As much as I love travelling, it really can wreak havoc on your skin, especially if you don't look after it. When I came back from backpacking last year, I wrote this post about how I was fixing up my skincare to help my skin recover, but even while I was out there I tried my best to keep my skin moisture topped up.
The problem with that is, you can't bring your whole skincare cupboard with you in the attempt to keep your face and body covered in lotions 24/7. You're going to need a dream team of multi-tasking products that will keep your skin looking as fresh and glowing as before you stepped on that plane.
I've put together some of my favourite travel hacks and products to help tame your travel skin for your next trip away, whether it's to a sunny tropical island, humid city break or minus
degree temperatures skiing holiday.
degree temperatures skiing holiday.
KEEP MOISTURISED
Stay with me as I know this seems obvious.
I had to have products in sight while travelling so that I didn't forget to moisturise because however much you say you'll moisturise you do end up forgetting from time to time.
Multi-purpose balms and lotions are always essential when I travel as they do the job without having to take lots of separate bottles and tubes with me.
When I'm working on film sets, most of the time the makeup artists will have a Dr PawPaw* in their kit as it works so well! They normally apply it on the lips, especially if we're filming outside and are getting chapped lips.
Without fail, this ends up in my carry-on with me as I can apply it easily to my lips, cuticles and any super dry patches of skin while on the go.
When it comes to face creams, I like one that again can double up as a hand cream but still be super light on the skin.
Another makeup artist favourite is Embryolisse, a brand that I've talked a lot about before. I have found their products are great for treating dry and eczema-prone skin, as well as keeping my skin hydrated in the winter.
I find their Hydra-Mat Emulsion* to be really cool on the skin, fantastic when you're trying to calm skin that is flaring up. I don't find this super mattifying on its own- I normally have to pair it with a good CC cream or foundation to stay matte all day.
However, I do find this super moisturising without leaving a residue, which means you won't feel like a sticky mess and making it great for applying to other parts of the body too.
I just want to take a side note to mention that I'm a really big fan of this brand. At the same time as creating fantastic products, they are also taking steps to help preserve our coastlines and marine life.
They donate a percentage from their sales to the Blue Marine Foundation, as well as working closely with marine biologists and environmentalists to make the most of what the sea has to offer sustainably.
When I'm working on film sets, most of the time the makeup artists will have a Dr PawPaw* in their kit as it works so well! They normally apply it on the lips, especially if we're filming outside and are getting chapped lips.
Without fail, this ends up in my carry-on with me as I can apply it easily to my lips, cuticles and any super dry patches of skin while on the go.
When it comes to face creams, I like one that again can double up as a hand cream but still be super light on the skin.
Another makeup artist favourite is Embryolisse, a brand that I've talked a lot about before. I have found their products are great for treating dry and eczema-prone skin, as well as keeping my skin hydrated in the winter.
I find their Hydra-Mat Emulsion* to be really cool on the skin, fantastic when you're trying to calm skin that is flaring up. I don't find this super mattifying on its own- I normally have to pair it with a good CC cream or foundation to stay matte all day.
However, I do find this super moisturising without leaving a residue, which means you won't feel like a sticky mess and making it great for applying to other parts of the body too.
EXFOLIATE A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK
I promise you, once you start making the effort to exfoliate regularly, you will really see the difference and notice when you haven't done it for a while.
Once I started exfoliating my body while I was getting a tan, I found my skin became brighter and more glowy once I started giving my skin a scrub every couple of days.
I prefer my exfoliators to be moisturising as I find it helps soothe the skin straight away after scrubbing the dead skin cells away, and one of my favourites at the moment is the Living Sea Therapy Sea Flora Extract Body Polish*.
As well as leaving my skin glowing and silky smooth, this also smells incredible! The smell takes me right back to the ocean, with a mix of seaweed, sage and spearmint that leaves you feeling awakened.
I just want to take a side note to mention that I'm a really big fan of this brand. At the same time as creating fantastic products, they are also taking steps to help preserve our coastlines and marine life.
