Skin trouble on vacation is the worst.
You plan for months. You book the flights, scout out the hotel, and pack your suitcase carefully, including travel sizes of your favorite skincare products.
You’ve earned this summer vacation, and you’re ready to finally relax.
But then, right as you land in paradise, you discover a brand new breakout. In the most visible of places, of course. Or maybe you’ve got tight, dry skin after your long flight. Or worse, a rash, irritation, or red blotchy patches that make you want to put a bag over your head.
You packed those few travel-sized products, but you planned for a regular skincare routine, not all these issues! You wanted to enjoy your vacation, not spend it wondering how fast you can track down a decent cleanser in some nearby drugstore.
So why does this happen? And more importantly, what can you do about it with what you’ve got with you?
Skin Trouble on Vacation: Why It Acts Up
Even the happiest trip can cause a lot of stress, not only for you, but also for your skin. You change your environment, which is stressful enough, but then you may also change your diet, sleep patterns, and daily routine. These changes can throw your skin out of balance in several ways.
Here are some of the most common culprits:
Airplane Travel
Dry, recycled air can suck the moisture out of your skin, exacerbating fine lines, flakes, and irritation. The low humidity in airplane cabins can dehydrate your skin quickly, even during short flights.
Sun Exposure
Even if you wear sunscreen, any extra time in the sun can leave your skin hot, dry, or even burned. UV rays trigger inflammation and break down the skin’s protective barrier, which can result in peeling, redness, puffiness, and long-term skin damage.
Change in Climate
If you’re going somewhere with a different climate than your hometown—even if it’s only slightly different—it may cause your skin to stress out. Transitioning from a damp to a dry environment, or vice versa, can disrupt your skin’s moisture balance and oil production.
Disrupted Diet and Sleep
Vacation often means less sleep, or at least disrupted sleep, which immediately stresses your skin and makes any signs of aging more noticeable. You may also indulge in more sugar and/or more alcohol, which may show up on your face. These internal shifts affect your hormones and inflammation levels, which directly impact the clarity, elasticity, and glow of your skin.
Different Water and/or Skincare Products
Hotel soaps, unfamiliar moisturizers, or hard water can irritate sensitive skin. Even a slight change in pH or the addition of fragrance can lead to breakouts, redness, or allergic reactions.
Unspoken Stress
Even though you’re supposed to be relaxing, travel can come with its own kind of pressure. There’s getting to the airport on time, keeping the kids happy, or making sure the trip goes smoothly that can weigh heavily on your mind. That low-level tension can increase stress hormones in the body, which in turn can trigger breakouts, sensitivity, or flare-ups of existing conditions, such as eczema or rosacea.
Skin Problems on Vacation—How to Solve Them On the Go
Fortunately, most of these skin problems that show up on vacation are manageable, even if you packed only a few tiny bottles. With the right approach and a little know-how, you can calm, hydrate, and protect your skin so it feels good again.
Dry, Tight, or Flaky Skin
This is one of the most common issues that shows up during vacation, especially after flying or spending time in air-conditioned spaces. Your skin may feel tight and itchy or look dull.
Quick Fix:
Take a travel-sized bottle of our Rescue + Relief Spray with you and spritz throughout the day to keep your skin from drying out. It’s packed with anti-inflammatories that help reduce redness and keep skin looking its healthy radiant best.
Then use a soothing moisturizer that helps hydrate and repair the skin barrier. A travel-sized Calming Moisture works perfectly. It’s lightweight but deeply nourishing. Use it morning and night or whenever your skin feels tight, irritated, or like it’s suffering a flare-up.
Breakouts and Clogged Pores
Whether it’s the heat, sunscreen buildup, or changes in your diet, vacation breakouts can be maddening, especially if you’ve left your usual acne products at home.
Quick Fix:
Make sure you’re cleansing well at night. Use a gentle, sulfate-free cleanser (avoid bar soap!) and take your time. Even better, do a double cleanse if you’ve been wearing sunscreen all day. Start by removing your makeup, then follow with your usual cleanser. A travel-sized skincare brush can help make sure you get all the grime out.
If you need an emergency spot treatment, try brewing a green tea bag in a small amount of hot water. Let it cool to room temperature, then pop it in the fridge if you have one. Next, press it directly onto the breakout for 5-10 minutes. Follow with a cold compress or ice cube wrapped in a clean towel for 1-2 minutes to reduce swelling. Finally, spritz a little Rescue + Relief Spray on the area to help speed up the healing process. It’s non-comedogenic and perfect for all skin types.
Bonus Tip:
If your breakout seems heat-related, skip thick creams for a day and let your skin breathe. Use a light hydrator and maintain consistency.
Sunburn or Skin That Feels “Hot”
You did your best with sunscreen, but the sun was stronger than you’re accustomed to, and now your skin is red, hot, or simply uncomfortable.
Quick Fix:
Cool the area with something that reduces inflammation. Again, our Rescue + Relief Spray is brilliant here. It wins best after sun-soother year after year. It feels like heaven on overheated skin! Keep it in the fridge if you have one and mist it over your face or other sun-exposed areas as needed.
Itchy Rash or Skin Reaction
Sometimes your skin may react to pool chemicals, bug spray, or even a new hotel pillowcase. Red, itchy bumps and rashes can show up suddenly.
Quick Fix:
First, stop using anything new you may have introduced. Then soothe the irritation. A gentle, fragrance-free, petrolatum-free healing balm like our Restorative Skin Balm can help calm the skin and protect it from further damage. Apply a small amount and don’t rub too hard.
What to do about the pillowcase: If you suspect the hotel bedding or pillowcase is the culprit, try using one of your clean t-shirts or a soft scarf as the pillowcase instead—something made of cotton that you know your skin tolerates.
Chapped Lips and Dry Hands
When you go on vacation, you may wash your hands more to avoid germs or use hand sanitizer, both of which dry out your hands. You may also forget to drink enough water. That can lead to dry, chapped hands and lips.
Quick Fix:
Use a lip balm that contains nourishing ingredients. Our Restorative Skin Balm works beautifully to repair damage overnight. For hands, reapply our travel-sized Body Repair Lotion after every wash.
Skin Trouble on Vacation: How to Prevent It
It’s always best to prevent problems before they occur if you can. Try these tips.
- Stick to a simple routine. Now is not the time to experiment with a new product. Continue using your regular cleanser, moisturizer, SPF, and an additional soothing product, such as our Rescue + Relief Spray.
- Keep your products consistent. If you’re flying, consider bringing travel-sized bottles of your favorite products or pre-filling small containers with them, so your skin doesn’t have to deal with something new.
- Stay hydrated. Your skin reflects what’s happening inside your body. Drink plenty of water, especially on travel days.
- Treat your skin at night. Even if you’re tired, take the time to wash your face and moisturize thoroughly before bed. It will help reset your skin while you sleep.
Feel Good In Your Skin While On Vacation!
With these strategies and solutions, you can keep your skin happy and healthy throughout your vacation. We have travel sizes of all of our products, so you can pack light and smart!
What sunscreen do you use?
Featured image by Zulfugar Karimov via Pexels.
