Most leisure Canadian trips take place outdoors. When fishing, biking, hiking or riding—vehicles and animals alike—you’re exposing your skin to that strong midday sun.
Already, vacations interrupt your regular skin routine, so the sun is not your only enemy. Many travellers experience breakouts and dryness during the first few days. The time you go to sleep, your environment, your diet and more all affect the health of your skin. To combat said effects, you need to prepare adequately.
How to Prepare Your Skin for Travel
Travelling, especially by air, can dry out the skin. For this reason, apply extra moisturizer a few days before your trip. The better hydrated the skin, the less sensitive it will be to sunlight.
Regardless how much preparation you do, you must also pack the essentials:
- Sunscreen (preferably oil-free),
- Hydrocortisone cream,
- Sunburn treatment (i.e. aloe cream),
- Bug repellent,
- Facial cleanser and lotion,
- Lip balm.
For your cleansers, refrain from packing harsh or irritating products like exfoliates or toner. Travel stresses the skin enough that it could benefit from a week or so without such things.
Caring for Your Skin While on Vacation
Besides your usual cleaning regime, stick to a frequent sun-screening schedule. Always apply protection before going into the sun and reapply it throughout the day (as the bottle instructs). If you do get burned, treat the inflammation as soon as possible and step out from the sun for the rest of the day.
Likewise, drink copious amounts of water. Well-moisturized skin requires ample fluids in the body. Although cocktails might tempt you in the summer heat, balance your alcohol wisely. You can also mist your skin with water to avoid blistering and drying.
For those who wear makeup, consider skimping on it during your trip. On vacation, it may react adversely with your skin, clogging pores or drying your face. Many people prefer to leave it off when outside, only to use it when dining out.