There is nothing more exciting than jetting off on a much-needed vacation. But while the destination is always worth the trip, traveling can have a big impact on the health and appearance of your skin.
Alongside maintaining your regular skincare routine and utilizing high-quality anti-aging collagen supplements to support skin balance and hydration, implementing more targeted approaches can significantly boost the health and appearance of your skin, regardless of where you are.
The Impact of Travel On Your Skin
Dry, tight skin and under-eye puffiness are common symptoms for many people when they travel. While it may feel like your skin is simply having an ‘off’ day, these changes can actually be predicted, thanks to physiological shifts that impact circulation, hydration, and fluid retention.
Airplane cabin air is famously very dry. Studies show that humidity levels can easily drop below 10% within the first few hours after takeoff, causing a rapid decline in skin hydration. When the outermost layer of the skin loses water and moisture, it results in dullness, tightness, and increased sensitivity.
When traveling, whether you are on a plane or in a car, you typically sit for long periods of time, which causes blood to pool in your body. This is further exacerbated by changes in cabin pressure and circulation, making swelling more noticeable, especially around the eyes, where the skin is thinner and more delicate.
Long-haul flights across time zones often lead to jet lag and disrupted sleep patterns, which can affect blood flow, lymphatic drainage, and skin repair. This can cause your face to appear puffy and lead to dark circles and bags under the eyes.
Finally, when we travel, we often resort to eating more convenience foods, which typically have higher sodium levels compared to home-cooked meals. This increase in salt causes the body to retain more water, leading to swelling in the hands, feet, and face. Alcohol consumption compounds these issues by slowing down circulation and causing your skin to become more dehydrated.
Skincare Tips
Maintaining your daily skincare routine is crucial while traveling. But including some additional, science-backed strategies can ensure your skin receives the treatment and care it needs.
Hydration
Hydration is the most important building block for healthy skin, especially when it is exposed to dry environments. Ensuring you drink enough water will not only make you feel a lot better and help your body perform necessary daily functions, but it will also help to maintain overall fluid balance, supporting the elasticity and function of your skin.
Combine this frequent hydration with skincare products like moisturizers and serums containing hyaluronic acid, which will trap water in your skin and slow down moisture loss that naturally occurs. When traveling, sip water frequently as opposed to chugging it all at once, and apply a light moisturizer just before take off and routinely during longer flights.
Sunscreen
Even while you are traveling, your skin is frequently exposed to UV rays. This can happen while traveling to and from the airport and sitting near a window in an airplane or car. UV radiation is one of the biggest causes of premature skin aging because it triggers the creation of free radicals, which are unstable molecules that damage the skin cells and collagen.
The most effective way to combat this potential damage is by applying a broad-spectrum, high SPF sunscreen daily that supports and maintains your natural skin barrier and overall skin health. When traveling, use a lightweight, hydrating sunscreen that can be applied over your moisturizer.
Proper Sleep
When you sleep, some of the most important functions of the human body occur, including crucial skin repair. During this time, blood flow to the skin increases, and vital processes such as cellular turnover and natural collagen production accelerate.
However, when sleep is frequently disrupted, which tends to happen while traveling, these processes are not able to perform as they should, and the consequences of these disruptions can show almost immediately. If you are traveling somewhere in a different timezone, try to adapt as soon as possible while limiting alcohol and caffeine consumption close to bedtime.
Cold & Heat Therapy
Temperature-based therapies have been found to directly influence circulation, inflammation, and fluid movement in the skin. Studies reveal that cold therapy helps to constrict blood vessels, which can mitigate fluid buildup and swelling, particularly around the eyes, where the delicate skin is more susceptible to circulation issues.
Comparatively, heat therapy can also be beneficial for the skin. Heat naturally increases blood flow, improves circulation, relieves facial tension, and supports collagen production. While you won’t be able to achieve the full effects of these therapies with a hot washcloth or an ice cube, they can be used in a pinch when you don’t have access to more specialized devices.
Post-Travel
Once you have arrived at your destination and deplaned, take a moment to give your skin a much-needed boost before leaving. Wash your hands thoroughly, grab a makeup wipe, and cleanse your face, creating a clean surface to apply a gentle layer of moisturizer to soothe any dry skin. If your destination is particularly sunny, follow this up with a lightweight but protective sunscreen.
When you arrive home or to your hotel room, give your face a proper wash using a hydrating cleanser that will revitalize your skin, boost your skin’s natural protection barrier, and restore plumpness and a healthy glow.