4. Try to Bring Your Usual Products With You
That way, you won’t be asking your skin to adjust to all-new products on top of the other stressors associated with travel. “If you know your skin-care routine works, you should stick with it, even when traveling,” Garshick says. Mraz advises seeking out sample-size versions of your essentials. That’s a better option than simply pouring your oils and serums into plastic containers. “Most skin care needs to be stored in a specific way to preserve its effectiveness, so don’t pour it into a travel-size bottle without doing your homework first,” she says. Most vitamin C serums, for instance, are best kept in a cool, dark place away from extreme heat (which is why they’re often sold in dark bottles). Basics, like cleansers, usually do just fine in a travel-size bottle, though, Garshick says.
5. Avoid Using Potentially Irritating Hotel Skin-Care Products
“In this day and age of restrictions on bringing creams and lotions on planes, many people will leave their usual products at home and use whatever is provided to them at a hotel or resort,” says Scott Flugman, MD, a dermatologist with Northwell Health in Huntington, New York. But it’s best to skip those little lotions and soaps stocked in your hotel bathroom. “These products frequently contain fragrances and preservatives that may further compound the usual travel-related dry skin problems,” Dr. Flugman says. This is especially crucial if you have sensitive skin, Garshick says.
It’s also a good idea to bring your own small travel-size bottles of nourishing shampoo and conditioner, as hotel brands could dry out your scalp and cause itching, dryness, and irritation. You can also use a hair mask when you arrive at your hotel after traveling, to lock in moisture.
6. Prepare for Acne Breakouts
7. Treat Yourself to a Sheet Mask or Facial Mist While en Route
There’s no shame in giving your skin some love while you’re on the road. “I love to treat my skin to a hydrating mask on a long flight,” Mraz says. Patricia Farris, MD, a dermatologist based in Metairie, Louisiana, advises packing a hydrating facial mist and spraying it periodically throughout your trip to keep skin moisturized. Sure, you may get a few questioning looks from fellow passengers, but the joke’s on them when your skin is hydrated and smooth as the plane touches down.
The Takeaway
- Traveling can cause your skin to act up, but dermatologists say there are simple steps you can take to lessen the disruptive effects of long flights, drives, and unfamiliar climates.
- Focusing on the basics, such as hydration, stress reduction, and sun protection can go a long way in terms of keeping your skin calm.
- Sticking to your usual skin-care routine by bringing your own products rather than using the unfamiliar (and potentially bothersome) options provided to you might also save you from skin aggravation.
- Preparing for the worst — whether it’s an unexpected breakout or the desert-like air on a plane — can make traveling easier on your skin.
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