Balancing your skin care routine while traveling may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t need to be. After all, travel takes a big toll on the skin, so it’s even more crucial that you take care of your skin while traveling. Whether you are a digital nomad always on the road or just jetting off on a fabulous vacation, these are the things you should know first about travel skin care.
Why Travel is Bad For Skin
First, we need to understand the major suspects that do quite a number on our skin while traveling. Below are the main reasons our skin suffers while abroad.
1. Sun Damage
It’s very likely that you’ll spend more time in the sun than you would back home. Whether at the beach, or simply exploring a new city, the sun is relentlessly pounding into your skin and causing premature aging. And in case you don’t know, sun damage is the number one scientifically proven reason for premature skin aging. So sun damage should be at the top of your concerns.
2. Pollutants
Many cities and sometimes entire countries suffer from poor air quality. The high levels of pollutants in the air can damage and clog the skin heavily. Then factor in the usual levels of smog, smoke and other things present in every day life, and the result is skin-aging effects when left unprotected.
3. Unhealthy Diet
When traveling, it’s common to allow yourself to over indulge from time to time. We’re not going to not drink wine and inhale cheesy pasta and pizza in Italy, right?! But the unhealthy eating patterns can quickly affect the skin (ever get a nasty pimple on the second day of a trip?. Moreover, in certain countries the sanitation and quality of the ingredients of food can be questionable at best, which can wreak havoc on both the immune system and skin.
4. Airplanes
It should be no surprise that airplanes are the skin’s mortal enemy while traveling (after the sun). With the arctic breeze level air-conditioning constantly blowing into your face, or the constant recirculation of dry artificial air, it won’t take long for the in-flight dehydration effect to take place. Also doesn’t help that airplane food is unhealthy, and you are unlikely to get good sleep (if any) while on board.
5. Jetlag
Changes in time zone and restless nights of jet lag will leave your skin dull and well, tired looking. You can bandaid your low quality sleep with all the coffee and concealer in the world, but long term damage will be done if unattended for.
Rules of Travel Skin Care
Now that you understand the ways travel can negatively affect our skin, you may ask how we can combat the constant assault on our skin while traveling. After years of traveling full-time and living my life out of a suitcase, I’ve come to these 7 absolute skin care commandments, simple enough to be implemented by even the busiest jet-setter.
The 7 Travel Skin Care Commandments
1. Travel sized items only, that can go in carry on
This is both to save space, and to ensure your beauty products are small enough to go in carry on, to have in-flight.
1. Don’t buy expensive products
You don’t need expensive products to see real results. Plus, there is always the chance you’ll lose it, spill it or get it taken away by TSA en-route. It’s better to go for high quality but low-priced products that won’t ruined your day if you lost.
3. Never let your sunscreen run out
How much you let UV rays penetrate your skin determines how fast you will (or won’t) age. It’s not an exaggeration either when you hear people say you need sunscreen everyday. At the very minimum, always make sure you have a face sunscreen of SPF 30 – 50 on you at all times.
4. Prepare an in-flight beauty kit
The airplane is an unforgiving place for your skin, and if left to run its course will have you looking dull and ashy upon landing. Always pack essential items to use before boarding and also in-flight.
5. Cleansing is key
Not cleaning your face is like trying to cook on a pan without cleaning off the grease, or painting your car without cleaning off the bird sh*t. Plus, you are exposed to way more nasty stuff and pollutants when traveling, so as a rule cleanse twice a day.
6. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Unless you are in your teens or just have exceptionally oily skin, everyone can benefit from extra hydration. For travelers, it is even more critical to replenish all the hydration loss from flying, hot or dry climates, swimming in the sea and all the other things we get up to that dry out our skin.
7. Pack an Eye Mask
How well rested you are instantly impacts your appearance. An eye mask is my secret weapon to giving myself the best chance of getting quality sleep in any time zone or place.
How to Take Care of Your Skin While Traveling
So, now that you have the non-negotiable foundation rules, let’s dive deeper into the nitty gritty of how to maintain and even improve the state of your skin while traveling.
Side Note: A lot of products I will recommend for the ultimate travel skin care routine are from one brand. I’m not sponsored (I wish), it’s only because their products are inherently travel-sized, affordable and I see amazing results.
Protecting Against Sun Damage
There is no way around it: if you want to delay the aging process you must protect yourself from the sun. I’m not saying to stay away from the beach or to only jump in the pool at 3 AM. But I am saying that you need protection. I would never recommend traveling without:
Good Sunscreen
By good, I mean at least SPF 30 sunscreen, but if it’s closer to SPF 50 even better. Anything above that tends to taper off in effectiveness, and regardless, you’ll still have to re-apply every 1-2 hours.
