Many people take their skin for granted when they travel. It’s easy to let your self-care regimens fall by the wayside when you’re having the time of your life. However, the worst thing you can do for your skin is disrupt its moisture cycle, then drop it into an unusual environment. The truth is that any small change can affect skin reactions, leading to flare-ups, breakouts, rashes or sunburns. Luckily, you can continue to pamper your skin while on the go. Below are eight tips for easily maintaining your skin health while traveling.
- Pack the Essentials
When you’re getting ready to travel, your epidermis may not be at the top of your priorities list. If you’re a light packer and you don’t want to lug your entire bathroom along for your weekend getaway, just pack the essentials. From your skincare bar, grab the following:
- Moisturizing sunscreen
- Facial cleanser
- Nighttime moisturizer
If you can’t find sample-size packages for your favorite products, you can transfer them to travel containers from the drug store. Most of these are airline-friendly as well so you don’t have to worry about the TSA confiscating your lotion.
- Keep Your Skincare Routine
Of course, your vacation is about disrupting the status quo and having an adventure, but when it comes to your skin, consistency is key. It’s important to practice self control and stick to your skincare routine as much as possible, even if you don’t bring all the products you normally use. Perform your morning regimen and do your best to stay hydrated throughout the day. Even if you’re tired from a full day of excitement, don’t forgo nighttime cleansing. Neglecting your skin can cause fluctuations and lead to unwanted breakouts.
- Use Lotion on the Flight
The air circulating inside the plane is extremely dry and long flights can dehydrate the body significantly. When the skin lacks moisture, it starts to overproduce oils for lubrication, which can then get trapped in your pores and cause acne flare-ups. Ahead of your departure, take a minute to apply a heavy moisturizer to your face, hands and other areas where you experience dry skin. Additionally, drop a TSA-compliant travel-size lotion in your carry-on bag to reapply as needed.
- Wash Your Face With Warm Water
There’s nothing better than a steaming shower after a long day of airports, trains, and taxicabs, but the hot water can be very harsh and inflammatory to the skin, especially if it’s already been stressed by an alternate care routine. You don’t want to further irritate it by applying too much heat. If you notice your face looking red or splotchy, gently washing it with lukewarm water helps to cleanse the area without stripping the skin of the oils that naturally protect it.
- Use a Light Daily Moisturizer
Regardless of your complexion type, a moisturizer is necessary. Those with oily skin often think adding moisture will lead to worse acne, but the opposite is true. Scrubbing the natural oils away from the skin without replacing them causes overproduction in the dermis. Applying a layer of moisture helps to regulate the body’s natural skin cleaning process.
- Get a Bit of Sun
Contrary to the common belief that the sun is the worst thing for your skin, moderate exposure is beneficial to the natural dermal healing process. Sunlight encourages the body to produce vitamin D, which helps the skin rejuvenate and repair itself. Additionally, heat from the sun allows the pores to expand, releasing trapped dirt and oil to be washed away with your next cleansing.
- Use Sunscreen Everyday
While sunshine in moderation is healthy for the skin and body, too much is destructive. Sun safety is essential regardless of whether you’re headed to the beach or the ski slopes. Hopefully, your skincare routine already includes an SPF moisturizer and you don’t need to buy extra for your travels. However, it is a good idea to carry an additional bottle of sunscreen in your daily backpack in case you find yourself seated for an hour at an outdoor bar where the only umbrellas are in the drinks.
- Avoid the Hotel Soap
The hospitality industry does a great job of providing provisions for travelers who arrive without toiletries. However, while it’s tempting to leave your stuff at home and rely on the hotel soaps and lotions, don’t. These products often contain lower quality ingredients that cause dryness, tightness and cracking. Your skin could also have an unexpected reaction to a new product, landing you in the doctor’s office instead of the beach.
Maintaining healthy skin is essential even when traveling. With these best practices, you’ll have no problem caring for your largest organ throughout your trip. With a bit of consideration each day, you’ll ensure that upon your return to the office, all your colleagues will notice is your refreshed, sun-kissed glow.
