By Medical Doctor, Aesthetician and Founder of Orchid Aesthetics Clinic Dr Ellen Moila
Travelling can sometimes take its toll not only on your pocket but your skin. While travelling, your usual skincare routine can easily get disrupted as you navigate different weather conditions and the busy itinerary you have set. Keeping this in mind, maintaining healthy and radiant skin while on the go doesn’t have to be complicated. By packing a few essential skincare items you can still maintain a healthy glow throughout your travels.
Here are a few skincare travel essentials and ingredients to keep safely tucked into your cosmetic bag to ensure your skin stays hydrated, protected and most importantly – on the glow!
- Cleanser: a gentle and hydrating cleanser is important to remove excess oil and other impurities from your skin without any harmful effects of stripping away your skin’s natural moisture. If you cannot find a travel-sized version of your trusted cleanser, opt for cleansing wipes for added convenience. Maintaining clean skin is a foundation for the rest of your sacred skincare routine especially after a long day of catching flights, road-tripping or sightseeing.
- Moisturiser: varying changes in climates and long flights can leave the skin feeling both dry and dehydrated. Be sure to pack in a rich and lightweight moisturiser that can help lock in hydration without clogging any pores. Always be sure to pick one that suits your skin type – a gel-based formula for oily skin or a cream-based formula for dry skin. This is essential to keep your skin adequately moisturised when moving between climates.
- Sunscreen: a girl’s best friend. Irrespective of where you’re headed, sun protection remains crucial. Exposure to UV is usually heightened more during air travel due to the high altitudes and the exposure to UV can be worsened if you’re headed to a sunny destination. Make sure to include a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a SPF 30 or higher which will protect your skin from harmful rays.
- Hydrating body butter: Travel, especially air travel can leave the skin feeling tight and dry due to the low humidity in cabins. A hydrating body butter is the perfect solution for locking in moisture. Be sure to pack in one that’s both rich and non-greasy to give you added comfort during the journey.
- Lip balm with SPF: No one wants to travel and make it through their trip with the discomfort of chapped or sunburned lips. Make sure to keep a moisturising lip balm with SPF on hand to both protect your lips from dryness and to safeguard against sun damage.
As we all know, air travel can be particularly harsh on the skin. For longer flights always consider using hydrating skin pads or facial mists to keep your skin moisturised and to give it that needed refresh. To ensure your skin remains healthy and balanced on those long trips; double-check to ensure these essential ingredients are included in your essential skincare products:
- Hyaluronic Acid: this helps your skin retain its moisture, ensuring your skin remains plump and hydrated throughout
- Vitamin C: this will protect your skin from free radical damage and environmental stressors
- Ceramides: this is needed to strengthen the skin’s natural barriers which can be comprised during climate changes and from the dry air during flights
While some skincare products and ingredients are near perfect for travel, others can do more harm than good simply due to their increased sensitivity to climate change. You may consider avoiding:
- Retinoids: these causes lead to more skin sensitivity and can be heightened if you’re spending more time in the sun
- Exfoliating agents: strong exfoliators are known to increase dryness and irritation, this can be extremely heightened in already harsh climates
- Toners: this can be a contributing factor to dryness, more especially if the toner contains alcohol which can strip the skin of its natural oils
If you have sensitive skin, it’s even more important to be cautious with the products you pack in.
By including these travel-friendly skincare essentials and adapting your routine to the new environment, you can keep your skin happy and glowing no matter where your travels take you.