Skincare Tips: Taking Care of Your Skin While You Travel
Travel is part of life, whether it be for a family vacation, a couple’s getaway, a solo retreat, or for business. However, while traveling, it can be difficult to maintain your current skincare routine. I’ve composed my top tips to get you through this summer’s travel season and beyond.
1. Fly like a Dermatologist on the Airplane
Avoid wearing heavy makeup if your flight is longer than 2 hours. Nobody likes a vacation surprise pimple! Airplane humidity is a lot lower, so you’ll notice that your skin is more prone to dryness. Take an ointment for your lips and some extra moisturizer for your face if your flight is going to be a long one. If you’re sitting near a window, make sure the shades are down. UV exposure is much more intense in the sky. For the most part, the windows on the plane block UVB rays, but not UVA rays! So do your skin a favor and slide that shutter down or load up on the sunscreen!
2. Bring Travel Size Bottles of Your Favorite Skincare Products
During times of travel, many people experience the following: stress, a change in climate, different water pH and hardness, and a shift in their daily routine. These factors can impact how your body reacts to a new product. The best solution is to not introduce new products into your skincare routine while away from home. It’s not possible to predict how your body will respond (a new rash on vacation- no thanks!). For this reason, I recommend you bring your current products with you on your getaway.
Also worth noting, the size of your normal products might be larger than allowed by most airports. Typically you are only allowed liquids the size of 3.5 ounces or less in your carry on bag. However, even if you are not flying, it’s easier to pack travel size portions of your own favorite products to save space in your suitcase.
Pro tip- store your bottles tightly in a clear gallon sized bag or keep them away from your clothing items to avoid stains from accidental spills!
3. Keep your Normal Skincare Routine
Typically I follow a simple skincare routine for my face which includes a gentle cleanser, followed by an antioxidant serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen. At night I usually alternate between a retinoid or exfoliant. I follow this routine even when away from home!
If you’re looking for your skincare travel checklist, remember to pack the following items:
- Sunscreen (duh!)
- Moisturizer
- Gentle Cleanser
- Exfoliant
- Your Favorite Deodorant
- Retinol
- Body Wash or Soap
- A Vitamin C Serum
4. Wear Sunscreen
Packing a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or above is a must! I recommend not relying only on the sunscreen in your cosmetic products like foundation. Sunscreen is known to help prevent skin cancer, uneven skin tone, and premature aging. No matter where you are traveling, or even if you’re planning on spending most of your time indoors, don’t leave home without sunscreen. Some of my favorites are included in our Summer box this season!
5. Avoid Hotel-Provided Products
Although convenient, hotel provided shampoos, soaps, and body wash can be very drying for those with sensitive skin. I also recommend avoiding these for the same reasons mentioned above- you don’t know how your body will react to new products. It’s best to skip the freebies and carry your own products instead if your skin tends to be more reactive
6. If You’re Heading to the Beach, Consider a Tinted Sunscreen instead of Makeup
Heavy foundations can contribute to acne, especially in warm climates. These types of foundation are best saved for indoor occasions. A heavy product can also run as you are more likely to sweat in the heat. Packing a tinted, water-resistant sunscreen like EltaMD Elements can be a perfect way to skip the makeup while still staying protected!
7. Extra Items to Consider
Depending on your environment, you may want to consider bringing the following:
- bug spray
- bug bite or rash treatment options like over the counter cortisone
- a topical acne spot treatment in case of breakouts
Note to My Readers
I hope you’ve enjoyed these tips for taking care of your skin while you travel. If you're looking for a dermatologist curated skincare subscription box, remember to check out our latest seasonal box offering!
Happy Reading!
XOXO,
