Head to Toe Skin Info.
Whether you're driving to a family reunion, taking the train for a weekend getaway, or jetting halfway around the world, there's no question that traveling is stressful. Trying to look good while you're traveling is pretty much on the top of the stress-o-meter.
The good news: experts say beauty and travel aren't mutually exclusive. With just a few travel beauty survival tips you can face your next vacation, business trip, family homecoming, or even that weekend getaway with a smile -- and the confidence of knowing you could run smack into George Clooney in the coffee shop and not have to hide.
From flight attendants to travel-show stars, WebMD talked to the pros for advice on looking your best when you're on the go.
(What do you do to stay beautiful and fresh while traveling? Talk with others on WebMD's Skin Care: Share Your Tips board.)
Read on for all 18 travel beauty tips. (www.webmd.com)
1. Moisturize
Apply intense moisturizer the night before you are going to fly. This will help increase hydration in your skin before you're exposed to the dehydrating effects of cabin pressure, says Risi-Leanne Baranza, editor in chief of Palacinka.com, a beauty and spa industry publication.
2. Forgo the Foundation
Skip foundation on the day of your trip, and instead wear only moisturizer. Before you land, add a tinted moisturizer for a fresh, healthy look, says Baranza. If you just can't leave the house without some foundation, celebrity makeup artist A.J. Crimson says be sure to put on a primer first -- a silicone-based liquid or cream that puts a layer of protection between skin and makeup. It will help foundation and blush last longer and help keep your skin from becoming dehydrated.
3. Mist With Mineral Water
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To refresh makeup while traveling, never glob on more foundation or blush. Instead, use a mister of mineral water and add a dab of moisturizer, says Los Angeles makeup artist Beth Binder.
4. Blot Out Oily Skin
To keep oily skin from getting out of control while traveling, bring blotting papers or rice papers and dab the "T" zone as often as necessary, says Crimson. "You'll dab up the shine and excess oil without stripping out the moisture, so you'll arrive looking fresher," he says.
5. Add Some Shimmer
Does traveling leave you feeling a bit green in the gills? Perk up a tired or sallow complexion with a soft shimmer powder or cream, says Joyce Carboni, founder and director of Skinsational Skin and Body Spa in San Diego. Stroke it lightly on the tops of cheeks, bridge of the nose, and lips for an instant pick-me-up no matter how tired (or queasy) you feel. Or use a combination of cream blush and lip balm to add color and moisture without dehydrating skin.
6. Skip Long-Lasting Lipsticks
To give lips color that will last through your trip, skip the long-lasting lipsticks -- they'll only dehydrate and parch your mouth. Instead, Crimson says, color your lips with several coats of a lip stain, let dry, then top with a clear gloss. Reapply the gloss throughout the trip and your lips will look "just-made-up" fresh.
7. Apply Lip Treatment Liberally
You can further protect your kisser by packing a lip treatment in your carry-on bag and using it liberally while traveling, says Silverjet Airlines flight attendant Danielle Easton. Her one flying "must have": "A medicated lip balm, because it won't rub your lipstick off and it keeps lips hydrated while flying," she says. It also works on bus and train rides, she says, when high heat or air conditioning can also cause lips to feel dehydrated.
8. Chill Out Puffy Eyes
To reduce under-eye puffiness after a long trip, Pam Inman, American Hotel Lodging Association vice president and chief operating officer, says to put crushed ice in a washcloth and apply it under the eyes. "It's an automatic wake-up call that makes you look and feel immediately fresher."
9. Perk Up Your Peepers
Watching back-to-back in-flight movies, or reading that paperback novel cover to cover, can also cause you to arrive at your destination with red, watery, not-so-attractive eyes. To avoid it, Los Angeles image consultant Allison Dickson, founder of TheA-List.com, says don't forget to bring eyedrops. "They will lubricate and soothe eyes if you're reading or watching a movie, and refresh and wake up your eyes if you nap," she says.
10. Love Your Naked Lashes
Avoid wearing mascara while traveling, says the Travel Channel's Samantha Brown, star of the Passport To ... series. "If I take a little nap, I wake up and find the mascara has left a migratory trail down to my cheeks." She also suggests skipping cream eye shadows, which have a tendency to move around on your face as you snooze.
Be it by plane, train, bus, or car, traveling can take its toll on your appearance.
Colette Bouchez
WebMD FeatReviewed by Louise Chang, MD