Quick answer
A morning, out-and-about and night plan for each of Shashthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami, with what not to do: no exfoliation mid-festival, masks on a quiet night, nothing new. Includes a summary table and a packing list for your bag.
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Keep one simple routine across the five days and make small changes for each day. Morning: a mild face wash, moisturiser, and two finger lengths of sunscreen for face and neck. Out: reapply sunscreen every 2–3 hours and press oil off with a tissue. Night: take off makeup and sunscreen, wash, moisturise. The plan rests on two things: Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence sunscreen and a mild cleanser such as CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser.
Three "don'ts": no scrubs or exfoliation mid-festival, masks on a quiet night and no other time, and no new actives (retinol, strong AHA/BHA peels) in the Puja week. The core morning and night routine is in Puja day skincare routine; here it is laid out day by day.
The five days at a glance
| Day | Morning | Out | Night | Don't |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shashthi | Wash, moisturise, sunscreen; pack the bag | Bodhon evening, pandals; tissues and stick | Micellar water, face wash, moisturiser | New products or a facial |
| Saptami | Same routine, light makeup | Reapply at midday, press off sweat | Remove makeup, cream | Scrubs, peels |
| Ashtami | Up early, 10-minute routine before anjali | Longest day; sun stick every 2–3 hours, water | Double cleanse, lip mask | Splashing water on your face |
| Navami | Cold water, eye cream, light moisturiser | Late night; press off oil in the evening | Wash however late; aloe mask on a quiet night | Sleeping in makeup |
| Dashami | Moisturiser, sunscreen, oil on the parting | Sindoor khela and bisarjan; protect eyes | Oil or micellar, then mild wash, rich cream | Rubbing colour off |
Three rules for the whole week
- No exfoliation mid-festival. Scrubs, peeling gels and acid toners stop from Shashthi to Dashami. Sun, sweat and makeup already stress the skin; exfoliating makes it burn and sting more under sindoor.
- Masks on a quiet night. Just a night you are home early with no rush next morning. Keep it plain and familiar: a thick layer of Nature Republic Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel for ten minutes, then rinse. No clay or peel-off masks.
- Nothing new; patch test. Try anything behind the ear or on the inner wrist for two or three days at least a week before Puja.
Shashthi: setting up and the opening outing
For many, Shashthi is a half work day, with bodhon and pandal visits in the evening. Use it to get organised.
- Morning: CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser for oily or normal skin, CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser for dry; pea-sized, 30 seconds. Then Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel (oily) or CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (dry). After three minutes, two finger lengths of Biore UV Aqua Rich.
- Set up: pack your day bag today (list below).
- Out: there is sun until sunset, so apply sunscreen before an afternoon outing. Press oil off with a tissue.
- Night: for makeup, hold Bioderma Sensibio H2O on a cotton pad for ten seconds, wipe, then wash and moisturise.
- Don't: no facial or bleach today; redness or bumps are hard to hide on Saptami.
Saptami
The Puja is in full swing and long days outdoors begin. Same routine; watch midday.
- Morning: Shashthi's routine. With makeup, wait five minutes after sunscreen before base.
- Out: midday to three is the strongest sun. Reapply once then; over makeup, the Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick is easier than a tube. Press sweat, do not wipe.
- Night: remove makeup, wash, cream. See How to remove heavy Puja makeup.
- Don't: no scrub even if you feel oily. See Pandal hopping with oily skin.
Ashtami: anjali morning, the longest day
Ashtami starts with an early bath and anjali, often while fasting, then Kumari puja, Sandhi puja and pandals late into the night.
- Morning: a ten-minute routine before anjali: wash, moisturise, sunscreen. Use lip balm even while fasting.
- Out: drink plenty of water after the fast. Sun stick every 2–3 hours on nose, forehead, ears and back of the neck. No water splashes.
- Night: double cleanse, micellar water then face wash. Moisturise and add a thin layer of Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask.
- Don't: never sleep unwashed. Do not try new highlighter or makeup today.
