I recently came back from a conference that had me away from my family and product closet (yes, a closet) for nearly a week. Packing for a trip like this is always a challenge for me—I’m a weather worrier and tend to over-pack “just-in-case.” Why the airlines will not allow a 3rd suitcase for boots is beyond me. However, I never have an issue packing up my skin care routine, and taking it on the road.
You can have great skin anywhere–really!
Whether you are staying at the Peninsula Hong Kong, or the Comfort Inn in Malvern, Arkansas, your skin is being exposed to dry, hotel air. The air conditioning and heaters suck the moisturizer out of the air, causing your skin to feel drier and tighter. This is also the reason that many of us wake up with blood-shot eyes—not (necessarily) the trip to the lounge the night before.
Traveling skin is more prone to:
- Dryness
- sluggish/sallowness
- Breakouts
- Infection
To avoid this, spending just a little time planning out a what to pack can be the difference between glowing skin that is the talk of the town, and skin that makes you want to stay in your room. Before I get into specifics, let me share 3 tips that can make a big difference without any products involved.
1. Pack an empty SIG bottle and take it with you.
You should aim to drink up to 1.5 times the water that would normally drink at home. Water will not only work to hydrate your skin, but it will regulate all your internal systems, and allow your body to be better able to fight any type of infection, including acneic breakouts. The last hotel I stayed at charged nearly $8 per bottle of water offered in the room–yikes! I was ever so happy that I had my SIG with me.
2. Brush your teeth before you shower or wash your face.
The pH balance of toothpaste is sufficiently alkaline as to do damage to the skin. This is why some people tend to breakout a lot around the mouth even when they are blemish free elsewhere. Your skin thrives when it is slightly acidic (4.5-5.5 on the pH scale). Toothpaste can range from 8.5 to 10 on the pH scale. When the skin is taken out of that acidic balance, the cells fight back to try to reclaim it. The activity can cause increased oil production to protect the pH imbalance in the skin, and may result in breakouts. To help alleviate this condition, simply make sure you brush your teeth first, rinse well, and then cleanse your face as normal.
3. Keep damp washcloths or your nightstand when sleeping
The artificial air in hotels bothers me–every single cell in my body feels void of moisture, and I never really fell FANTASTIC when I wake up. After years of trying different things to avoid that feeling, I stumbled upon this. When I wake up, I roll over, grab the washcloth, rest it over my entire face for 5-10 minutes, and then get up. I’ve not got anything scientific on this, but it feels good and keeps my skin happy.
Try the preceding tips, and your should see/feel a difference almost immediately. The very best piece of advice I can give you on having awesome skin while you travel is this….
Create, or buy a basic travel size skin care kit
(and leave it in your suitcase at all times)
You are 100% more likely to use “good-for-you” products if they are available when you travel. You may be lucky enough to stay at a hotel or inn that supplies great product amenities, but more than likely, the products are not the best choice for your skin, or skin conditions. This is particularly important if you are trying to start, or maintain a skin care program that is designed to produce results. Even two or three days of sub-par product use can change the pH of your skin, making it a challenge for the rest of your treatment products to work.
A basic kit should contain*:
- Cleanser
- Toner
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen
- Eye drops
- Break-out spot treatment (just in case)
- Anti-bacterial ointment
- Eye Cream
An expanded travel kit could also contain:
- A couple of adhesive bandages
- Nail Clippers
- Very small nail file
Quite a few cosmetic companies make convenient travel-sized kits that are small enough fro travel, and have remarkable results on your skin.
How to contain it?
Plastic baggies–even if you buy a kit that comes in it’s own container. This ensures that your kit never breaks open, or spills its liquid contents on your clothing or computer. Also, it can help you get through security more quickly. Some agents are sticklers for the 1-quart baggie rule.
Follow these tips and suggestions, and your skin will be happy when you travel.
* If you are traveling by air in the United States, be sure to adhere to all TSA rules regarding liquids and gels.
What do you pack for your skin?
