Holiday travel is frequently a source of stress and anxiety, which unfortunately can be reflected on our skin through redness, puffiness, dullness, dryness, and irritation. Here are five tips for maintaining healthy and glowing skin during the busiest time of year. We can’t abandon our beauty routine at a time like this!
Tips for crafting a travel beauty routine
1. The rules of three
You can’t have the glam if you don’t follow the rules of three: What you eat, drink, and do before, during, and after travel impacts your mood and your entire wellbeing. Plan your beauty routine like your wardrobe—based on your trip destination, skin type, means of transportation, age, and health concerns. Then, when you return home, take care of your body, mind, and spirit. Make sure you have time to rest and rejuvenate.
2. Beauty routine on the plane
To keep your skin glowing at all times, you’ll also want to have an in-flight clean beauty routine. It should include refreshing, re-hydrating, and calming your skin. And it’s even more essential for a red-eye flight. Without it, your oily skin may become even more oily, and your dry skin even drier and flakey.
The low humidity on the plane (20%, while the norm is 60%-80%) causes most issues. So, don’t forget the extra layer of cream or serum. During my long-haul flights, I love to use sheet masks and gently massage my face to improve blood circulation. As a result, my skin is already refreshed, hydrated, and glowy when I get off the plane.
3. Nutrition on the go
When you travel, your entire body needs to be hydrated and energized to avoid puffiness, bloating, and frequent gas. I remember when I used to get stomach cramps because I ate pretzels on the plane. To get the glow back during travel, simply “eat your water,” especially when bottled water is unavailable. The most hydrating fruits and veggies are cucumbers, watermelon, oranges, lemon, strawberries, cantaloupe, grapefruits, apples, and similar produce. Steer away from greasy, oily, salty food—especially 35,000 feet above sea level.
4. Avoid drinking alcohol.
Alcohol causes or accelerates redness, puffiness, skin aging, and dullness—especially when consumed 35,000 above sea level because your body experiences hypoxia (limited ability to absorb oxygen). A safe place to enjoy your favorite whisky martini is at the airport; a safe time is between flights, before take-off, but never in the air.
5. Fresh breath without toothpaste and toothbrush
Frequent travel can wear on more than just your body and skin. It can also take its toll on your mouth. But oil pulling can make bad breath and dry mouth a thing of the past. Have you ever felt the anxiety of trying to brush your teeth in a foreign country, unsure if using the local water may cause a stomach bug? An organic option called oil pulling is the process of swishing oil in your mouth on an empty stomach. It pulls out harmful bacteria and buildup, refreshing your mouth, teeth, and tongue in a way harsh toothpaste can’t match.
Take time to carefully craft your travel beauty routine so you can travel like a pro and look fabulous along the way. Follow these rules to keep the Hollywood glam throughout your entire trip.