They donate a percentage from their sales to the Blue Marine Foundation, as well as working closely with marine biologists and environmentalists to make the most of what the sea has to offer sustainably.
CRACK OUT THE ALOE VERA GEL FOR YOUR AFTER SUN
This hack completely revolutionised my thinking about after-sun care.
I bought some aloe vera gel after reading a tip online about how fab it was for treating sunburn, but as I was packing it I was really unsure how effective it would be.
I'm certainly glad I brought it with me.
We applied this every time we got sunburnt, even if it was only the tiniest amount, and every time the soothing gel melted into our skin the irritation would start to go.
After a couple of days of using this, our skin would settle down and most of the time wouldn't peel, much to our relief.
I'm now completely sold on the stuff, having stocked up on this humungous bottle from Banana Boat for our next trip in the sun.
SOOTHE PUFFY EYES WITH WET COTTON PADS
If you don't have cucumbers to hand, then a great and simple alternative to bringing down puffy eyes while travelling is to place cold wet cotton pads over and under the eyes for a short amount of time.
With all the gels, masks and creams out there, sometimes it's nice to strip it all back and there's nothing more natural than water!
I normally dampen the pad and then hold it on each area for about 10 seconds, and if I'm in a hurry or on the go that normally does the trick.
Just pop into the airport toilets and you'll come out feeling a bit more human in a matter of minutes!
REJUVENATE SKIN WITH A FACE MASK
Never underestimate the power of a face mask.
In the past, I have not packed face masks out of sheer laziness and then would go on to complain about how my skin was dull/flaky/irritated.
I really wish I had started using this hack myself sooner.
A lot of people use sheet masks on the flight, but if you're not brave enough to face the stares you might get from fellow passengers and flight crew, then here's what I do.
I apply a face mask the night before or the morning I'm flying, depending on my flight time, and then when I arrive at my hotel.
I find this a lot more enjoyable than applying on a flight, as I can thoroughly relax without worrying about what people may think, or if any bacteria might sneak into my skin while I'm treating it.
This may sound odd to some, but I just feel better doing it this way.
I don't mind looking a little grey when stepping off the plane (nothing a little tinted moisturiser can't fix) and once I'm at my hotel I pop a face mask on while unpacking.
At the moment I'm still loving these sheet masks from Masque Bar* as they always give me a wonderful bright complexion while tackling any blemishes or pigmentation.
APPLY HAND SANITISER REGULARLY
You won't realise how well this works until you start doing this.
Yes, you may get the nickname 'clean freak' but our hands can collect a lot of bacteria, and out of habit most of us touch our faces a lot, transferring bacteria onto our skin which causes blemishes.
By using hand sanitiser while travelling on planes and public transport, you seriously reduce the chances of picking up any nasty bacteria, keeping your skin blemish-free, and stopping you get ill too.
At the moment I'm finishing my last Bath and Bodyworks sanitiser, but normally these ones from Cuticura and Carex are reliable and inexpensive.
TOP UP MOISTURE WITH A FACE SPRAY
The number of times I used my face spray when travelling was ridiculous.
As part of my in-flight beauty, after giving my face a wipe with some micellar water I would spritz a face spray over my face to lock in moisture and relax me for the flight ahead.
I love ones that I can slip easily into my hand luggage or handbag when out and about for a quick top up.
I didn't take this one with me as it has a glass bottle, but I'm a big fan of the Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist* to hydrate my skin and keep it soft and supple.
Also if you know me, I adore any products with rose extract in it, as it's one of my favourite scents.
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So there you have it, my top travel hacks to tame your skin. Hopefully, now your skin should be as fresh as when you stepped onto the plane. Let me know if you discovered any new tips or products from this post that you'll be trying out next time you travel.
This is a really great post! Going on holiday or travelling an really take a toll on our skin because of the heat and sun! Will be saving this post for my holidays xx
ReplyDeleteAh that's great to hear! xx
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