

New scrub.

New serum.

Some mysterious face mask your friend swears changed her life.

What could possibly go wrong?

Quite a lot, actually.

Even products that are perfectly fine for someone else can irritate your skin. And if you're trying something new, you won't know how your skin will react until you try it.

If you have an important event coming up, this is probably not the time to conduct a skincare experiment. Your face is not a laboratory.

Makeup Is Fine. Sleeping in It Is Not.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying makeup during the festive season.

Go ahead. Wear the glitter. Wear the eyeliner. Wear the lipstick that would be considered excessive on a Tuesday morning.

Just remember to take it off properly at the end of the night.

When you're exhausted after a party, it is very tempting to think:

I'll just sleep now and deal with it tomorrow.

Tomorrow-you is going to be quite annoyed with tonight-you.

Remove your makeup, cleanse your skin appropriately and then moisturise if your skin needs it.

It doesn't have to be a complicated twelve-step routine.

Just don't go to bed looking exactly as you did when you left the house.

Please Don't Scrub Your Face Into Submission

Festive season often means more makeup, sweat, pollution and long days.

So you look in the mirror and think:

My skin looks dull. I need to exfoliate.

Then you exfoliate.

And because you're still not glowing like a Diwali diya, you exfoliate again.

Please stop!

Dull-looking skin doesn't automatically mean you need more scrubbing. Over-exfoliating can irritate the skin and leave it feeling dry, tight or uncomfortable. Your face does not need to be polished like silverware.

Gentle is usually a much better strategy.

Sweat, Makeup and Long Nights Are a Lot for Your Skin

Think about a typical festive evening.

You're outside.

You're wearing makeup.

You're dancing.

You're sweating.

You're touching your face.

You're probably taking approximately 47 photographs.

And then someone says, "One more?"

Your skin has been through a lot by the time you get home.

This doesn't mean you need a special post-party skincare ceremony.

It means clean your skin properly and don't make things more complicated than they need to be.

If your skin feels comfortable afterwards, leave it alone.

If it feels dry or tight, moisturise.

Simple.

Don't Forget the Sunscreen

Festive season does not mean the sun has taken a holiday.

Even if you're spending most of your time thinking about outfits, jewellery, makeup and whether you've left the house with matching earrings, UV exposure is still happening.

So, if you're going outdoors during the day, sunscreen still belongs in your routine.

Yes, even during Diwali.

Yes, even when you're travelling.

Yes, even when you are wearing an outfit that took forty-five minutes to put on.

The sun remains completely unimpressed by your festive schedule.

And Then There Is Sleep

This is probably the one your skin would like to discuss with you privately.

Late-night parties.

Early mornings.

Travel.

Long days.

Another event.

And then someone suggests going out for breakfast.

At some point, your skincare routine may be immaculate while your sleep schedule is an absolute disaster.

Skin and sleep are more connected than we sometimes give them credit for. Poor or insufficient sleep can affect how the skin looks and feels, and can make it harder for your body to recover from everyday stress.

So yes, use your moisturiser.

But occasionally, going to bed is also skincare.

Very boring.

Very effective.

Keep Your Routine Boring

This might be the most important advice of all.

You don't need a completely new skincare routine because the festive season has arrived.

You need the basics to stay consistent.

Cleanse.Moisturise.Protect.Treat specific concerns when necessary.

That's it.

Your skin doesn't know that Diwali is approaching.

It doesn't care that you bought a new lehenga.

It certainly doesn't care that you have three parties this weekend.

It just wants you to stop throwing random things at it.

Go Enjoy Yourself

The festive season is supposed to be about celebrating.

Not spending every spare minute worrying about whether your skin is glowing enough for photographs.

You don't need perfect skin to wear beautiful clothes.

You don't need seventeen products because you have a wedding coming up.

And you certainly don't need to punish your face because you ate one too many laddoos.

Keep your routine simple.

Remove your makeup.

Protect your skin.

Moisturise when you need to.

Get some sleep when you can.

And then go enjoy the party.

Your skin can come along for the ride.