Whether you are traveling for work or taking a much-needed vacation, it is important to maintain your skin care routine. Traveling can be stressful, which can disrupt your skin’s equilibrium. But keeping a skincare routine while away from home does not need to be time-consuming or complicated and will help keep your skin balanced no matter what environment you are traveling to.
How Traveling Affects Your Skin
When you are out of your everyday routine, your whole body can be affected, including your skin. A change in weather and environmental conditions, as well as different or heavy foods can wreak havoc on your skin. And most of the time, you are too busy to follow your daily skin care routine when you are traveling. As a result, not cleaning your skin properly can lead to breakouts and uneven, dull skin tone.
Changes in Skin Care Products
If you are only bringing a carryon as luggage, you will be limited to the number of skin care products you can bring—but don’t be tempted to use the ones provided by the hotel. While often quality name brands, they do not address your skin specifically which could cause skin issues. Instead, stick to your usual skin care routine as best as possible. There are several ways to combat some of the skin issues that can arise from traveling.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Hydration is the key to having good skin while traveling. Skin dryness during and after air travel is caused by the lack of humidity on the plane. Skin looks best when the air humidity is between 40-70%—but most airplane cabins are at 20% humidity levels. The absence of moisture can leave the skin very dry. To compensate, the skin produces more sebum to combat the dryness which can lead to oily skin that breaks out.
When you are on the go, you often don’t drink as much water as you normally although you should drink more both before and after a flight. A reusable water bottle can help keep you hydrated during a flight. A facial mist spray is another way to hydrate and moisturize the skin on the go when you are not drinking enough water. This is especially helpful if you have dry or combination skin.
Carry Facial Wipes
Facial wipes can be a lifesaver during travel. On a long overnight flight, it is often not feasible to remove your makeup and wash your face properly. Pre-moistened facial wipes or towelettes that remove makeup are a great option as they can be used anywhere and will instantly cleanse and refresh your skin. Rosewater toner is another great skin pick-me-up after a long flight.
Bring a Few High-Quality Products
While traveling, you may not have the time to use or the room to pack your entire skin care collection. However, choosing to pack a few products that do double duty will ensure that your skin stays on track.
- A facial cleanser is important to make sure that the skin is free of dirt, pollution, and impurities.
- Moisturizer is a must as it will minimize skin issues caused by dryness.
- A serum with hyaluronic acid can replenish moisture while volumizing the skin.
- Eye Cream. Eye puffiness is a common after effect of travel, but a good under eye cream can reduce swelling.
- Lip Treatment. A lip treatment with SPF will help to prevent dry and chapped lips, as well as prevent sun damage.
These products will help keep your skin on track even if you are short on time when traveling.
Use Sunscreen Daily
Sunscreen is a must for taking care of the way your skin looks. Even if you are not travelling in the heat of summer, a good sunscreen is needed if you will be outdoors during your travel. A sunscreen with SPF 30+ is a must-have for travel. If you are taking a beach vacation to a warm destination, reapply often. Don’t forget about your lips which also can become dry from the airplane.
Skin Care Product Sizes
It’s important to abide by the guidelines of the TSA (Transportation Security Administration), which has rules as to how to pack certain items. You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes in your carry-on. These are limited to containers that are 3.4 ounces or less per item. Larger items can go into a checked bag, but if you are not planning to check any luggage, you will have to stick to 3.4 ounces per item. If your skin care products are larger than the limit, you might consider using reusable travel bottles for your favorite skin care products. Most serum bottles are ideal travel sizes so keep it in the original bottle, so the correct applicator is with it.
Maintaining Good Skin Care
Maintaining a skin care routine even when away from home is just as important as when you are home. Even if your packing space is limited, a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen are the bare minimum you should bring. And when you return from vacation, getting rid of dead skin cells that have collected on the surface with an exfoliator will help your skin get back to normal faster.
BB Aesthetic offers a full line of skin care products available both at our office and online. You can purchase them with free shipping at www.bbaesthetic.com. We have a variety of products in travel sizes that are perfect for the road or your busy lifestyle that will help keep your skin care routine on track.