Is your big summer holiday just around the corner? After months of planning the perfect escape, it’s only natural to treat yourself to a few new outfits for your trip. But alongside new bikinis and tan-enhancing eveningwear, don’t forget to give your skincare ritual the same attention.
While a week in the sun can do wonders for your mood, it also has an impact on your skin. Cabin air, extra UV rays and rising temperatures can all lead to breakouts, dryness and irritation, so it’s important to adjust your skincare for your new surroundings. Plus, let’s be honest, it’s also an excellent excuse to indulge in a little beauty haul and try something new.
So read on to learn how to do skincare when travelling, plus how to pack your essentials for the journey. From the best skincare for hot weather to tips on preventing dry skin on planes, this is your ultimate Ella & Jo holiday skin guide, part of our Skin School blogs.
Why Travel Impacts Your Skin
Travel can affect your skin in more ways than you might expect. You may have noticed that your lips and skin feel dry after a long-haul flight; this is due to low cabin humidity and recycled air. This dry air pulls moisture from your skin, leaving it feeling dehydrated and tight. Altitude and cabin pressure don’t help either – they can slow circulation and reduce oxygen flow to the skin, making it look dull and tired.
Add that to the disruption to your sleep cycle (especially after night flights) and a cheeky airport wine or early morning coffee, and it’s no wonder your skin feels out of sync. Both caffeine and alcohol are dehydrating and will compound the effect of dry cabin air.
Once you arrive at your destination, your skin experiences new challenges. Warm temperatures and humidity can trigger water loss, while UV rays can lead to sunburn and long-term damage like fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation making it vital to cleanse and protect daily.
But don’t let this put you off enjoying your well-deserved break. With our skincare tips for travel and our glow-up travel kit, you can keep your skin happy and healthy all holiday long.
Creating a Basic Skincare Routine on the Go
The perfect travel skincare routine needs to be efficient and simple. At home we can take our time and enjoy a long and relaxing ritual with multiple lotions and potions, but while away? There usually isn’t time or baggage allowance for a full-on skin session.
But this doesn’t mean you need to compromise on your glow. Here’s our go-to skincare ritual for holidays.
Step 1: Cleanse
Cleansing becomes even more essential when you’re on holiday and you’ll need something gentle but powerful to remove all that SPF build-up, dirt and sweat. Our Melt The Day Away Cleansing Balm is perfect for nourishing skin and replenishing lost moisture after a hot day in the sun. Use morning and evening to leave skin clean, soft and smooth.
Step 2: Hydrating Mist
Every wash bag should contain a hydrating mist like Hydrate & Plump Skin Mist. Not only will this refreshing spray deliver a beautiful boost of moisture post-cleansing, but it’s perfect for using mid-flight, poolside or any time your skin needs soothing. Top tip: keep it in the minibar for an extra cooling spritz.
Step 3: Daily SPF
No travel skincare kit is complete without a good facial SPF. Look for a lightweight formula that will protect your skin without clogging pores or causing irritation. We love Invisible SPF Mist SPF 30: its ultra-fine mist absorbs in seconds and is easy to top up throughout the day. Throw it in your beach bag and mist regularly to stay protected.
Step 4: Moisturiser
A rich, nourishing moisturiser will lock in moisture at the end of your evening skincare ritual. Relax & Renew Night Cream will give your skin everything it needs to regenerate overnight, so you wake to a plump, rejuvenated complexion.
The best news is there’s no need to pack bulky, full-size products. Here at Ella & Jo, many of your favourites are available as perfectly formed miniatures. Browse our Deluxe Sized Minis collection to find TSA-approved skincare essentials that will fit neatly into your clear security bag. From travel-size cleanser to compact SPF and hydrating serums, you’ll find all the summer must buys you need for your next adventure.
Skincare Tips for Flights and Long Journeys
We’ve already touched upon how red-eye flights and dry cabin air can disrupt your skin, but what’s the best way to avoid irritation while you travel?
Pre-flight
Start your trip with a pre-flight ritual: for daytime flights, keep things simple with cleanser, moisturiser and SPF – UV rays are surprisingly powerful at 37,000 feet! If you’re on a night flight, switch out the moisturiser and SPF for a richer night cream to support your skin while you sleep. It’s best to leave your complexion makeup-free, but a touch of concealer is a good compromise if you don’t want to go bare-faced.
During the flight
Skincare aside, the best thing you can do for your skin during a flight is to stay hydrated. Pick up the biggest bottle of water you can find in duty-free and make sure to sip it regularly throughout your journey.
You’ll also need a nourishing lip balm and a hydrating mist on hand to top up moisture whenever your skin begins to feel dry or tight. Travel-sized skincare is great for this as it’s compact to carry and will breeze through security.
Our Travel Essentials Bundle is perfect for stashing in your hand luggage. Not only is it a full routine in miniature size, but it’s great value for everything you need for your trip.
AM to PM: A Simple Holiday Skincare Routine
We’ve covered how to pack skincare for travel and how to streamline your usual ritual, but how do you build an effective routine with this edited selection? Here’s a simple plan to ensure your skin gets everything it needs in minimal time.
Morning routine
Cleanse: Begin your morning routine with a thorough cleanse. Use a gentle, hydrating cleanser as your skin may be irritated from the sun and travel.
Hydrate: Next you need to replenish moisture. This can be done with a nourishing serum or lightweight gel cream – avoid anything too rich or heavy, as it can feel sticky in warm weather.
SPF: Sun protection should be the final step in your quick morning ritual. Make sure to use enough product to fully protect your skin, and don’t forget to apply it to your ears and neck.
Evening routine
Cleanse: Your nourishing cleanser will melt away all traces of SPF, chlorine and sweat after a day spent outdoors. An essential first step to reset your skin.
Hydrate: Replenish moisture lost through sun exposure with a hydrating mist or hyaluronic serum. This quick, lightweight layer will help to soothe skin.
Moisturise: Finish by layering on a rich night cream to lock in hydration and help overnight repair. This final step will leave your skin soft, supple and refreshed by morning.
These routines sound (and are!) simple, but don’t underestimate their power when it comes to maintaining your skin health. With a few smart product choices, you can jet off stress-free, skip the excess baggage charges and still enjoy your best skin yet.
Ready to pack like a pro? Explore Ella & Jo travel-friendly skincare must-haves and keep your skin glowing wherever you go.
