What this is about: A Kerala mom shares how she accidentally discovered that Navratri traditions are basically a free skin detox program. No fancy products needed—just common sense stuff that actually works.
The Night My Teenager Roasted Me (And Changed Everything)
Picture this: It's around 11 PM last year, and I'm standing in my bathroom looking absolutely awful. My face is covered in these angry red bumps, my skin looks like old newspaper, and I'm exhausted even though I just woke up from a nap.
My 16-year-old walks in to brush her teeth, looks at me, and goes, "Amma, why do you look so... sick?"
Ouch. But she wasn't wrong.
Here I am, supposedly a "wellness expert" (I help people with health stuff in Kochi), and I look like I haven't slept in weeks. I'm eating salads, using expensive face creams, doing everything the internet tells me to do. And yet... this.
That's when it hit me like a coconut falling on my head. I was treating Navratri like just another thing to survive instead of what it really is—a built-in system to fix exactly what was wrong with me.
Why Your Skin Goes Crazy This Time of Year
Here's what's actually happening to your body right now, without all the confusing science words:
You know how you feel more stressed during festival season? That stress makes your body produce a hormone that basically tells your skin to break out and look tired. Fun, right?
Also, the weather is being weird everywhere:
Mumbai friends
Dealing with sticky, humid air that makes everything oily
Delhi people
Getting hit with pollution plus that first cold snap that makes skin super dry
Bangalore
That "oh look, it's raining... now it's sunny... now it's cold" weather
Your poor skin doesn't know what's happening.
But here's the cool part—all those Navratri things our grandmothers did? They actually fix this stuff.
- When you eat lighter foods for a few days, your body starts cleaning itself up from the inside
- When you go to bed earlier (because of all the morning prayers), your skin actually repairs itself while you sleep
- When you spend time praying or meditating, that stress hormone I mentioned? It goes way down
Our ancestors weren't just being religious. They were accidentally doing the world's best skin treatment.
My Epic Journey of Messing Up (So You Don't Have To)
The Time I Nearly Poisoned Myself with Green Juice
So last year, I got convinced by some Instagram girl that drinking only green vegetable juice for a week would make me glow like a Bollywood actress.
By day three, I was so cranky that my kids were hiding from me. My husband started eating dinner at his office. And my skin? It looked gray. Like, actually gray.
Lesson learned: When you stop eating real food, your body freaks out and your skin looks terrible. Who knew?
When I Turned My Face into a Chemistry Experiment
Then I went through this phase where I thought the problem was that I wasn't using enough products. I had:
- Face wash
- Toner
- Serum
- Moisturizer
- Face oil
- Spot treatment
- Face mask
- Eye cream
I was basically putting a pharmacy on my face every night.
My skin got so angry it looked like a tomato for three weeks straight. My neighbor aunty saw me and was like, "What happened to your face?" in that direct way only aunties can pull off.
What Finally Worked (The Boring Stuff)
After all that drama, I accidentally figured out the right way during Navratri last year.
I was too tired from all the festival prep to do my complicated routine, so I just washed my face with water and put on some basic moisturizer. I was eating simple food because of the fasting. Going to bed early because of the morning prayers.
And you know what? Within two weeks, people were asking me what I was doing to my skin.
Nothing! I was doing nothing! That was the secret!
What I Actually Did:
- Woke up early (around 6 AM, when the house is quiet)
- Drank warm water with lemon (my grandmother's old trick)
- Ate simple food—fruits, nuts, maybe some light dinner
- Went to bed by 10 PM (revolutionary, I know)
- Used only three things on my face: face wash, moisturizer, sunscreen
That's it. No magic potions. No expensive treatments. Just common sense stuff that our mothers already knew.
Your Simple Navratri Skin Fix Plan
Days 1-3: Start Easy (Don't Stress Yourself Out)
Look, I'm not going to give you some crazy plan that you'll quit after two days. Let's be realistic.
Pick ONE thing to change this week:
- Maybe go to bed 30 minutes earlier
- Or have your last meal by 7 PM
- Or just wash your face with something gentle instead of harsh scrubs
Make your skin routine super simple: Just use a face wash that doesn't make your skin feel tight, put on moisturizer, and use sunscreen if you're going out. That's it.
Days 4-6: Add One More Thing
By now you're probably feeling a bit better. Don't go crazy and add ten new things. Just pick one more.
Maybe try:
- Taking a 15-minute walk in the evening
- Doing some stretching before bed
- Dancing to your favorite songs (it counts as exercise!)
Days 7-9: Keep It Simple
You're almost done! The trick is not to add a bunch of new stuff just because you're feeling good.
Focus on:
- Drinking enough water (if your pee is dark yellow, drink more)
- Keeping your skin clean and moisturized
- Getting enough sleep (this is the most important thing!)
