When you think vacation, I hope you’re envisioning fun and adventure, relaxation, time spent with friends and family, and all the things travel and time off mean. Even when you leave home for your summer adventure, your skincare routine shouldn’t take a vacation. Travel can expose skin to new environmental aggressors that impact hydration, reactivity, and skin health. Skincare for travel should be streamlined, so it’s easy to bring the products along on any vacation, encouraging consistent use. In this blog, we’ll take a look at vacation skincare routines and what you should bring along to make the most of your routine without packing the whole medicine cabinet.
Why Travel Can Affect Your Skin
During travel, we may be having fun and enjoying time away, but our skin could be exposed to numerous stressors that cause concerns, including:
- Dry air in the airplane cabin.
- Increased sun exposure.
- Higher levels of heat and humidity during summer vacation.
- Colder and dryer climates during winter vacations.
- Swimming in saltwater and chlorinated pools.
- Changes in the quality of water used for bathing.
- Reduced hours of sleep.
- Increased dehydration.
- Changes to the skincare routine.
Together, these environmental changes contribute to skin dryness, breakouts, flare-ups in chronic conditions, excess oil production, discoloration and redness, increased sensitivity, and dull or uneven-looking skin. That’s why it’s so important to continue consistent skincare during vacation.
Build a Simple Vacation Skincare Routine
When you build a vacation skincare routine, it should be a simplified version of your daily routine. This avoids unnecessary irritation caused by exposure to new products and environments. Below, we outline a five-step vacation skincare routine.
Step 1: Pack a Gentle Cleanser
Cleanser is essential to remove sweat, sunscreen, cosmetics, and other impurities from skin. However, using a gentle cleanser during morning and evening routines ensures necessary moisture isn’t removed. For convenience, consider buying a travel-size version of your favorite daily cleanser to bring on your next trip. Not sure your current facial cleanser is the best option? Consider one of these dermatologist-recommended products that come in travel size:
ZO Skin Health Gentle Cleanser – this hydrating, foaming formula is recommended for all skin types. Antioxidants and anti-irritant botanicals make this a soothing option for the morning and evening.
Revision Purifying Cleansing Gel – this oil-control cleanser is great for oily and acneic skin. It gently removes excess oils while the hydrating formula reduces the production of excess oil.
Step 2: Use a Lightweight Moisturizer
Travel can leave skin dehydrated thanks to dry air on airplanes, in hotels, and at venues. More time in the sun also strips moisture from skin. It’s important to keep skin moisturized as you travel by applying a lightweight, calming moisturizer during morning and evening skincare routines. If you notice your skin getting extra dry, consider combining a hydrating serum and moisturizer. Pick up travel-size versions of your favorite serums and moisturizers before you hit the road or consider using dermatologist-recommended products like:
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense – this hydrating serum increases skin moisture and boosts the protective power of sunscreen with added antioxidant effects.
ALASTIN Ultra-Light Moisturizer – a lightweight moisturizer that’s ideal for summer travel. Easily absorbed to reduce greasiness, this product offers light moisture and skin repair technology that are ideal for hydrating skin and preventing damage.
Step 3: Never Skip Sunscreen
Sunscreen is one of the most important skincare products for summer and all year. If you only add one skincare product to your suitcase before vacation, it should be sunscreen! In the short-term, sunblock prevents sunburns and skin discoloration. In the long-term, consistent sunscreen use reduces risk for premature skin aging and skin cancer. Sunscreen should be applied every morning and reapplied every two hours or after swimming or sweating. Some travel-friendly sunscreen options include:
Daily SPF
EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 – designed for sensitive and acne-prone skin, this sunblock is gentle but effective and safe for any skin type. The smooth, non-greasy finish is perfect for quick application during vacation.
Outdoor Activities
EltaMD UV Sport SPF 50 – if you’ll be spending more time outdoors hiking, swimming, or enjoying other outdoor activities, this sport-friendly sunscreen may be a better option. It has sweat and water-resistant technology, making it ideal for athletes and vacation adventurers alike.
What Is the Best Sunscreen to Travel?
Skinbetter Sunbetter Sheer SPF Compact – looking for a sunscreen that looks and feels as luxurious as your favorite cosmetics? Look no further. This sunscreen offers a sheer finish and an easy-to-apply formula. Simply smooth the sunscreen over skin. It’s great for all day wear, including quick touch ups.
Skinbetter Sunbetter Sheer SPF Stick – another great on-the-go sunscreen solution from skinbetter Science, this sheer SPF stick offers water-resistant, broad spectrum sun protection in an easily applied sunscreen stick.
Colorescience Brush-On Shield SPF 50 – this is one of the original travel-friendly sunscreen options. The Colorescience Brush-On Shield SPF 50 comes in a slim bottle that can easily be tossed in your beach bag, purse, or suitcase, allowing for convenient application and reapplication throughout the day.