When it comes to picking a sunscreen, you have chemical sunscreens and physical sunscreens. Without getting too deep into the science, chemical sunscreen is basically a chemical that’s absorbed into your skin and blocks UV rays from causing damage. Physical sunscreen is almost always made of tiny particles of titanium dioxide, which sit on top of the skin physically blocking UV rays from your skin.
Which is better? Chemical sunscreens tend to set in more clear, while physical ones can leave a white cast. However, chemical sunscreen has been shown to contain carcinogenic compounds which your body absorbs after topical use. It’s also bad for the ocean and environment, so on principle I’d recommend physical sunscreen.
A good physical sunscreen brand is the mineral UV filter 30 SPF Sunscreen by The Ordinary.
A Hat
Sunscreen is probably enough to protect your body, but your facial skin needs to be treated with more care. If you are traveling, especially to a tropical place or during warmer months, you need a hat.
Not only are these super cute for taking instagrammable photos, but they are a physical barrier against your face and the sun that you can see.
I like to pack along an easily foldable athletic cap for hikes, and a floppy wider brimmed hat to match more girly outfits or to wear at the beach.
Hot Tip: Go for hats that fold easily, and won’t lose its structure from being stuff in a suitcase. If you choose to bring one that isn’t bendy, wear it to the airport instead of cramming it in your luggage.
Protecting Against Pollutants
There are numerous harmful pollutants in the air from everyday life. When traveling, these harmful substances can be amplified by horrendous airplane cabin air, excessive air pollution in certain cities, or just going out and getting your face dirtier. You can’t avoid them, but you can remove them and even eliminate them from your skin even after exposure. Here’s how:
Cleansing
I have been guilty of neglecting my cleansing routine while traveling, especially on long days when I come home and just collapse in bed. I have since learned the errors of my ways and now know that cleansing is key. If you don’t clean your face of all the impurities after a day out, any other skin care treatment will be rendered useless.
As a rule cleanse twice a day, once in the evening and once in the morning. If this is still too difficult to juggle, at the bare minimum cleanse before sleeping.
Oil Cleansing
Generally, most dermatology reports I’ve read do not recommend using oil as your only cleanser, as it tends to leave something behind. However, if you are like me and don’t wear face make-up, it could be acceptable.
I prefer oil cleansers because they are natural, and usually offer some antioxidant goodness as well as cleansing. I currently use rosehip seed oil, and can say it’s a godsend. It never leaves a greasy residue if you wash it off properly (use a gentle towel), plus it has vitamin A to revitalize the skin.
For a travel sized option, go for The Ordinary rosehip seed oil.
If you have dry skin, wear make-up during the day or use a heavy SPF sunscreen, go for a cleansing balm instead, which is more robust in cleaning everything off your face.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are used like extra goodies for the skin. They help the skin remove pollutants and free radicals to stop damage before it can happen.
Vitamin C
I always use a vitamin C serum in the morning, after cleansing and before applying SPF (and make up).Vitamin C absorbs into the skin, and acts like a body guard against pollutants and free radicals.
On top of that, the Vitamin C is also working to speed up skin turnover, meaning you’ll have a fresher complexion.
I love the Vitamin C serum from The Ordinary because it offers an astonishing 23% vitamin C content. The higher the percentage, the more effective it is so this is one of the best vitamin C products for a budget price available.
Hot tip: You will become more sensitive to the sun, so you need to be on top of your sunscreen game while using this. If going to the beach or somewhere with extreme sun exposure, maybe even skip the vitamin C for the day.
Pycogenol
Pycogenol is an extract from marine bark, which is said to help the skin speed up it’s collagen production and improve both hydration and elasticity. After a couple uses you’ll feel the difference and be hooked! It makes your skin so soft.
I use the pycogenol serum from The Ordinary, and apply it after my other serums nightly, and before any retinol or moisturizer.
Chemical Exfoliant
Travel will throw your skin in for a loop, and as a result it may become triggered to overproduce sebum. What this means is blackheads, clogged pores and for some, pimples and acne.
It’s smart to exfoliate once a week, or at the least once every 2 weeks. I do not recommend physical exfoliants, because the harshness of these substances causes micro-tears in the skin, causing inflammation and sensitivity. Pair that with going in the sun a lot and you have a recipe for redness and other disasters.
Instead choose a salicylic acid chemical exfoliant, and only use it in the areas needed. If you don’t know which those are, look for where you already have blackheads, excess oil and larger pores. For most of us, it’ll be our nose and maybe forehead.
A good exfoliant is the 2% salicylic acid solution by The Ordinary, or the salicylic acid masque which is almost always sold out.
Protecting Against Hydration Loss
Almost everyone can benefit from hydrating their skin more, especially when traveling as there are many ways your skin loses moisture. Here are some things to pack to hydrate and plump up your skin.
