The Best Guide for Travel-Proofing Your Skincare Routine

Are you travelling soon? This blog will help you in creating a foolproof travel skincare routine that will keep your skin glowing across different time zones. We cover packing, in-flight care as well as destination-proofing your regimen. 

Travelling is quite exciting. New experiences, destinations as well as new memories, you will want to look your best especially when creating the new memories, however with every travel opportunity comes the unfortunate threat of skin problems. 

Dehydrating flights, disrupted sleep routines as well as changing climates will easily lead to your skin becoming stressed, breaking out, or becoming dry and dull. The secret to arriving at your destination and maintaining a healthy glow throughout your trip is to learn how one can strategically travel-proof your skincare routine. 

A well-planned travel skincare routine is not just about bringing your entire bathroom cabinet, that just will add to your luggage weight. It is about smartly adapting and simplifying. 

Phase 1: Pre-Flight Packing

The crux is basically packing what you need in a TSA friendly way. 

Golden Rule of Travel Skincare

Simplify it the core four: Cleanse, Treat, Moisturize, and Protect  (SPF), leave the heavy duty exfoliants and the multi-tasking back at home to avoid overstimulating your skin in a new environment. 

Decanting Process

• Invest in Travel-Sized Containers: Transfer the essential products into small leak proof containers/bottles and jars which are preferably silicon. This is far more reliable than trusting the actual product packaging which might not hold under cabin pressure. 

• Label Everything: Use a small piece of tape to label everything. Or else you might end up confusing your moisturizer for your cleanser. 

• Cotton Swab: You can presoak, cotton swaps in toners/liquid serums and store them in pill cases. This technique comes in handy for a quick-mess free applications, especially if you are in a rush. 
  
  

Phase 2:  In-Flight Skincare

Airplane cabins are considered the most hostile environments for your skins, as it possesses humidity levels which are below 20%.

In-Flight Skincare Rituals

1. Gently Cleanse Mid-Flight: Once the meal service is done, use a gentle, no-rinse micellar water or a calming cleansing wipe to remove impurities and refresh your skin without a trip to the tiny congested airplane bathroom. 

2. Layer the Hydration: Follow-up with the cleansing with a hydration facial mist and a rich ceramide-based moisturizer. Mist adds the water whereas the moisturizer seals it.

3. Don’t count out your Lips and Hands: Use a nourishing lip balm as well as a hand cream frequently as they are more vulnerable to drying out.
   
   

Phase 3: Adapt to Your Routine

One size fits all routine might work at home, but in a when the climate changes drastically.

For Humid, Tropical Climates:

The main focus lies on oil and clogged pores, therefore it is better to adjust your ingredients by switching to a gel-based cleanser and a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer. It might be tempting to skip the moisturizer considering the humidity as dehydrated skin can overproduce oil. Using a niacinamide serum can be a great travel companion to regulate the sebum. 

For Dry, Cold or High-Altitude Climates:

The main focus in these climates is barrier protection as well as hydration. Therefore a cream based cleanser is your reliable companion. You can incorporate a hyaluronic acid serum as well as layer a nourishing face oil to create a protective shield. 

Phase 4: The Post-Travel Reset

Simply making it through the journey is not enough, as your skin needs recovery after reaching home. 

• Deep Cleanse: First night home, use a thorough but gentle double cleanse to remove all the grime and product buildup from your travels.

• Hydration Mask: Apply a deep hydrating mask to recover your moisture level and to calm any budding inflammation. 

• Transition back into activities: Don’t just switch to your active products right after coming back, it will overwhelm your skin, therefore it is best to ease back into it after 2-4 days once you return, to get your skin used to the change again.
  
  

Pro Tips for a Flawless Journey:

• Sunscreen is non-negotiable: UV exposure is stronger at higher altitudes and near reflective surfaces. Apply your SPF-50 diligently.

• Stay hydrated inside out: Drink more water than you think you need throughout the travels.

• Stick to the basics: Rely only on your trusted, proven products