Don't Forget Lip Protection
Colorescience Sunforgettable Lip Shine SPF 35 – many people forget that lips can be sunburned too. These lip shines offer unique protection with a hint of lip stain.
Step 4: Keep Your Evening Routine Simple
Maintaining a simple skincare routine for vacation means you can streamline your nighttime routine. Simply wash away sunscreen, sweat, and impurities with a gentle cleanser and apply a lightweight moisturizer. Don’t introduce any new products while you’re on vacation. Let your skin rest. If you’ve already been using retinol, you can continue with nightly application. Pause your routine if you notice irritation. Ensure you apply and reapply sunscreen frequently if using retinol in the evenings. If you’re planning to continue retinol use on vacation, you may want to consider a gentle, low concentration option like the two below:
SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3 – this low dose retinol uses stabilization technology that allows for gradual release of retinol, reducing risk for skin irritation.
MD Skin Essentials Energize – a slightly higher concentration, the unique formula incorporates soothing and hydrating ingredients to minimize irritation even in those with sensitive skin.
Step 5: Bring One Hydration Booster
In case of moisture loss during travel, make sure to pack one “rescue” product for a hydrating boost. Hyaluronic acid serums or barrier-repair moisturizers are great options. Whatever you reach for when your skin feels extra dry or irritated, bring it along to soothe skin. Two of our dermatologist top picks are:
SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier Multi-Glycan – this hydrating serum delivers an immediate hyaluronic acid boost while stimulating the production of natural hyaluronic acid for longer lasting results.
Skinbetter Trio Luxe Moisture Treatment – this hydrating product with a trio of moisturizers goes on with a luxurious feel and absorbs quickly and easily. This leaves skin feeling hydrated and boosts barrier strength.
Travel-Size Skincare Makes Packing Easier
Many people simply use whatever skincare products are available in their hotels when they travel or skip their skincare routine altogether. Keeping a travel-size skincare kit packed and ready to go year-round offers numerous benefits, including:
- Saving luggage space.
- Allowing for TSA-friendly travel with a carry on.
- Easy to grab for quick weekend getaways.
- Keeping summer skincare routines consistent while away from home.
Where to Find the Best Medical-Grade Travel-Size Skincare
If you’re looking for medical-grade skincare in travel-friendly sizes, DermSkincare makes it easy to take your favorite dermatologist-recommended products wherever you go. From cleansers and moisturizers to SPF and targeted treatments, DermSkincare offers a curated selection of trusted professional skincare brands, including ZO Skin Health, EltaMD, SkinCeuticals, Skinbetter Science, and more. Whether you’re planning a weeklong vacation or a quick weekend getaway, you can find convenient travel-size options to help keep your skincare routine on track without overpacking your suitcase.
Common Vacation Skincare Mistakes to Avoid
Before you hit the beach, lake, or other travel destination, make sure you’re stocking up on travel-size skincare products and avoiding common vacation skincare mistakes like:
- Skipping sunscreen – many people spend more time outdoors on vacation, but they don’t always apply sunblock daily because they get busy and skip it or don’t bring sunscreen with them. Daily sunscreen application is essential to protect skin from both short-term and long-term damage.
- Not reapplying sunscreen – it’s important to reapply sunscreen at least every two hours. You may need to reapply more often if you are sweating or spending extended time in the sun.
- Not protecting lips from sun damage – the lips can be very susceptible to sun damage, but many people neglect to protect them with sunscreen. There are numerous SPF lip balm options available to protect lips from sun damage.
- Trying new products while traveling – travel stresses and irritates skin. Adding new products to the mix can be a recipe for additional irritation, acne breakouts, and flare-ups in chronic skin conditions.
- Not moisturizing – applying a hydrating moisturizer daily is essential. It’s even more important if you’re going to be swimming as chlorine and saltwater are notorious for stripping moisture, leaving skin dry.
- Using harsh exfoliants – in addition to failing to hydrate after sun damage, some people use harsh skin exfoliants like sugar scrubs following sun exposure to remove the dirt and oils from skin after time outdoors. This can trigger additional skin irritation and inflammation.
- Getting dehydrated – failing to drink enough water quickly leads to dehydration while traveling or spending time outdoors in the summer heat. Drink plenty of water to ensure skin has adequate hydration from the inside out.
Don’t Complicate Your Vacation Skincare Routine
Keep vacation skincare simple. You can choose trusted travel skincare essentials to keep a streamlined version of your daily skincare routine away from home. Prioritize a good cleanser, hydrating moisturizer, and daily sunscreen application. Choose travel-friendly product sizes or invest in a good set of travel containers to take along your favorites.
Explore More at DermSkincare
Just because you’re going on vacation and you need smaller skincare products for your carry on, that doesn’t mean you have to stop your dermatologist-recommended skincare routine. Instead, stock up on travel-size versions of the high-quality products from DermSkincare.