12+ Essential Skincare Tips While Traveling
Have you ever looked at your face under the florescent lighting of an airport bathroom—and after a long, red-eye flight noticed every zit, bump, scar, freckle, mole, blackhead, dry patch, and wrinkle SINCE BIRTH has just reappeared all on your face?!
I know I have on numerous occasions. For my own peace of mind, I try to stay away from fluorescent lighting solely for that reason alone.
What is it about long flights and travel that make our skin so pitiful looking?
Why do our eyes tend to look bloodshot, puffy, and tired?
How is it possible to have dry patches & extra oily skin at the same time and on the same face?
Why is it that after weeks of having clear, blemish-free skin we instantly get a big, puss-filled zit that emerges just in time for that special vacation we’ve been excited about for months?
If you have never experienced this before, and you have perfect skin no MATTER what environment you expose it to, you can click away now (go ahead and read this with a jealous and slightly sarcastic tone).
For the rest of you humans who are still reading, I want to lend you some solid advice on how to avoid these skincare issues that arise during your travels.
Unfortunately, there’s no magic wand that will make all of these problems dramatically disappear—but there are some essential skin care tips while traveling to help prevent these beauty problems along the way.
Here is your tried and trusted guide to proper skincare while traveling:
How does traveling affect your skin?
When you are traveling, your normal skincare routine takes the backburner. You are also exposed to different weather and environmental conditions (including pollution, different climates, and altitudes), and you will probably eat a variety of foods (including processed and junk food). All these factors have an impact on your skin while traveling.
What skincare is essential to bring on a trip?
Ideally, you’ll want to stick as close as you can to your daily skincare routine. But, if you have limited space and need to minimize, it’s okay to stick to the basics. Your absolute MUST-HAVES include your face wash, a good moisturizer, and sunscreen.
Quick tips on how to travel with your skincare routine:
If you’re like me and prefer traveling with just a carry-on, then your biggest struggle is going to be consolidating all your liquids into TSA-approved travel-sized containers. Listed here are some of my favorite TSA-approved travel essentials that will help you pack your entire skincare routine with a breeze!
Pro Tip: consolidate and downsize by using travel-sized containers.
Prep your skin before your trip
Know you’re going on a trip?
Take some extra time to treat your skin to some pampering. For me, I like to exfoliate my skin about 3 to 5 days before I’m set to leave. I will usually use at-home treatments, but if I have the time, I’ll go to Massage Envy and get a professional facial that includes an exfoliating treatment. The exfoliation will remove all those dead skin cells, making your face more receptive to a daily moisturizer.
See also:
Cover your container openings with plastic wrap
I always think about Ross Geller from the show Friends when I mention this little snippet of advice.
It’s always a good idea to cover any liquid or gel containers with plastic wrap by taking the lid off the bottle and squeezing out the excess air, then placing a piece of plastic wrap over the opening. By doing this, it will give you an extra layer of protection to help prevent products from making a mess.
Failing to do so, you may be yelling “MAJOR SHAMPOO EXPLOSION” while opening your suitcase, just like Ross did.
Put your skincare essentials in your carry-on.
These items include an excellent Chapstick (I don’t know about you, but my lips always get super chapped from the super dry cabin air), hand and face cream, hydrating face wipes, a misting spray; and anything else you use in your skincare routine.
Use a skin moisturizer when you fly
You may think a moisturizer is not needed, especially if you tend to have oily skin. But while you’re on a plane and exposed to that dry cabin air, you should be using plenty of it.
Believe it or not, when your skin is dry, it tends to OVERPRODUCE oil. So make sure to use a moisturizer to keep your skin in balance.
See also:
Skip the makeup or use minimal makeup
All those powders, foundations, and concealers will do nothing but clog your pores, causing unpleasant breakouts—ESPECIALLY when you fly. Do yourself a favor and go all-natural.
If you do want to wear your makeup for a special occasion while traveling, check out my Youtube video:
Wear plenty of sunscreen while you’re traveling
It’s ALWAYS important to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays by wearing sunscreen and a facial moisturizer with SPF. Sunscreen is especially needed when you’re flying in a plane because you’re thousands of feet closer to the sun. Additionally, this rule applies when you’re spending all day on a sandy beach.
Stay hydrated!
It’s not enough just to keep your outside skin hydrated with moisturizers and creams, but it’s also essential to keep your body hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids as well. Water, water, water! If you’re curious about which travel water bottle is best for you, check out my post here!
Wash your face both morning and night
It’s crucial to continually wash off the dirt and oils of the day regularly in order to avoid buildup and bacteria from spreading. Keep to a regular routine of washing your face every morning and evening to keep your skin fresh and clean.
Don’t forget the lip balm
A great skin care tip while traveling that’s often not mentioned is keeping your lips hydrated! Keeping your lips moisturized is essential as well, and preferably do so with SPF. Remember, even your lips can get sunburnt too!
Keep your hands off your face and wash your hands before touching your face
God knows what you’ve been touching throughout the day.
Was it the Eiffel Tower, where millions of other people and their germs have been before you?
Was it the San Diego Zoo, where you were able to pet and feed super cute animals in the petting zoo area?
Seriously. Don’t. Touch. Your. Face. You don’t need all that on your face and all that bacteria causing havoc! When the time comes to wash your face at the end of the day, make sure to wash your hands first!
Use aloe vera for sun-kissed skin
When visiting tropical places and you didn’t bring enough sunscreen, aloe vera is your best friend. It’s great to help soothe sun-kissed and damaged skin and acts as an excellent moisturizer. Applying it will make you feel better in no time!
Traveling can be a lot of fun, but it’s also important to remember to take care of your skin while you’re on the go.
