Your Skincare Routine Essentials
Pre and Post Sun Care
One thing we’ll always need in the summer is a good
sunscreen. Being proactive with sun protection can prevent burning, ward off fine lines and wrinkles, and keep your complexion even and healthy. Be sure to bring a sunscreen you like and have used before, because if you just “wing it” you may end up not liking what you purchase, which reduces the likelihood that you’ll commit to using it as often as you should.
Be sure to also pack some relief for after your time in the sun. Pure aloe is great, and so is a
product with St. John’s Wort and Tamanu Oil. After-sun care is crucial because even if we do not see visible peeling or burns, our skin can still be damaged from overexposure to the sun. Always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to sun care!
Shampoo and Conditioner
We don’t know about you, but our hair does not like the sample-sized bottles you’re stuck with at hotels. There never seems to be enough conditioner to moisturize after the painfully dehydrating shampoo. This is why we always recommend bringing your own hair care products! Reuse old travel-size product bottles, or pick up some reusable hair care bottles and fill them up with the shampoo and conditioner you know and love. Your hair will thank you, and styling will be much easier.
Soap & Sanitizer
If you can afford the space in your luggage, it’s always a good idea to bring a
bar of soap,
hand sanitizer, and
disinfectant spray with you. Bar soap can save the day if you find yourself in a situation where you don’t have an effective means to wash your hands or body. In a pinch, you can use it to wash dishes and produce, provided the soap is nontoxic. Traveling with soap is easy these days because soap holders or eco-friendly soap savers are very common.
If you’re only leaving for the day, hand sanitizer or disinfectant spray can work in a pinch for sanitizing hands and also for disinfecting produce. If you wear glasses and they happen to get dirty from being outside, the right disinfectant spray can also take care of that. Make sure the disinfectant is not chemical-laden with ingredient blends that you don’t understand because then you’re probably doing more harm than good. Using food-grade alcohol is our recommendation.
Consider Bringing a Facial Mask
If you’re going somewhere that’s significantly different in climate from where you spend most of your time, this can shock your skin. Consider bringing a soothing mask to apply at night to calm irritated skin.
A
hydration mask is ideal for dry climates or after a long plane flight (by the way, try to avoid wearing makeup on an airplane, it’s not great for your skin and can agitate it even more).
Consider a
clay mask if you’ll be in a humid climate or eating a lot of greasy foods. Clay can help soak up excess oils, purify the skin, and can help draw lodged dirt and oils to the surface of your skin for easy removal when you cleanse.
If you’re going to be in heavily polluted areas, an
antioxidant mask can help soak up any toxins and irritants that lodge themselves into your skin.
Anything You Will Truly Need
If space in your suitcase is tight, think about where you’re going and what you’ll be doing, and then you’ll have a sense of which products to prioritize most.
Will you be outdoors a lot? Bring two sunscreens and sun relief. At the very least, you can keep one sunscreen in your hotel room and bring one with you on the go.
If you’ll be wearing makeup, bring an actual
makeup remover. Many times a makeup wipe seems more convenient, but all the wipes do is smear your makeup around and clog your pores. Not to mention, they’re terrible for the environment.
Wherever life takes you, please don’t forget your skincare! Your healthy, glowing skin will thank you for thinking of it. And wherever you go, have fun!
