One of my least favorite parts of traveling is how I never know how my skin will react to the travel or the climate of the new location we are heading to. So many times I have gotten on a plane with perfectly clear skin and by the end of the flight I feel small bumps creeping up – NOT what you want for a vacation!
It has taken me years to try and figure out a routine but with our amped up travel schedule these last two years, I think I have nailed down a pretty good solution that works for me
Here are my tricks for travel skincare:
1. Pre-flight care
The night before my flight I do a face mask to make sure my skin is as good as it can be. It’s an uphill battle while traveling so I want to start with my best foot forward! I go between deep mud masks with purifying ingredients and deeply moisturizing sheet masks to really keep my skin hydrated.
Here are some of my go-to masks:
2. Don’t wear makeup on the flight (or bus/train/car)
It may sound scary at first, I know a lot of people don’t like to head out in public not feeling “put together” but not wearing makeup on a plane is the best decision I have ever made. Nothing dries your skin out and makes it go into oil production overdrive like airplane air. I really feel like your skin can’t breathe and that circulated air just takes all the life out of your face. The best way to keep pores clear is by not putting anything in them!
3. Clean and moisturize while traveling
If you followed step 2, then you should be ready for step 3 which helps maintain your skins moisture and radiance while traveling. I like to keep face cleansing wipes in my carry-on to use on my face as a mid-flight refresher on longer flights and as a landing refresher on short flights. I also keep a travel-size light moisturizer with skin-clearing ingredients like tea-tree oil in my bag to use after cleansing to help keep my skin moisturized and matte.
4. Hydrate
Your skin dries from the inside out so it is important to stay hydrated! I typically chug a bottle of water on the drive to the airport so I have an empty bottle to take through security. Once through, I fill it up and keep drinking. I may have a glass of wine on the flight (especially since it is free on international flights) but I always get water with it to help counteract the dehydrating properties of alcohol.
5. Post-flight care
Once the flight is over, the battle for your skin is still raging and I like to keep fighting for clear skin by using masks at night too. I typically pack 1-2 types of cleansing and hydrating masks to alternate while traveling. Since I wear more makeup when we are on vacation, this helps keep my skin super clean at night as well as help keep it balanced and not go into shock from all the changes. These masks help nip things in the bud before they start to become problems. I don’t just rely on masks though, I try and pack soothing face washes that will get all of my makeup off without irritating my skin. I really love Sunday Riley products for this.
Extra Skincare Tip
If you follow me on Instagram and have watched my Insta-stories you know that the one thing I do before every flight is head to the Duty Free section and load my face up with free skincare samples. I love to pick the most expensive serums and lotions to prep my face before the flight. Chanel eye cream? Don’t mind if I do.
The reason I don’t include this in my steps is because you never know how your skin may react to different products so it can be a bit risky to try something new right before a flight. That being said, I have never had an issue and honestly I think putting on rich anti-aging serums and eye creams right before the flight really keep my skin extra fresh. You can always pack your own to use but for some reason, this just makes me feel fancy and is now part of my travel ritual!
If you’re traveling soon and stocking up on skincare products, the Sephora VIB + Beauty Insiders Member Event is happening April 20–23: All VIB members will receive access to shop Spring Bonus products at 15% off, and Beauty Insider members will be able to shop the same at 10% off (If you aren’t a beauty insider you can sign up now and get that 10% off).
I buy 90% of my skincare products from Sephora so I will be stocking up! I love getting all the samples with my orders so I can carry quality products in my carry-on!
Happy Travels!
Xx
Kali