Going on a holiday might seem like the perfect antidote for the stress and fatigue that we experience as normal consequences of our daily lives. We come back feeling recharged, renewed, and ready to face the challenges of our daily lives again. Not everything is la vie en rose, though, as traveling can and does wreak havoc on some important aspects of our health like eating mindfully, regularly passing stool, as funny as this might sound, and maintaining a glowy complexion.
Have you noticed that the skin looks like a hot mess after a trip? If the location is sunny, you will certainly experience all the side-effects of UV radiation and high temperatures: burns, breakouts, freckles, hyperpigmentations, oiliness, etc. If your destination is an urban area, with all the pollution involved, you will likely perceive issues such as dehydration, dullness, impurities and uneven skin tone. Last, but not least, cold weather will cause your skin to become dry, sensitive, rough, and have more visible aging signs. But the joy of spending some time out of the house and office seems worthy, right? Well, there is no need for you to sacrifice your skin's health when traveling. You do need, however, to be proactive and carefully plan beforehand your list of
travel skincare essentials
, specifically the Timeless Reset Face Cream and Silky Pearlfection Face Serum. Upgrade your skincare routine!
And that is not all, because there are other measures that you can employ to prevent the dreaded
vacation skincare
nightmare. Let's have a look first at the steps we should take before boarding the plane.
Pre-flight Skincare Routine: Steps and Instructions
- Do a little bit of research and find out what are the climate conditions of the place you are going to visit. This will help you determine if you need to tweak your regimen somehow.
- Never introduce new products while traveling. Only add those formulas that have been previously used/tested.
- Pack two sets of skincare: one for the plane and another one that will go into your luggage. I know this might sound overwhelming, but you never want to find yourself in a situation where your luggage is lost or will arrive later on. You need a backup plan in case something catastrophic happens. In your luggage you either pack a travel-size set of your favorite skincare products or decant them into smaller containers. Those formulas that come in an airless container should not be decanted as they would lose their properties. The set that you are going to take with you will need to comply with the TSA guideline¹.
-
Liquid cosmetics
- Like eyeliner, serums, moisturizer, perfume, nail polish, etc. All of them should come in a resealable container (3.4 ounces or less) and placed one in one in clear, plastic, resealable 1-quart-sized bag (the 3-1-1 rule)
-
Non-liquid cosmetics
- Such as solid balms, lipsticks, powders, etc., are not subjected to restrictions
-
Toiletries
- The 3.4 limitation applies to them if they are liquid, but if they come in the solid form they are exempt.
-
- Take with you only those products that are an absolute must: there is no need to follow a 10-step routine. It is not practical and, actually, less is always more. Remember that complex regimes can make you prone to skin reactions, and you certainly do not want that while on a holiday.
-
Avoid at all costs the
in flight skincare routine
. I know this sounds shocking, but the truth is that the humidity inside the plane is down by 20%². This means that all the products will quickly dry out and won't provide any benefit. You will just be wasting your money and your time. Not to mention that the requirement to wear a face mask* makes it practically impossible to improvise a “flying spa”. Instead, make sure that you properly prep the skin before boarding the plane using the steps below:- Cleanse your skin with a mildly acidic cleanser. Thoroughly remove it with a soft face cloth.
- Finalize the cleansing process with an alcohol-free toner: you can use hydrosols or diluted apple cider vinegar.
- Exfoliate the skin: look for formulas that contain enzymes (papain, bromelain), Gemstones (amethyst, tourmaline) or mild acids (lactic, gluconolactone).
- Treat yourself to a super hydrating mask: made with aloe vera, mushrooms, vegetable hyaluronic acid, trehalose, polyglutamic acid, etc. This is the step wherein you can add hydrating eye patches. Both this and the exfoliating step should ideally be performed the night before the flight.
- Finish with a highly nourishing essence, serum and moisturizer. Active ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, niacinamide, squalane, and light-weight vegetable oils should be present in those formulas.
- For those with super dry skin types, pour a few drops of a facial oil and layer on top of the moisturizer by pressing against the skin.
- Protect with mineral-based sunscreen. This is the only product that we recommend to re-apply on the plane every 2 hours if the time of your flight involves exposure to sunlight.
In-flight Skincare Routine: Steps and Instructions
While we do not advice to perform a skincare routine on the plane, we do encourage you to follow some simple actions that will promote a healthy complexion throughout your vacation:
- If you are taking a long flight, change your face mask every 4 hours.
- As soon as you board the plane, set your clock´s time so that it matches that of your destination.
- Sleep at night (destination time). Wear an eye mask and earplugs to shield you from the light and sound.
- Drink plenty of water and eat only light foods such as fruits and salads (these can be requested when you book your flight). Alternatively, practice intermittent fasting.
- Stretch your legs and walk along the aisle regularly to activate your circulation.
Post-flight Skincare Routine: Steps and Instructions
Once you land, it is imperative that you remove all that debris and bacteria that accumulated during the flight. Plus, your skin will likely get irritated and will need to be soothed. In order to achieve these goals, we recommend the following steps:
-
Double cleanse
: you can use either a micellar cleanser or an oil-based cleanser followed by your foaming or creamy/milky cleanser. Removing these formulas with a soft facial cloth will help promote a deep cleanse, but only glide it and do not rub it. - Apply an alcohol-free toner with a cotton pad.
- Layer a calming essence or serum.
- Feather in your moisturizer.
- Finish with a sunscreen (in the morning), 15 minutes before UV exposure as that is the time the product needs to bind to your skin and form a protective film.
- Two-three days after your flight, apply a soothing mask.
Skincare Must-Haves: Northern VS Southern Hemisphere
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Southern Hemisphere |
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Travel Friendly Skincare Tips: Northern VS Southern Hemisphere
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Northern Hemisphere |
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Southern Hemisphere |
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It is perfectly okay to plan your
travel skincare routine
ahead of time, but it is also important to relax. Obsessing about not having the time to dutifully apply all your products will only stress out your skin. Just focus on cleansing well, hydrating and protecting your complexion and you will be fine. Your me-time doesn't have to be overly complicated. Just have fun and enjoy your holidays. If our blog post got your wheels turning, make sure to visit our Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Linkedin profiles for more information on how to take better care of your skin.
References
[1] https://traveltips.usatoday.com/tsa-rules-cosmetics-carryon-luggage-110529.html
