In Indonesia and Malaysia, beauty is big business during Eid al-Fitr

Cosmetics brands in Southeast Asia look to cash in on Ramadan period shopping boom.

Medan, Indonesia – On any given day, Exanti, a beauty consultant for Indonesian cosmetics brand Wardah, wears what she calls a “full face” of makeup, including eyeshadow, eyeliner, foundation, concealer, blusher and lipstick.

But with the end of the fasting month of Ramadan fast approaching, Exanti is getting ready to give herself a makeover.

For her new look, Exanti is stocking up on cosmetics products, including simple eyeliner and nude lip gloss instead of the bright matte shades she usually wears.

“In Indonesia, the Eid al-Fitr celebration is a time for family gatherings and we always take a group family photo together to mark the occasion,” Exanti told Al Jazeera.

“My makeup will be completely different when I go home for the holidays. I want to look more natural and more glossy. I want my face to look fresh and clean.”