You’re packed and ready to get on that plane and enjoy your destination. Traveling can be relaxing, but preparing for it entails a lot of stress; you have to think of your budget, clothes, and itinerary. Your skin would definitely be the last thing on your mind. But Tatler explains how the skin can be negatively affected by your traveling. Low humidity and dry recycled air in the plane causes your skin to be dry and oily. Meanwhile, change in the air and your schedule when you’re in your destination can cause breakouts.
Here are a few ways you can take care of your skin while still enjoying your travel:
Keep your Skin Moisturized
Aside from the air in the plane, skin can also dry because of the change in atmosphere from your destination. That’s why it’s important that you always bring a trusted moisturizer with you in your carry on. When choosing a moisturizer, Pretty Me’s review of the AR Vitamin E Cream notes that you should do a patch test first. Doing so helps you avoid buying moisturizers that might do more harm than good to your skin. A good moisturizer also shouldn’t feel greasy or sticky so it wouldn’t get in the way of your activities.
Use Sunscreen
A lot of traveling also means a lot of sun. While there are some moisturizers with SPF, their primary use is to keep your skin from drying and they won’t be enough to save your skin from UV rays. Wirecutter’s review of Coppertone Ultra Guard Sunscreen Lotion shows that a good sunscreen offers broad-spectrum protection, meaning it protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreens you can use for your travels should be easy to apply and don’t leave you feeling sticky or smelling like chemicals.
Simplify your Skincare Routine
You can practice a simple skincare routine even before you have to travel. Self explains how the basics are only a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. There aren’t any problems using a lot of products so long as they aren’t irritating your skin, but using just these basics might actually make your other skin problems calm down. However, if they don’t, you can add or replace products depending on your need. Simplifying your skincare routine will make it easier to pack products for your trip, and it will cost less. It also takes less time to do your routine, ensuring your skin still completely gets the care it needs.
Get your Beauty Sleep
Not getting enough sleep might make your skin more likely to have problems. We all want to look good in pictures, but lacking sleep will give you swollen eyes, paler skin, and more wrinkles. But also consider the factors of your sleep. Healthline lists tips on how aside from getting a full night of sleep, you should also make sure that where you’re sleeping is out of the sun’s reach in the morning. Use your cleanser and moisturizer before sleeping to remove dirt and oil, and allow your skin to hydrate overnight.
Stay Hydrated
Your moisturizer can only do so much. In our Tips to Keep You Fit Even in Quarantine article, we discussed that you need at least 64 ounces of water a day to keep your skin healthy. The skin is the biggest organ in the body — and the less water the body has, the less it functions. Not drinking enough water will make your skin dry and flaky, making it more likely to wrinkle and less resilient. Staying hydrated gives you healthier and younger-looking skin. On your travels, you can consider having your own water bottle with you so you don’t have to keep buying.
Research your Destination’s Climate
When you’re packing for an out-of-the-country vacation, it’s best to pack skin care products that suit your destination’s climate. According to Dr. Adriana Lombardi, director of Skin Cancer & Cosmetic Center of NJ, humid climates call for products that won’t clog your pores. Otherwise, you’ll experience a breakout due to congested pores. Warm and dry climates may not cause breakouts, but they are very drying, so a good moisturizer is important. For colder and snowy climates, you should apply as much sunscreen as you would on a beach. The combination of the cold outdoors and indoor heating can also cause chapped skin and lips, but moisturizer and lip balm can help avoid this.
Go Beyond SPF
Sunscreen alone isn’t enough to give you all the protection you need. Aside from sunscreen, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also suggests wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants/skirts to help provide protection from the sun. Clothes that are made from tightly-woven fabric can give the best protection. Darker colors are also better than lighter colors. However, these kinds of clothes aren’t always practical. In such cases, keep in mind that a typical T-shirt has an SPF level of 15 maximum, so you should use other kinds of protection as well. A hat that shields the face, ears, and back of the neck is ideal to give you the most protection to your head. For the tender skin around your eyes, use sunglasses.
Caring for your skin while traveling isn’t complicated. You might need to keep reminding yourself for a few days, but at least you end up looking nicer in photos of your trip.