Hyaluronic Acid
Your body produces hyaluronic acid naturally, but we can always benefit from more. Each molecule of HA can hold up to 4 times its weight in water. What this means when absorbed into the skin, it will pull in moisture from the lower dermis or air, giving you a smooth, soft and youthful skin texture.
Hot tip: Apply it to damp skin after cleansing to allow the extra water to soak into the skin with the HA.
A good hyaluronic acid is the 2% HA + B5 from the Ordinary.
Face Oils
If you want to use facial oils, use them in your evening routine so they can work their magic overnight. There are many types of facial oils to experiment with. If you need hydration choose one high in vitamin E like argan oil. If you want to add antioxidants go for rosehip seed oil.
Hot tip: Many countries have their own local oils that can be used for the face. Sometimes these cost a fortune when bought abroad so go ahead and try out some new ones while traveling. I got high quality moroccan (argan) oil while in morocco for a very low price.
Moisturizer
A moisturizer is crucial for both hydrating skin, and also stopping moisture from escaping it. You also need to apply a moisturizer at the end of your skin care routine for the evening to help it set in.
The key to a good moisturizer, is not how expensive it is. Simplicity goes a long way with moisturizer.
I am currently using The Ordinary Moisturizer, which goes on smooth and with no shininess.
Protecting Skin on Airplanes
Airplanes do a lot of damage to your skin. If you are in for a long haul flight, you are even at more risk of skin damage from prolonged exposure to the dry, nasty air on airplanes.
I strongly recommend having go-to pre-flight and in flight products to protect your skin. This is my skin care line up for flying day:
- Cleansing oil
- Hyaluronic acid
- Non-greasy moisturizer
- Under eye cream
- Eye mask
- Rosewater spray
First, I’ll cleanse my face at the airport before boarding. You’ll want to remove all make up and everything off your skin because the last thing you want is you be sitting for hours with all that clogging up your pores.
After thorough cleansing when the skin is still damp, I’ll apply my hyaluronic acid. This will pull the water into my skin, and protect it from the drying effects of the cabin air.
Apply a non-greasy moisturizer over it to seal it in and you’re good to go.
While in flight, you can apply an under eye cream before dosing off. I always use my eye mask on board when sleeping, because you never know when they will turn on the light and disturb you.
Finally, before landing I’ll go to the bathroom and cleanse my face then spritz myself with rosewater. During the flight, the skin tends to produce excess sebum as a reaction to the overly dry air. The rosewater is a toner, and helps to absorb any excess oil so I don’t look shiny AF when landing. Plus, you’ll feel refreshed, which god knows we need after a long flight.
Damage Repair
No matter how valiant your efforts are, skin damage will happen while traveling. I mean, I would never dream of saying no to a beach day or diving trip, just to protect my skin!
That’s why on top of preventative measures, we also need repairing measures.
Retinol
Retinol is a time tested, science backed substance proven to not only help maintain healthy skin, but also undo aging and skin damage. A very hefty promise, but when used correctly, you too will see the difference in your skin.
Retinol is a form of Vitamin A, that kicks skin cell-turnover into overdrive. This means sloughing off dead cells to uncover new, fresher skin for a more youthful appearance. It can also reduce fine lines, dry up excessive sebum and reduce redness and hyperpigmentation. It’s really the holy grail of skin care products.
The downside, is it makes you very sensitive to the sun. You shouldn’t be using it everyday either, as it can be drying. So it’s recommended to use retinol only 2 – 4 times a week. Apply it in the evening and only when you don’t have a beach day planned the next day.
I am currently using the 0.5% retionol in squalane oil by The Ordinary, and seeing amazing results. It goes on after cleansing + water based serums, but before moisturizer. Be sure to wash your face thoroughly in the morning.
Serums
The truth is you don’t need serums to have a solid skin care routine, the same way you don’t need nail polish or jewelry to get dressed everyday. But it makes everything so much better. Think of serums like a treat for your skin. They supply extra goodness to your skin to give it extra love and nourishment.
There are about 101 types of serums out there, so before getting overwhelmed identify your target skin needs, and choose 1-3 maximum.
I currently use “The Buffet” by the Ordinary, which is like a superfood cocktail for the skin. There is a formula including collagen peptides, which is an absolute powerhouse for restarting your skins natural collagen production. It’s water-based so I’ll apply oil-based products after it.
Hot tip: Apply serums after hyaluronic acid, to allow better absorption into the skin.
Skincare From Within
I don’t travel with supplements, since I live on the road it would mean lugging around some big jars that I don’t really need. However, there are many proven benefits from supplement use, and for trips where you’ll want to look your best, bring small packets of these for your travel skin care routine:
Collagen Supplements
Collagen is the secret to youthful skin. As we get older the skin produces less of it, so supplements can really help. Basically everyone I know who uses them, raves about them and claim to see major results fairly quickly.
