Travel can wreak havoc on things like sleep and nutrition, which can negatively impact the appearance and health of the skin.
This post will provide practical tips on maintaining radiant and glowing skin when traveling.
Bring Nutritious Snacks
Traveling is bound to throw off your regular healthy eating routine. However, one thing you can definitely plan for when it comes to nutrition is healthy snacking.
Avoid junk airport or gas station food as much as possible. While no food is inherently bad, foods containing only simple sugars are not the best when it comes to optimizing skin health. This is because foods that cause a sharp increase in blood sugar like candy or chips, for example, may be more likely to lead to breakouts (1).
Rather, choose foods with a combination of high-fiber carbohydrates and healthy fat or protein. Foods that contain protein, fiber, or fat will slow down digestion and are more likely to yield a more moderate increase in blood sugar, which is important for good skin. Not to mention, foods that contain these nutrients are more likely to keep you full and satisfied between meals (2).
Examples of nutritious snacks that will also benefit your skin while traveling include things like trail mix, jerky, protein bars, energy balls, or fruits and nut butter. As a rule of thumb, choose snacks that contain protein, fiber, and/or healthy fats.
Ensure Adequate Hydration
Staying hydrated is one of the best things you can do for your skin. Adequate hydration has been linked to the appearance of more vibrant, youthful, and elastic skin. Some research also suggests that staying well hydrated may help the skin become less prone to developing wrinkles (3).
While you’re traveling whether it’s by plane, train, or car, be sure to carry a water bottle with you throughout the trip. Although you might not feel particularly thirsty, it’s a good habit to aim to drink at least 10 ounces of water every hour. You may also choose to add electrolytes to your water for enhanced hydration, especially if you’re overheated or sweating.
Carry Clean Skin Care Products
Make sure to bring along skin care products to keep your skin clean, moisturized, and protected from the sun. While you might not necessarily bring along all of the products that you use at home, the most important products to bring are a gentle cleanser, a good quality moisturizer, and a good SPF.
Be sure to avoid products with too many artificial ingredients such as silicones, drying alcohols, and fragrances or dyes. While these products might be cheaper, they tend to be less effective and might lead to dryness or irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Get a Facial Massage
Massages increase circulation and can improve skin’s glow and texture. If possible, try getting a facial massage to increase your circulation. The increased circulation may bring a healthy glow to your face as well as reduce the appearance of acne.
Additionally, facial massages may help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and leave the skin looking more vibrant and youthful. Alternatively, you can try using a jade roller to give yourself a nice facial massage to soothe inflammation and boost elasticity.
Bring a Collagen Supplement
If there is one supplement you should bring when traveling to optimize your skin health, it definitely should be collagen. Supplementing with collagen has been shown to be effective in reducing skin aging by reducing the appearance of wrinkles, boosting skin hydration, and improving skin elasticity (4).
It’s important to understand that the benefits of collagen are really seen when people are consistently taking collagen supplements for at least three months. However, regardless of whether or not collagen is already a part of your supplement routine, it’s a great idea to take collagen with you on your travels for a skin pick-me-up.
Look for a collagen supplement that contains no added ingredients or sweeteners like Naked Collagen.
Key Takeaways
Traveling can take a toll on your skin health, particularly because your nutrition and sleep hygiene might take a back seat when you’re on vacation. However, with a few key reminders, you can easily maintain healthy skin even on the longest of trips.
Finding healthy snacks, staying adequately hydrated, and consuming a regular collagen supplement are a few things you can do to boost skin health. Additionally, it’s beneficial to use clean skincare products and boost circulation with a facial massage to best maintain healthy skin while traveling.