Different Cities = Different Problems
If You Live in Mumbai
That sticky air is making your skin produce too much oil. Don't use heavy creams that will clog your pores. Light moisturizers are your friend. And eat lots of fruits and vegetables to fight all that pollution.
Delhi Friends
The pollution plus the weather change is rough on your skin. You need to clean your face really well at night to get rid of all the dirt and smog. For this, something like Cetaphil's gentle cleanser works great—it cleans without making your skin feel like sandpaper.
Bangalore People
You guys have the easiest weather! This is perfect for starting good habits that you can keep up all year.
My Kerala Family (and Other Coastal Areas)
The salty air and humidity can make your skin feel sticky. Use coconut oil! I know, I know, everyone says oil is bad for your face, but coconut oil is different. Our grandmothers used it for everything, and their skin was always beautiful.
What Really Happens (So You Don't Get Disappointed)
Here's the truth nobody tells you: your skin might look worse before it gets better.
Week 1:
You'll probably feel more energetic, but your skin might not change much
Week 2:
Some lucky people see changes, others don't—don't panic
Week 3:
This is usually when the magic happens
After a month:
If you stick with it, people will ask what you're doing differently
I made the mistake of expecting Instagram-perfect skin in three days. Real life doesn't work like that.
Why the Mind Stuff Actually Matters for Your Skin
I used to think people who talked about meditation helping their skin were just being dramatic. But honestly? When I started spending 10 minutes every morning just sitting quietly (call it prayer, call it meditation, call it "quiet time"), my skin really did get better.
Simple math: Less stress = less of that bad hormone = less angry, red skin.
The prayer time during Navratri isn't just good for your soul—it's actually skincare.
How to Not Give Up After Navratri Ends
This is where most people mess up (including me, the first few times).
The 80/20 thing: Be good most of the time, don't stress about being perfect.
Had pizza for dinner? So what. Stayed up late watching Netflix? Start fresh tomorrow.
Keep the stuff that was easy:
- Going to bed earlier
- Simple face routine
- Eating real food instead of processed junk
- Some quiet time in the morning
Forget about the stuff that felt forced.
Questions People Always Ask Me
How long before I see results?
Most people feel more energetic within a week, but your skin takes about 2-3 weeks to show changes. Your skin basically replaces itself every month, so give it at least that long.
What if I have sensitive skin?
Even better! Sensitive skin usually loves simple routines. Don't try new products during your reset—stick to what your skin already likes.
What should I put on my face when I'm fasting?
Keep it simple: gentle face wash morning and evening, moisturizer, and sunscreen if you're going out. When you're fasting, your skin can be more touchy, so this isn't the time for harsh treatments.
Do I have to give up all junk food?
No! Focus on eating more good stuff instead of completely avoiding bad stuff. The 80/20 rule—eat well most of the time, don't stress about the rest.
What if I'm traveling during festivals?
Pack just the basics: face wash, moisturizer, sunscreen. But honestly, getting enough sleep matters more than fancy skincare when you're traveling.
My skin is breaking out more—is this normal?
Yes! When you change what you eat and how you sleep, your skin might freak out for a bit. Keep washing gently and don't pick at it. If it's still bad after two weeks, maybe see a doctor.
Can my husband/brother follow this too?
Of course! Guys might want simpler products, but everyone needs sleep, water, and gentle skincare.
How much water should I drink?
Don't count glasses—just check your pee. If it's dark yellow, drink more. If it's clear or light yellow, you're good.
Start Right Now (Not Tomorrow, Not Monday)
Don't wait. Pick one tiny thing to change today.
Try these tonight:
- Finish eating 3 hours before bed
- Wash your face with just water and put on moisturizer
- Set your phone aside for 10 minutes
- Take a photo of your skin (no makeup) so you can see the difference later
Challenge for you: Pick just ONE thing from this whole post and do it for 30 days. That's it. Don't try to change everything at once.
The Bottom Line
After trying everything from expensive facials to weird internet trends, here's what I learned: simple works better than complicated. The stuff our grandmothers did worked better than most of the fancy products I wasted money on.
- Your skin doesn't need 15 different bottles.
- Your body doesn't need extreme cleanses that make you miserable.
- You just need to be consistent with simple, good habits.
This Navratri, instead of adding more stress to your life, try taking things away. Instead of doing more stuff, try being more relaxed about what you're already doing.
A study from last year showed that eating lighter for just two weeks (like during Navratri fasting) can reduce skin inflammation by almost half. Our traditions knew what they were doing.
Your skin will thank you. Your energy will thank you. And hopefully, your teenager won't roast you in the bathroom mirror anymore.
What's your biggest skin problem right now? Tell me in the comments—I read every single one and I love hearing your stories. Let's figure this out together.