You can find them on Amazon, here.
Algae Supplements
Otherwise known as omega-3, this is a fatty acid supplement derived from algae (instead of fish). Not only does it help prevent rapid aging, it can also protect against sun damage, to support healthy skin and hair.
Skin Friendly Diet
A kick-ass travel skin care routine can only do so much, if you aren’t maintaining your overall health. It’s hard to keep a healthy diet when traveling, especially when you feel obligated to overindulge in unhealthy ways or you aren’t familiar with the local food products. I myself am not so strict with my diet when traveling, because a huge part of travel for me is eating new food. No way I’m going to France and not stuffing my face with wine and cheese!
However, for every “cheat” day (or week) I have, I try to balance with healthier overall habits. Here are some simple rules to abide by:
Fruit & Veggies Everyday
If you are traveling to a tropical place, you should really take advantage of the exotic fruits available. Not only are these delicious and cheap when not imported, they do wonders for the skin. In Southeast Asia I always replace one meal with a fruit bowl or smoothie (ask for no or less added sugar). Exotic fruit like papaya and dragonfruit offer unique micronutrients that are good for the body and skin. Coconut water is also super hydrating, also good for skin.
Even if you aren’t in a tropical places, incorporating fruit or veggies into each meal helps a lot. I try to eat both raw and cooked veggies everyday. If it’s a country with questionable hygiene, just go for the cooked stuff.
Reduce Alcohol
I recently fell into a night of binge drinking and the immediate effects on my skin were alarming. I woke up with deep under eye bags and dry, tired looking skin. Yikes!
Until I mostly stopped drinking, I never noticed the toll it took on my skin. Now after largely removing it from my life, when I do drink I can see the huge negative impact it has.
Many studies report that alcohol is among the top 3 causes for premature aging, after sun exposure and smoking. The silver lining is that a glass or two of red wine may offer some health benefits. So no need to go cold turkey. Just don’t go overboard at the margarita happy hour at your hotel and you’re good.
Drink More Water Than You Think You Need
It shocks me to learn how little water many people drink, including friends of mine I had considered beacons of health and fitness. You can spend a fortune on skin care products to provide hydration to your skin, or just do what our bodies are meant to do, and drink water.
Moreover, when traveling we are vastly more dehydrated than at home. From beach days, to hiking trips, to food poisoning, or just spending more time outside, there are many reasons we lose hydration on the road.
Water flushes out toxins in the organs and body. Since the skin is essentially just another organ, you need to drink up to hydrate and keep skin pure.
I like to bring my own water bottle, so I always have some water on hand and always know how much I’m drinking.
Other Travel Skin Care Tips
Get Better Sleep
Ever wake up after a restless night of jet lag or tossing around in your economy seat and noticed immediately the effects this had on your skin? A good night of sleep goes a long way. I used to choose sleepless nights of partying with other travelers, or pushing myself to sleep less while traveling to “see more” of the destination. And honestly, it’s not worth it. Get a sleep mask, listen to your body, and schedule in at least 6 hours of sleep every night. Your skin and mental health will thank you.
Be Consistent
Your travel skin care routine only works if you are consistent. So once you decide what your routine is stick to it, even if it means starting with something easy like “I promise to cleanse my face properly each night before bed”. Once you conquer one routine, you can add new ones like “I’ll moisturize after cleansing” and finally “I’ll apply sunscreen everyday”. That’s really all you need to build an effective routine, everything else is just extra.
Stay Fit
Health and beauty work from the inside out. Keep your body and overall health in check, and your skin will follow suit. Plus, when you travel you have so many opportunities to move everyday. Try to pencil in one travel activity a day that involves exercise. It can be swimming at the beach, taking a dance lesson, going for a hike or just going on a walk around the city.
And that wraps up this guide to travel skincare, and all you need to know about how to take care of your skin on the road. It doesn’t take much to take good care of your skin, just a few key products, a solid routine and commitment. Thats all there is to mastering travel skin care!
And over to you? Do you have any travel skin care secrets? I’de love to hear them, so let me know below!
Anja says
Great post! I used to take minimal products on holiday and my skin looked terrible. Now I take a bit more but make sure I cleanse and also apply my usual moisturizer which I fill in a travel tin. And cannot emphasize sun protection enough!
Krista says
I always get the worst skin when I’m travelling and I never know how to fix it. This post will definitely come in handy though so thank you for sharing these great tips!
Pro Travel says
This is such current information for me! My skin and I are terribly tormented by acclimatization and my hair is becoming unruly. I took vitamins, couldn’t really enjoy the local food. THANKS FOR THE INFO.