With stories of businesses sprawling around the world and vacation travel deals all over the internet, you might be no stranger to the jet-setting lifestyle. But just because most major U.S. cities are only a couple hours’ flight away, does not mean that it is easy or carefree. Fighting your way through highway traffic and massive parking lots, arriving hours early to make your way through terminal crowds, and praying you make it through security in time, all take their toll on you—body, soul, and to your largest organ, skin.
Add to that the dry air, pollution, and jet lag of air travel, and you’ve got a perfect storm for stressed-out skin. Fortunately, with a little preparation and a few simple tips, you can keep your beauty complexion as fresh and healthy as if you had just stepped out of a love spa.
1. Pre-pack your skincare kit
Buy extra of your daily beauty regimen essentials in a travel size (or transfer to a 3 ounce or smaller container), check that your liquids fit into a quart-size zip-lock bag to meet TSA restrictions, and you will never have to worry about being stuck without your favorite product. When one of them runs low, text yourself a picture of the bottle so you remember to refill it as soon as you get home.
Take a gentler path. Travel is hard enough on your face without adding in rough exfoliants or deep treatments. Leave the heavy-hitters home and pack gentle cleansers and nourishing moisturizers, like SkinMedica’s Dermal Repair Cream.
2. Shields up in your flights
Your most likely dangers while flying are not the stuff of disaster movies — your wellness takes a hit from the intensity of the sun coming in the windows and the heightened levels of radiation you are exposed to as a result. If you like the view from the window seat, protect yourself with a broad spectrum sunscreen that also protects against infrared rays like SkinMedica’s Total Defense + Repair SPF 50 (or try the tinted version to even out your skin tone), and apply a serum with antioxidants, like Obagi’s Professional-C Serum 20%.
3. Pass on the spritzer
In the arid cabin of a plane, the recycled air is drying out your skin. A good emollient moisturizer locks in your skin’s moisture and keeps your skin’s natural barrier strong without a dry spot in sight. Spritzing your face may feel good in the moment, but ultimately the evaporation makes your skin even drier.
4. Delayed gratification for the impatient
During those frustrating flight delays, take advantage of the time to give yourself a gentle facial massage. It will help your circulation and soothe you. Be sure to wash your hands first, and apply a facial oil to keep from pulling on your skin (yes, even if your beauty complexion is oily!)
5. Take time to refresh
Whether you are heading home or hitting your hotel, you are going to feel a little fried by the time you arrive. Prep pampering one of your sheet masks, some soothing eye products like Obagi Elastiderm Eye Complete Complex Serum (hint: pop it in the fridge for extra puffiness-reducing power), and kick back for a cat nap while your skin—and beauty—replenishes.
You might not have control over flight schedules, traffic, or the fate of your baggage when you travel, but with these tips at your disposal, you will shield your skin from air travel’s environmental stressors. Touch down on the tarmac with glowing skin that’s ready for work, play, or blissful relaxation!
With our five simple, straight forward steps, you are all set to tackle the chaos of the airport for your next trip! To sum up our tips, pre-pack your skincare kit in your carry on, apply sunscreen, avoid spritzing your face, treat yourself to a facial massage, have a sheet mask and eye serum to use on arrival.
Looking for more details on the products mentioned above? Read below and click on each product to place your order:
SkinMedica’s Dermal Repair Cream. The system’s premier product, Dermal Repair is the most advanced formula combining the highest levels of Antioxidants, Vitamins C and E, Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, and Omega-3 Fatty Acid in a luxurious moisturizing base. Each application delivers a more vibrant, younger and healthier complexion. The Dermal Repair Cream contains the highest levels of lipid-soluble antioxidant vitamins C and E, helps repair sun-damage and reduce age spots, rehydrates, conditions, and firms the skin, encourages skin’s ability to repair and rehydrate itself, and provides protection against environmental aggressors.
SkinMedica Total Defense + Repair Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ is a rejuvenating super-sunscreen that provides maximum broad-spectrum sun and antioxidant protection against UVA/UVB rays, free radicals and environmental aggressors. The formula also enhances skin’s natural ability to repair and restore itself to optimal condition, preventing the appearance of premature signs of skin aging due to chronic exposure to infrared radiation. With regular use, fine lines, wrinkles and sun spots are diminished and skin texture, smoothness, tone and evenness improved for a healthier, younger-looking appearance. SkinMedica Total Defense + Repair Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ is suitable for all skin types. The formula has easy absorption and silky smooth application. Another benefit, no white residue!
Obagi Professional-C Serum 20% is the strongest and most powerful serum in the Obagi Professional-C line. With its twenty percent concentration of Vitamin C, it effectively protects the skin against damage from environmental stressors and neutralizes free radicals and molecules that can harm the body. Without the use of these antioxidants, the free radicals are easily able to damage cellular membranes. The Professional-C Serum 20% assists to reduce signs of aging, prevent formation of fine lines and wrinkles, insulate the skin cells against further damage, and revamp collagen production for firm and resilient skin. Daily use of the serum will leave a more radiant, smoother, firmer, more youthful looking complexion. The serum is ideal for those with sensitive and dry skin as it will not irritate the skin.
The Obagi ELASTIderm Eye Complete Complex Serum strategically combats the problematic signs of aging around delicate eyes. Active ingredient Malconic Acid helps rebuild the elasticity to alleviate bags under the eye area, as well reduce puffiness that can hinder the appearance of healthy, bright looking skin. Caffeine is another ingredient present in the ELASTIderm Eye Complete Complex Serum that actually reduces the appearance of dark circles under and around the area for a more vibrant, energetic look and feel.
The Obagi ELASTIderm Eye Complete Complex Serum further astonishes with its innovative roller ball technology that allows an easy and effective application that assists smooth and reduce puffiness while allowing the serum to deeply penetrate the skin. Incorporating the Obagi ELASTIderm Eye Serum in a daily skincare beauty regimen will greatly reduce crow’s feet, fine lines and wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles around the eye area, and help achieve the ideal youthful, bright, smooth look.
