The On-The-Go Travel Skincare Guide You Need

You may be ready to hop on a plane and head on vacation, but your skin may not be as ready as you are.

We’ve all been there when your skin suddenly decides to have a major flare up right in the middle of a vacation…with different time zones, air quality, sleep schedules and routines, we can’t really blame our skin for acting up when we change things up.

Keep reading on for the ultimate guide to keeping your skin healthy and happy, especially when you’re visiting a new destination!

What happens to your skin when traveling?

Dry Air

Airplanes are known for being extremely dry with little humidity. A common misconception is that drying out your skin will benefit your skin, but it actually does the opposite. The dryer your skin gets, the more oil it secretes to try and rehydrate itself. That means: more dry = more oil = more breakouts.

So what’s the solution? Hydrate! Drink plenty of water and apply a hyaluronic serum to your skin to keep your skin hydrated and happy.

Climate Changes

A sudden change in temperature, wind, and humidity can easily throw off the balance in your skin. If you’re traveling somewhere cool, the cold air can dry out your skin so pack a rich moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated. And if you’re traveling somewhere warm, this can cause your skin to produce more sebum and leave you with clogged pores so opt for a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer. It’s important to know what weather you’re headed in to so you can plan accordingly! 

Stress

Stress can have negative effects for so many things in your body, one of them being your skin. Travel stress is inevitable and this can set off an inflammatory response in the body and aggravate conditions such as acne, rosacea, and psoriasis. 
To combat this type of skin issue, pack skincare full of anti-inflammatory ingredients that increase circulation and minimize redness flareups. 

Unhygienic Settings

Planes, trains and buses are extremely dirty and are a breeding ground for dirt, bacteria, and germs. The recirculated air, plus touching your face while traveling, makes it easy for bacteria to transfer to your skin and cause breakouts or infection.  
Pack anti-bacterial wipes to wipe down armrests, screens, seats, tray tables, and your phone, plus keep your hands off your face to avoid spreading germs. 

What skincare products should you pack?

When it comes to travel skincare, we say less is more. You don't want to flood your skin with lots of product because you’ll likely be out and about all day sweating and moving around. A simple routine will keep your skin hydrated and protected without being too overbearing. Here’s a brief routine to keep in mind:

1.  Cleanser
2.  Chemical exfoliator 
3.  Moisturizer
4.  Sunscreen

Final Skincare Tips

Don’t Try New Products

It’s so fun to try new skincare products, but save it for when you’re home and not on vacation. Sometimes your skin may have a purging phase where it reacts not so well to a new product while it adjusts to the new formulas. This is totally normal, but it’s also not something you want to ruin your vacation photos with.

Moisturize

We’ve already said it a few times here, but hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! The different environments that your skin is experiencing can leave you feeling dry, dull, and irritated. When you keep your skin hydrated with moisturizers and serums it’ll feel so much lighter and plumper!

Sun protection

This is important everyday of the year, no matter where you are, but many people tend to forget about this one when you’re having fun on vacation! Remember that you can get sun damage in warm or cool climates, so be sure to pack your favorite SPF and UPF50+ clothing to keep your skin protected. 

Exfoliation 

Once your home, this is a great time to exfoliate, reset your skin, and remove all the old dead skin cells that are backing up your pores. Any sunscreen, sweat and dirt from your vacation can clog up your skin and exfoliating will help to clear all that up!