Holi is full of colours, movement, and time spent outdoors. Unfortunately, it’s also demanding on your skin because of toxic industrial dyes, containing endotoxins and heavy metals.
They stay on your skin for hours, mixed with heat, sweat, and sun exposure, resulting in itchiness, burning sensations, and scaling. It can also worsen existing acne and eczema. Repeated washing to get rid of pigmentation further leaves your skin dry and irritates the protective barrier.
This Holi skincare guide walks you through a pre, during, and post-Holi skincare routine that supports skin recovery. It also lists actionable holi skin care tips and answers commonly asked questions.
Why Holi Colours Affect Your Skin
Holi colours affect your skin in more than one way. Here’s how:
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Presence of harmful chemicals: Artificial colours like black, green, and silver contain heavy metals like lead oxide, asbestos, silica, and more. They also contain mica dust, which causes multiple microtraumas on your skin.
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Sun exposure: Prolonged sun exposure causes dryness, sunburns, and painful reddening, while the colours cause itching, dryness, and hyperpigmentation. Together, they worsen dryness and result in uneven skin tone.
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Over-cleansing: Many people repeatedly wash and scrub their skin to get rid of Holi pigmentation. It causes minor abrasions on the skin and compromises their skin barrier, increasing sensitivity.
Pre-Holi Skincare – How to Prepare Your Skin
Here’s a Holi skincare routine to prep your skin before the festival begins!
1–2 Days Before Holi
Keep your skin calm and resilient with the following tips:
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Avoid active treatments: Actives like Retinoids cause itchiness (high potency/frequency) and make your skin more sensitive to the sun. So avoid it if you’re going to be outdoors for a long time. Also avoid exfoliation to protect skin barrier.
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Hydration and barrier support: A healthy skin barrier blocks irritants and prevents water loss from skin. Opt for Ceramides and Hyaluronic acid to hydrate and reinforce your skin barrier.
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Keep routine soothing and straightforward: Use a gentle face wash and moisturiser to avoid compromising your barrier. You can look for Ceramides, Bisabolol, or Amino acids to strengthen and soothe skin.
Just Before Playing Holi
Below are some Holi skin care tips to follow before you step out to play:
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Apply a protective layer: Cover your body in a light, non-comedogenic oil like Jojoba oil or a thick moisturiser to create a barrier between the skin and colours. This makes it easier to remove the color later on.
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Use broad-spectrum sunscreen: Apply an adequate amount of sunscreen on all exposed areas, like face, arms, and legs, to protect your skin from UVA and UVB-induced skin damage.
Pro tip: Protect often missed areas like lips, ears, neck, and the under-eye area, too.
Skincare Tips During Holi
Be mindful of the following while playing with colours:
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Avoid rubbing colours aggressively: Too much friction damages the skin barrier.
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Reapply sunscreen: Sunscreens break down with UV rays, sweat, and oils. Reapply every 2-3 hours for consistent sun protection.
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Keep face wiping minimal: Avoid tugging and keep it minimal to lessen the friction.
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Stay hydrated to reduce dryness: A well-hydrated body means your skin retains moisture, reducing the chances of dryness. Moreover, dehydrated skin is less capable of repairing itself.
Post-Holi Skincare – How to Remove Colours Safely
Being gentle is the most essential part of a post-Holi skincare routine. Here’s how to remove Holi colour from skin without damaging your skin:
Step 1 – Loosen Colours Gently
Start with an oil or a balm to dissolve the colours gently. Our Soothing Cleansing balm boasts 0.1% bisabolol + 1% Avena Sativa Oil to dissolve impurities and makeup particles, while keeping the skin soft and hydrated.
Take out a sufficient amount and rub it between your fingers. Then, massage it lightly in a circular motion to avoid friction and rinse with water.
Step 2 – Cleanse Without Overwashing
Follow with a gentle cleanser, like a Vitamin C Brightening Face Wash. The Vitamin C fights dullness and dark spots while Niacinamide strengthens your barrier. Together, they even tone your skin.
Pro tip: Avoid rinsing with hot water and repeating washing as it dries out the skin and strips off the natural oils.
Step 3 – Soothe & Repair
Apply calming and soothing products to overcome any dryness and irritation. Our Hyaluronic Acid & Squalane Moisturizer will work best! Glycerin and Hyaluronic acid will deeply hydrate your skin, while the Ceramides improve the protective barrier.
You can also opt for Skin Soothe Moisturizer with Bisabolol to soothe irritation, redness, and inflammation, along with Ceramides.
Pro tip: Skip scrubs, peels, and potent actives for a few days to support barrier recovery.
Skincare Routine by Skin Type
Aligning your skincare with your skin type ensures your routine’s efficacy. Here’s what each skin type should keep in mind:
For Dry & Sensitive Skin
Practice minimal cleansing and apply rich moisturisers to repair and hydrate your skin. They’ll restore your barrier. Avoid fragrances and scrubs to prevent irritation and redness.
For Oily & Acne-Prone Skin
Nourish skin with gentle cleansing using lightweight oils or micellar water, followed by a calming Oil-Free Moisturizer. Stay away from thick, heavy creams as they clog pores, risking breakouts.
For Pigmentation-Prone Skin
Apply SPF to prevent further pigmentation and UV-induced inflammation. Calm your skin to restore the barrier before you resume using brightening products for treating hyperpigmentation.
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Skin Type |
What to Do |
What to Avoid |
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Dry & Sensitive Skin |
Minimal cleansing + rich moisturisers |
Fragrance & scrubs |
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Oily & Acne-Prone Skin |
Gentle cleansing (lightweight oils or micellar water) + Oil-free moisturiser |
Thick, heavy creams |
|
Pigmentation-Prone Skin |
Daily SPF + calming products |
Brightening actives |
Common Mistakes to Avoid After Holi
Below are some common mistakes that damage your skin further:
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Scrubbing with loofahs: Harsh scrubbing can irritate the skin and cause microtears, increasing inflammation.
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Applying harsh ubtans: Ingredients like Lemon, which is highly acidic, can result in excessive dryness, redness, and peeling. Baking soda, another common ingredient, increases the skin’s pH, leaving it dry and irritated.
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Using acids or retinol immediately: Salicylic acid, Glycolic acid, and Retinoids can further strip the natural barrier.
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Washing face repeatedly in one day: Removes skin’s natural oils, leading to drier skin.
Holi Skincare Summary: How to Protect and Repair Your Skin After Holi
Holi skincare is about protection and prevention. Stick to gentle cleansing and moisturising for barrier repair and recovery. Be mindful of avoiding harsh exfoliants and ingredients for some days. A simple calmer routine helps skin return to normalcy faster.
FAQs – Holi Skincare Questions People Ask
How do I remove stubborn Holi colour from my face?
Use an oil or cleansing balm first to dissolve pigments, followed by a gentle cleanser. Avoid scrubbing.
Can I exfoliate right after Holi?
It’s wise to wait for some days before exfoliating to allow the skin barrier to recover.
Will oils clog pores during Holi?
No. Light oils, like Jojoba oil, used briefly for protection or colour removal, are unlikely to clog pores when appropriately cleansed.
How many days should I avoid active skincare after Holi?
Avoid using ingredients for 3-5 days or until you feel your skin is calm and settled.
What if my skin starts itching or burning after Holi?
Use a balm and a gentle cleanser to remove all the colours. Follow with a soothing moisturiser and avoid activities like Retinol and exfoliation. If symptoms persist, consult a dermatologist.
