It may still be less than 10 degrees in many parts of the UK, but summer is coming, and we’d be lying if we said we weren’t already dreaming of holidays. Sun, sand, and…skincare? As much as we love a getaway, travelling wreaks havoc with our bodies, and our skin maybe suffers most. So, we’ve gathered our top travel tips to keep your complexion as clear and healthy as possible during the travel season!
Packing
Packing your skincare routine can be frustrating, particularly if you have many steps. Here are a list of the essentials, to help you cut down (but still tick the boxes) on what your skin needs:
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Makeup Remover / First Cleanser
Self- explanatory- you need to be fully removing all sunscreen and makeup at the end of every day. And yes, even after a few drinks! No excuses here.
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Gentle Second Cleanser
With lots of outdoor time and sun/chlorine exposure, you want something super gentle and non-stripping.
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Mist / Toner / Essence
To cut down your packing, select only one of the above. Preferably an option that is soothing and hydrating.
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Serum/ Ampoule
For nourishment and intense care. Favourites of ours include Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum and Dr Ceuracle Royal Vita Propolis 33 ampoule.
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Sheet Masks
We love opting for soothing sheet masks when our skin is weather beaten. Our Mizon range gives lots of hydration with thin, adhesive material.
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Moisturiser
We tend to go for more gel creams in summer time, for that light but moisturising texture.
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Sun Cream
This is so important, and an option with broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB is especially necessary. We love Innisfree Aqua Drop Suncream SPF50+ PA++++.
Samples
Holidays are always a great reason to get through any minis or samples you may own. However, you don’t want to take too many products you haven’t tried before. Piling on a bunch of new products, in combination with a different climate and (we’re guessing here) a more extravagant diet, and it could cause you skin issues. Try to stick to products you know agree with your skin, with limited newbies!
The Journey
Makeup Removal (or Makeup Free!)
Hands up if you’ve taken a 10-hour flight and not removed your makeup? Let’s be honest, most of us have. However, keeping makeup on throughout your entire journey is just as poor a choice as sleeping in your makeup.
There are two options here- first, go makeup free until you arrive at your destination. If you feel comfortable going makeup-free, this is definitely the easiest option. No fuss, and you can relax knowing you’re not going to smudge your eye makeup with your in-flight sleeping mask. You can always do an application in the last hour of the flight or in the airport bathrooms before you arrive at your destination?
Option two, throw some makeup remover wipes in your bag to remove your makeup on the plane. You could go as far as to take makeup removal wipes as well as a mini cleanser to wash your face in the bathroom. But even if you just take some gentle wipes, get that makeup off your face!
Hydration
You probably already know you need to drink a ton of water on an airplane, but what about hydrating your skin? Once your makeup is removed, get your skin some hydration. We enjoy taking a mini mist to spritz across your face throughout the flight. Just be careful not to spray the passengers either side…
If you’re confident enough, a sheet mask is a fantastic option. You can kick back and relax, watch a film, and know your skin is being taken care of. We love options with a light essence for hydration but no stickiness. However, be careful not to let it dry out, because then it will begin to attract the moisture back out from your skin.
You have arrived at your destination
We don’t want to spend our whole trip thinking about our face, so be minimal but ensure you’re protecting your skin.
Sun Protection
Most important is sunscreen- even if you have a darker skin tone or “tan well”. People with all complexions can suffer from sun damage, and even burning once can increase the risks. Slap on sunscreen and top it up every 2 hours or even more frequently if you’re in and out of water. Because we hate reapplication as much as you, we also tend to opt for shady spots to lounge in.
Moisturise
Chlorine is horrendous for your skin, and if you’re dipping in the pool, you need to make sure you’re replenishing your skin. Again, hydrating your skin with toners and essences is important, but then make sure you’re opting for a quality moisturiser that will both moisturise and prevent further moisture loss. Some of our favourites include Sioris Stay With Me and Dr Ceuracle Royal Vita Propolis 33 Cream.
Enjoy your trip!
No one wants to stress about their face on holiday, so take our tips and enjoy your time away! Any beauty travel suggestions you’d like to share? Let us know below!
Katherine Spowart from skinfullofseoul.com