Amazing meals, warm weather, a hiatus from your inbox, maybe some sand between your toes…what’s not to love about going on a summer holiday? Well, there is one thing actually. Whether you’ll be taking a road trip or hopping on a plane, the close quarters, exposure to sun and the elements and changes to your diet and routine can wreak havoc on your skin. As a Vancouver laser clinic with expertise in a variety of skin concerns, we have to say, putting the effort into giving your complexion a little TLC and taking a preventative approach are the key ways to keep skin looking great during vacation. To help you do just that, NuAGE Laser & Skin Care has compiled some of our favourite travel skincare tips.
1. Get a Head Start
Your travel skincare routine starts before you head out on your adventure. If you’re really on top of things and your plans are a few months away, you may want to consider laser hair removal. Not only will you save a ton of time and hassle by not having to wax or shave while you’re trying to relax, razor burn and irritation from your standard hair removal methods can be exacerbated by sun, sweat, chlorine, and saltwater since your pores are open and no one wants to rock their brand new swimsuit only to have red bumps ruining the look. When we perform laser hair removal in Vancouver at NuAGE, we’re usually able to help clients achieve smooth, hair-free skin in four to eight treatments. However, you will want to start early! Also, the few weeks or so leading up to vacation, try to focus on getting your skin into the best shape possible so that your complexion won’t take a huge hit over the course of your trip. This means finding the right products for your skin type and needs and sticking to your regimen. Gently exfoliate once or twice a week but don’t overdo it as exfoliating too frequently in the summer can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. We now carry ZO Skin Health and Jane Iredale products. One of our favourites in the ZO line is the Ossential® Daily Power Defense. It’s a lightweight moisturizer packed with antioxidants and vitamins that fight free radicals (those pesky reactive molecules that damage the skin and our DNA). It’s a must-have during the summer and on sunny vacations. Using it before you depart, will help to repair any existing issues, protect against future damage and ensure skin is soft and supple.
2. Pack Smart
There’s no need to bring every full-size container you own or your entire makeup bag. Yet, when it comes to deciding what to pack in your carry-on to keep your skin looking beautiful, we’re all for potent, multitasking formulas and travel-sized versions. ZO Skin Health has several convenient travel kits that each contain five airport security-friendly products in them. It’s everything you need in a box. Additionally, ZO offers a Skin Brightening Program kit that’s meant to brighten the complexion and prevent photo damage (sunspots and melasma flare ups), which is always a plus when you’ll be soaking up the sun. Regardless of where you’re going, don’t forget the most important of the skincare travel essentials: sunscreen!
3. Infuse Your Skin With Moisture
One of the best travel beauty tips for long flights, or any mode of travel actually, is moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Airplanes are essentially moisture-free thanks to the re-circulated cabin air, which is why they’re notorious for causing dry skin, lips and eyes. Slather on a moisturizing serum before getting on the plane so it has a chance to soak in. Top that off with sunscreen because, yes, you can still get a sunburn through windows. If you have oily skin, you might be tempted to skip this step. However, don’t, because oily or combination skin will attempt to overcompensate for the lack of moisture in the air by sending oil production into overdrive. Keeping the skin balanced will help you avoid both ends of the spectrum. Even if you’ll be in the car, the air conditioning can have a similar effect.
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4. Lighten Up
Scaling back your makeup routine for traveling will prevent a meltdown. A thick layer of foundation or too much of any product probably won’t withstand the heat or a dive in the pool. Clients sometimes ask us for backpacking beauty tips and the idea of lightening up in that case holds true as well. If you’ll be outdoors for prolonged periods of time or you won’t have access to fresh water to wash your face at the end of the day, makeup overload will clog your pores and could lead to breakouts. A good tinted moisturizer will give you a healthy glow. Swipe on some waterproof mascara, blush and a lip balm with a hint of color to complete your vacation look.
5. Sun Protection is Essential
You should protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays every single day, year-round. This will reduce your risk of skin cancer and ward off premature aging. We recommend layering a chemical sunscreen like a moisturizer with SPF under a physical sunblock like Jane Iredale’s PurePressed® Base Mineral Foundation, which is in a lightweight powder form, for complete protection. As we mentioned, we carry Jane Iredale products at NuAGE and the innovative formulas are an excellent way to get the coverage you crave and the protection you need. Use sunscreen about 30 minutes before leaving the house or hotel and reapply frequently throughout the day. If you’d like to look bronzed, we’re obsessed with Jane Iredale’s Tantasia® Self-Tanner & Bronzer. You can get a sun-kissed look without putting your skin at risk.
6. Stay Hydrated
Skin hydration starts from the inside. Be sure to keep up with your water intake while you’re on the road. Drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Fruits and veggies are also hydrating and will give you a dose of vitamins. If you’re in the heat, drinking alcohol or you just got off a long flight, drinking some extra water can’t hurt.
7. Fake a Good Night’s Sleep
Long days of traveling and enjoying your destination’s nightlife can make it hard to get a full eight hours of beauty sleep. That doesn’t mean you have to look like you skimped on your rest. Try putting your eye cream in the fridge for an instant refresh. It will also help reduce puffiness under your eyes. Break out your highlighter to perk things up as well.
8. Use a Quality Primer
Primer is a summer makeup and skin savior. It will tame oil, shrink pores, even out your skin tone, soften fine lines and create a smooth, matte base that makeup will stick to so it lasts longer even on hot days. We love Jane Iredale’s Smooth Affair® Facial Primer & Brightener. There’s even a formula for oily skin and it has the added bonus of soothing blemishes.
There you have it, our tips for keeping your skin healthy while traveling. To stock your carry-on bag with powerful, skin nourishing makeup and formulas, swing by NuAGE Laser and shop our selection of Jane Iredale and ZO Skin Health products. If topical solutions aren’t cutting it and you want a dramatic skin makeover before your summer holiday kicks off, schedule a free consultation with us and we’ll assess your complexion and help you decide if certain laser treatments, facials or injectables could be the answer. Safe travels!
