By Zoya Rahim
We’re heading into the last week of Ramadan. We’ve made it through the end of winter, a whole daylight savings time change, and are now entering the beginning of spring.
This year, Ramadan taught me an important lesson: how to stay hydrated. If I’m being real, I think I did a pretty great job at it. Fasting every day can make it hard to stay hydrated enough to keep you functioning through your workday, daily commitments, exercise, and more.
Chugging water is one thing, but you also have to consider your body’s and skin’s overall hydration needs. And at Ghlee, we’re always thinking about ways to enhance our skin barrier—it needs care year-round, especially during harsh Canadian winter days.
Whether you practice fasting for religion or health, or haven’t fasted before and have hydration goals for 2025, scroll through this Made With Ghee guide to stay optimally hydrated, inside and out.
#1 Water
During Iftar, it’s tempting to chug a lot of water. But it's really about pacing yourself. What I’ve learned is to take a sip or two of water and not have anymore during my Iftar meal. Throughout the night, I finish two or three full water bottles of water — I love my Owala bottle. And I makes sure to drink plenty of water during Suhoor the following early morning, as well.
Some terminology for you: Suhoor is the meal we eat before dawn, and Iftar is the meal we eat to break our fast at sunset during Ramadan.
#2 Skincare![]()
I have very dry and acne prone skin. Throughout the day, I’m performing Wudhu a lot, so I’m washing my face constantly throughout the day. I keep a less intense moisturizer right next to my sink and I’ll pump a little of that and put it on my face. In the nighttime, I do an intense moisturizing / face-slugging routine — complete with drugstore products and a Ghlee essential. I layer on a hydrating baby lotion and then I’ll apply Ghlee’s Ghee Lip Mask all over my lips. Get the no-fuss skincare routine here:
Baby Eczema Cream by Aveeno
Hydrating Cleanser by CeraVe
Healing Jelly by Vaseline
Ghee Lip Mask by Ghlee
Some terminology for you: Wudhu is the Islamic ritual cleansing and purification the body before prayer.
#3 Fruit Chaat
My family has done a really good job this year trying to stay very healthy for iftar — no pakoras! No samosas! Through all of that, one Ramadan staple has stood the test of time, and that’s fruit chaat. Fruit chaat is a mix of cut up fruits, and we use whatever is seasonal or in stock at the grocery store. Chaat masala is often sprinkled on top of fruit chaat, lending a spicy-savory kick to the sweet-sour fruit. This year, we’ve been using the natural juice from oranges and squeezing it into our fruit chaat, followed by a splash of coconut water for some electrolytes. I’ll definitely be eating this in the summer. It’s so good!
#4 Lukewarm Showers
My physical therapist taught me this one. Taking lukewarm showers is a great way for your skin to stay hydrated during Ramadan, while also helping to clear your mind while fasting. We’re at the tail end of winter; even though hot showers are great to warm up your body, they can sometimes make your skin more prone to irritation, sensitivity, dryness, or weaken your skin barrier. So, lukewarm showers are a great alternative so you don’t strip away your skin’s essential oils.
I'll continue doing these four things until Ramadan is over and will be incorporating them into my routine year-round!