Navami: the late night, tired skin
Navami runs late with arati, dhunuchi dancing and friends. Puffy eyes and dull skin the next morning are normal.
- Morning: wash with cold water. Pat a rice-grain amount of CeraVe Eye Repair Cream under each eye. Light moisturiser, then sunscreen.
- Out: after dark, focus on pressing off oil and drinking water. Near the dhunuchi fire, press a tissue on sweat.
- Night: wash and moisturise however late. Do the ten-minute aloe mask just if you are home early with no rush on Dashami morning.
- Don't: do not sleep in makeup; at the very least use micellar water and moisturiser.
Dashami: sindoor and bisarjan
- Morning: a slightly thicker moisturiser, then sunscreen, and a little oil on the parting and hairline so colour lifts easily.
- Out: close your eyes during sindoor khela and do not rub. On the procession, sun stick on uncoloured skin.
- Night: loosen colour with oil or micellar water, then a mild wash in lukewarm water, then CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. See After Sindoor Khela.
- Don't: no rubbing, lemon or baking soda. Stop at burning, rash or itching, and see a doctor if it does not settle.
What to pack in the bag
Pack it on Shashthi and use it all five days:
- Sun stick or a small sunscreen tube (Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick)
- Lip balm
- Dry tissues or blotting paper
- A small cotton handkerchief
- At least a litre of water
- Hair clips, bands, a few safety pins
- A small mirror
- Makeup you have used before, if any
- Dashami extras: glasses, a phone zip bag, a plastic bag for used tissues
Skip scented or alcohol wipes; they sting sun-tired skin.
If skin gets oily, sweaty or irritated
- Oily: press with a tissue, then sun stick. No washing, no layers of powder.
- Sweaty: step into shade, press dry with a handkerchief, reapply.
- Irritated: nothing new; mild wash and plain moisturiser at night. See a doctor for blistering sunburn, a spreading rash, or anything not better in two or three days.
More on choosing sunscreen: Which sunscreen for Puja.
After Puja
Skin may stay tired for two or three days. Still no scrubs or new actives; settle your routine and catch up on sleep. Step by step: After Puja: a skin recovery routine.
Every product mentioned here is checked on TheSkinProof against the importer's invoice and batch number, with 2× money back if a product is proven fake. To check one you already own, use the free Product Checker.
More Puja guides
- What to Put on Your Face on Puja Morning: The Anjali Day, Step by Step
- Getting Ready for Puja: A 45-Minute Skin Prep Timeline Before Makeup
- What to Apply When: Product Order, Amounts and Wait Times for Your Puja Routine
- What to Use on Dashami: Before Sindoor Khela, Through Bisarjan and at Night
- Body Skin at Puja: Caring for Neck, Back and Arms in Saris, Blouses and Panjabis
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a different skincare routine for each day of Puja?
No. Keep one simple routine all five days: mild face wash, moisturiser and sunscreen in the morning, and makeup removal, wash and moisturiser at night. Then make small changes per day, such as frequent sun stick reapplication on Ashtami or eye cream on the morning after Navami.
Should I exfoliate or use a face mask during Puja?
Skip all scrubs, peels and acid toners from Shashthi to Dashami, because sun, sweat and makeup already stress the skin. Save a mask for a quiet night when you are home early, and keep it plain, such as a ten-minute layer of aloe vera gel.
What should I pack in my bag for Puja days?
A sun stick, lip balm, dry tissues or blotting paper, a cotton handkerchief, at least a litre of water, hair clips and a small mirror. On Dashami, add glasses and a zip bag for your phone, and skip scented or alcohol wipes.
Does dry skin need extra moisturiser during the five days of Puja?
Dry skin benefits from a slightly richer cream at night in addition to the lighter morning moisturiser, especially applied right after a shower while skin is still damp. Keeping a small moisturiser or balm with you helps if your skin feels tight while you are out.
What changes in the routine if it rains during one of the five Puja days?
Sunscreen still matters on a rainy, overcast day since UV passes through clouds, but reapply sooner if your skin gets wet. Give slightly damp or humid skin a bit more time to dry before putting on makeup.