ow many of you are like me and try to pack the most when it comes to preparing for a vacation? It didn’t matter if it’s a weekend getaway or a month overseas, I always seemed to overpack! Through the years I’ve picked up some tips on what I should take with me and what I should leave behind when it comes to skincare.
This is the perfect time to give your skin a break from all the anti-aging products. These products include cleansers, serums, moisturizers, retinols, etc. When using anti-aging products and ingredients, your skin becomes photo sensitive. Photosensitivity is inflammation of the skin induced by sunlight and certain medications. When exposed to the sun your skin will become physically sensitive, it can burn, the sun-damage and melasma that you had been working so hard to minimize over the winter months will return within 10 minutes of being out by the resort pool, the beach or just by walking around.
By now we know the importance of SPF. This means for everyone, all skin types, tones, and ethnicities. I cannot stress that enough. When using sunscreen please make sure that you are using a separate SPF than what is in your moisturizer and/or makeup. The sunscreen should be an SPF of 30+ and re-application is key, every 2 hours to be exact. Wearing a straw hat that covers the entire face is preferred and if you are next to water, know that those UV-rays are sneaky and bounce off that water. My recommendation for re-application is from Colorscience the Sunforgettable Mineral SPF Sunscreen Brush. They are compact and come in different shades! It won't clog your pores and its mineral based, which means it will not allow for acne breakouts like those thick SPF creams. Works great on children as well!
For cleanser and moisturizer turn to the basics on vacation - Cetaphil or Cerave - if you have an all-natural or other basic product, use that. Using these temporarily will help cleanse and moisturize without irritating your sun-skinned face. If your cleanser or moisturizer helps with fine-lines, wrinkles, pores, sun spots, etc. leave them at home (this is considered anti-aging).
Have you ever been on a long plane ride and thought “I feel super dehydrated”? You are not alone. There is a lack of humidity in cabin air which leads to dehydration. Using a Hylaronic acid serum or mist during the plane ride is a tip I give my patients that are always on the road for work/pleasure. Great when going on hikes especially in dry heat or just add to your daily and nightly regimen. My favorite product for that extra boost of hydration is by SkinCeuticals, Hydrating B5 Gel. Vitamin B5 is known to help with tissue repair, and who doesn't want that?
Press a few drops into the skin before take-off and notice that difference!
There is no need to exfoliate while on a sunny vacation, that would actually hurt the compromised skin and cause it to become even more sensitive and could cause prolonged damage.
Lastly, it’s always a good idea to take a small bottle of aloe, just in case you fall asleep in the sun for longer than expected after those pina coladas!
H