Holi is around the corner and we're not sure as to whether we are going to celebrate it this year with masks & social distancing in 2021. However, for those who are willing to fight the blues of the year that has gone by and maintain Covid norms in order to celebrate, here are a few useful tips that I will share with you for better skincare during the festival of Holi.
The most important one is to remember that a combination of the Sun and water is the best way to ruin our skin. So let’s enjoy our Holi this year, by doing away with the effect of either both of them or at least one of them. We can do this by celebrating the event outdoors in a shady area. If we are the organizers of the get-together, we can put up a temporary roof cover, under which everybody interacts. Otherwise, we could stay around trees and use their shade to our best advantage.
Supposing, for some reason, I have to spend time in the sun?
The answer to this is in the second tip which is to prepare your skin for the event before going out, by applying a generous amount of Zinc Oxide-based Sun Screen. Zinc Oxide would help to dissipate the UV Rays of the sun. Remember to carry your Sun Screen with you, in case it keeps getting washed off while playing Holi. This is extremely important for babies and for those children who keep running around.
The third tip is that if one is carrying a bag, one can throw in some full-sleeved clothes to put on after about half an hour of sun exposure.
What about my hair?
The next tip is for your hair. You can apply a thin layer of Hair Oil, before going out. It will protect your hair from UV radiation.
My skin usually becomes red after playing Holi and sometimes develops rashes. So how can I avoid that from happening?
This happens probably because of a reaction to the toxic chemicals present in the colours that one buys for playing Holi.
You can use natural colours that will nourish the skin, instead. One can either buy dry organic colours from the market or make a healthful concoction oneself. There are many natural ingredients that give off colour when brought in contact with water. One could use, for example, dry hibiscus flowers, Manjishta powder, dry pomegranate peel powder or Wild turmeric mixed with gram flour (besan). These ingredients would not only give you non-toxic colour, but they would also be healthful for your skin. One can be innovative in this regard. One can soak them in water separately until one gets the desired colour.
Pomegranate peels are rich in antioxidants and would hydrate and protect the skin from the harmful effects of outdoor pollutants and UV rays.
Manjishta is great for anti-ageing skincare. It will give off a beautiful red colour.
Wild turmeric or Kasturi Manjal mixed with gram flour would give an orangey-yellow colour.
Hibiscus is also full of antioxidants and helps to keep the skin firm and strong. It would give a delightful pink colour.
Won’t these natural ingredients leave their colour on my skin?
They should not, but suppose that happens, because of using them very concentrated, you can make a paste of Gram flour (besan) and water and apply it on your skin. Then wash off the paste after it begins to stick to your skin. Do not dry it like a face pack. Alternatively, you can try a cream-based cleanser to remove the colour. Remember to ‘Tone’ and ‘Moisturise’ your skin thereafter.
Sometimes colour and grease get under my nails? How do I remove that?
Try coconut oil to dissolve the grease along with the colour, under your fingernails. Once the coconut oil has loosened the grease, you can first wipe it off with tissue and then wash your hands as usual, with your favourite hand wash.
So play your heart away-and enjoy this Holi!
Happy Holi to You!
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