Let’s be honest; we’re not just traveling for the sights and experiences we’ll get. We also do it for the awesome photos we’ll be taking. Indeed, nothing makes the perfect selfie backdrop but the landscapes and cityscapes abroad. From the Golden Gate Bridge to the peak of Mt. Fuji, we’ll take lengths to get a stunning shot of those with our faces and #ootd featured on it.
But there tends to be a catch every time you travel: beauty blues. For some reason, your hair becomes dry and limp when you get off the plane. Your skin becomes a little different too, either becoming too oily or too dry. Well, considering the different climates abroad, it’s only natural for your hair and skin to exhibit changes. But is there a way to maintain their glow and life?
To know how to fix your travel beauty blues, here are the common effects of traveling on your skin and hair, and how to counteract them:
1. Dry Skin
Your skin tends to dry out when you travel because of the air inside the plane cabin. The air-conditioning in the plane is dry, aggravating dry skin and stripping off the moisture from oily or hydrated skin.
To prevent your skin from getting flaky, apply an oil-based serum. One drop is all you need to coat your whole face. Put it on before your flight, and it can keep your skin moisturized for six to ten hours. Don’t forget to stuff a travel-sized serum in your carry-on bag, so that you can reapply it when needed.
If your skin type is really dry, put on a hydrating sheet mask after washing your face. It’ll pack more moisture into your skin and boost the effectiveness of your serum.
2. Acne Breakout
There’s nothing more frustrating than dealing with acne breakouts on the day you’re hoping not to get them. Acne breakouts during travel happen because of the air quality you’re exposed to, and/or travel-related stress or anxiety. Dry cabin air is also nasty on combination or oily skin. When the air humidity drops, your skin combats it by producing more oils, leading to zits.
And of course, we all know that stress and anxiety can take a toll on our skin. So try to keep calm as you plan your trip, and during your trip. Avoid eating sugary foods and dairy. Take a nap during your flight to help your body adjust to another timezone. And pack up a spot treatment to keep your breakouts under control.
But while you should avoid dairy, two ounces of ice cream wouldn’t be bad en route to your destination. If you’re lactose intolerant, eat dried cherries instead. Both foods reduce flood flow to the face, keeping your zits and under-eye puffiness to a minimum. Just steer clear of chocolate ice cream, because it produces skin vasodilation, which worsens redness and counteracts the good effects of ice cream.
3. Puffy Eyes
Puffy eyes are usually a result of sleep deprivation, which you normally get while traveling. Restore your under-eye radiance by applying a cooling eye product, like gels or massage rollers. It will jumpstart the blood circulation under your eyes, reducing its puffiness and darkness. And of course, if you need a quick fix, a high-coverage concealer is there to save you.
4. Dry Hair and Scalp
If your hotel bathroom uses hard water, the minerals and other additives in it react with the chemicals in your shampoo. When hard water is combined with a soap-based shampoo, scum tends to form when the product and the water dry out. On your hair, the effect is drying, with the strands feeling stiff. This could result in a mess of tangles and coarse strands.
Dandruff can also form on your scalp, especially if it’s already dry. So pack moisture into your hair and scalp by using a natural anti-dandruff shampoo. The natural ingredients may react with the hard water better, preventing your hair strands from going stiff.
5. Greasy and Flat Hair
Again, this has something to do with your hotel’s bathroom. If it uses soft water, which rinses off soap and cleaning products faster, the effect on your hair is the opposite of hard water. Instead of drying it out, it makes it more volumized and moisturized. However, if your scalp is already oily, the extra moisture could weigh the strands down and make them look flat. So, counteract that effect by using a clarifying shampoo, which rids your hair of excess moisture and products. Then let your tresses air-dry.
Overall, ensure that your travel essentials are fit for your destination’s climate and weather. And most importantly, don’t forget to take account of the cabin air. With the right products in your kit, you’d always be radiating confidence and beauty all throughout your trip.