How to Be Holi-Ready with a Simple Skincare Routine

We all love playing Holi. It absolutely brings out the child in you. Holi is a time to create lasting memories and strengthen bonds with family and friends. While it is a festival celebrated with great fun, it may cause damage to your skin and hair. From staying too long in the sun to over scrubbing your skin to get the colours off can cause a great deal of damage and exposure to water can strip away natural oils, leaving your skin dry, irritated, and prone to breakouts. The key to enjoy a carefree Holi while keeping your skin protected is to follow a simple yet effective skincare routine before and after the festival. 

Holi was traditionally played with natural colours made from flowers and herbs. But today, Holi is played with chemically dyed colours. One way to protect your skin is to use home-made colours with natural flowers and vegetables.  

While the Holi celebration is a time of unbridled fun, it is crucial to prioritize safety, Below are a few ways to keep your skin protected from the harshness of Holi colours. 

Pre-Holi Skincare: Protect Your Skin Before the colours Take Over 

1. Hydrate and Moisturize 

Dry skin absorbs more colour, making it harder to remove later. To prevent this: 
✅ Apply a thick layer of moisturizer or coconut oil on your face and body. 

Moisturize your skin with a hydrating moisturizer with ingredients suitable to your skin type. This would shield your skin from colours.  

DIY moisturizer tip: 

🧴 Ingredients: 

1. 2 tbsp Aloe Vera Gel 
2. 1 Vitamin E Capsule (or a few drops of Vitamin E oil) 
   
3. 1 tsp Coconut or Almond Oil 

💡 How to Use:  Mix all ingredients and apply a thin layer on your face and body .Let it absorb for 10 minutes before stepping out.

✅ Use a sunscreen with SPF 50+ to protect against sun damage. 

A broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 50+ is mandatory to apply before going outside for playing Holi. 

DIY tip for Sunscreen: 

A homemade alternative for sun protection. 

🧴 Ingredients: 

• 2 tbsp Yogurt 
  
• ½ tsp Turmeric Powder 
  
• 1 tsp Honey 

💡 How to Use: Apply 15 minutes before stepping out. Rinse off gently before applying oil or moisturizer.  

✅ Drink plenty of water and hydrating drinks  

Hydration is of utmost importance, hence drink plenty of water before and during the celebration to avoid the dry and patchy skin. 

💡 Pro Tip: Drink coconut water, buttermilk, and green tea to flush out toxins. Eat fruits like papaya, watermelon, and cucumbers for glowing skin. 

2. Strengthen Your Skin Barrier 

A good skincare routine in the days leading up to Holi can help build your skin’s resilience. 
✅ Use a gentle hydrating cleanser to avoid stripping natural oils. 

This is the basic step of skincare. Use a gentle face wash to cleanse your face and get rid of dirt and impurities. 
✅ Apply hyaluronic acid or vitamin E serums for extra nourishment. 

Serum act as a potent antioxidant, helping to protect your skin from damage caused by the harsh chemicals and pigments in Holi colours 
✅ Avoid harsh exfoliation a day or two before Holi, as it can make your skin sensitive. 

Instead use a gentle exfoliator or scrub to remove the dead skin cells to penetrate the products more effectively. 

3. Prime Your Skin with a Barrier 

Before heading out to play: 
✅ Use a lip balm with SPF to prevent chapped lips. 

Lips are just as susceptible to sun damage as the rest of your face, and during Holi celebrations, you're often exposed to prolonged sunlight while playing with colours, which can lead to sunburn, chapping, and irritation on your delicate lip area; applying lip balm with SPF provides protection against these harmful UV rays while keeping your lips hydrated and shielded from the drying effects of Holi colours.  
✅ Wear minimal or waterproof makeup to avoid clogged pores. 

4. Don’t Forget Your Hair & Nails 

Your scalp and nails are just as important: 
✅ Apply hair oil (coconut/argan/olive) to prevent colours from sticking to your strands. 

Creates a protective barrier on your hair, preventing the Holi colours from deeply penetrating your hair strands, making it easier to wash off the colours later and minimizing damage to your hair from the harsh chemicals in the dyes 
✅ Wear a scarf or cap to minimize colours contact. 

Protective gear, such as sunglasses, bandanas, and hats, are essential to shield yourself from the colours and water. 
✅ Apply a clear nail polish on nails to prevent colours stains. 

This creates a barrier that prevents the colours from staining your nails. 

 5. During Holi: Play Smart, Stay Protected