Between early-morning flights, late-night hotel check-ins, and days packed with activities, keeping up with your skincare routine while travelling can be tricky.
And, even if you manage to stay on top of your usual routine, changing weather, climates, and conditions can cause unexpected breakouts or sudden dryness almost overnight.
If you’re heading out on vacation, try these skincare travel tips to help you keep your skin soft and healthy:
How to Prep Your Skin for a Flight
If your travels include a flight, your skin prep should start the night before.
First, take off all your makeup and any other products you might have on your face, and give your skin a thorough cleansing.
Next, ensure your skin has some extra moisture, by using either a moisturizing night cream, a YSL serum, or a face mask.
Before you get on your flight, apply another layer of moisturising serum to help prevent the dryness that flying can cause.
Stay Hydrated
Good skin starts on the inside, and that’s why one of the most important skincare travel tips for keeping your skin looking its best is proper hydration.
Start sipping your water the day before you travel, so that you get on the plane with skin that’s properly hydrated. Then, make sure to pack your refillable water bottle so that you can drink it on the plane as well.
The low humidity on planes can cause a variety of skin issues, and staying hydrated can help prevent many of them.
Sensible Makeup
Whether or not to wear makeup while flying is a hot topic, with plenty of differing opinions. But, when it comes to wearing cosmetics on a plane, the key is choosing the right products.
Skip the heavy foundation and powder products when traveling, as the plane’s low humidity can cause these products to dry out skin even more.
Instead, choose an SPF-infused tinted moisturizer to nourish and protect skin while still evening out skin tone. UV rays on an airplane can be significantly more intense than on the ground, so products with SPF can be especially useful when flying.
Finish your look with a tinted lip balm to add a bit of color while helping prevent dry and chapped lips.
Finally, if you’ve noticed in the past that you’re prone to breakouts when flying, then skipping wearing makeup altogether might be your best bet.
Avoid Alcohol & Caffeine
There are two very simple reasons why you should avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine while travelling.
The first is that both increase the risk of dehydration. Since flying is already dehydrating, adding alcohol and caffeine can compound the effect.
While you’re not likely to develop severe dehydration as a result, your skin will be the first thing to show the effects of even mild dehydration.
Secondly, if you are drinking a glass of wine, a beer, or a coffee while you fly, it means you aren’t drinking water, the thing that will do your skin the most good.
Consider a Face Mask
If you’re prone to dry skin, the problem will only intensify on a flight. So, if your flight is a longer one, consider using a sheet face mask during your journey!
A high-quality face mask can be one of the best ways to let your skin soak up some much-needed moisture, and wearing one while you sleep on the flight is an easy way to beat dryness.
Avoid Hotel Products
The miniature toiletries in hotels have improved a lot in quality over the years. But, while they’re likely just fine for your hair and body, they’re still not a good choice for your face.
That’s why bringing your own products is always a better bet, when possible.
Most facial moisturizers and serums come in small enough bottles that they can be packed on a carry-on. Use a travel-sized bottle for your favorite face wash, if needed.
If necessary, you might even simply decide to buy the products you need when you arrive at your destination.
Change Your Routine If Needed
One mistake that some people tend to make when traveling is not noticing that their regular skincare routine might not be ideal for their current location.
While some skin types can handle changes in climate and condition without an issue, other skin types might react noticeably to a new environment.
For example, if you live in a dry climate and have dry skin, you might have a moisture-heavy skincare routine to combat that.
Traveling to a location with high humidity and following the same routine could make your skin too oily and cause breakouts.
Pay attention to any changes in your skin over the first few days at your destination, and then tweak your current routine as necessary.
Wear Sunscreen
Whether you’re traveling or not, one of the best things you can do for your skin is to always wear sunscreen.
It will help protect your skin from sun damage, prevent signs of aging, and help prevent skin cancer.
Most experts suggest using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 for day-to-day use. But, if your trip is going to involve lots of time outdoors, you’ll want to choose a product with an SPF of 60 or higher, if possible.
Sunscreen is available in a variety of different formulas to suit different skin types, so test a few to find the one that works best for you.
Taking care of your skin when traveling does take a bit more care compared to an at-home routine, but it doesn’t have to be hard!
With these skincare travel tips and a bit of extra care, you’ll be able to keep your skin looking great and feeling healthy, no matter where your travels take you!