There’s nothing more exciting than stepping off a plane and feeling the breeze of a brand-new destination caress your cheeks. But travel stressors can leave your skin feeling more out of sorts than usual. From dry airplane air to shifts in climate and humidity—not to mention the shake-up to your daily routine—your complexion might take a hit.
We’ve rounded up some skin care travel tips and trends to help prep, protect, and keep your skin glowing from takeoff to touchdown this summer.
5 Top travel skin care routine tips
Your suitcase may be stuffed and your schedule jam-packed, but that doesn’t mean your skin care has to suffer. Here are the top five travel face care tips that can help you arrive looking and feeling fresh.
1. Pack multi-function products
The last thing you want to do is lug around a bunch of oversized bags on vacation. If you're an over-packer, give yourself more space for outfits and souvenirs by choosing travel-size skin care essentials that do double duty. Think: a moisturizer with SPF, a tinted lip balm, and a serum with multiple active ingredients.
2. Prep your skin beforehand
On your biggest travel day, take a few extra steps to give your skin a head start. Hydrate well and apply a generous layer of your richest moisturizer before heading out. Travel can be dehydrating, and busy itineraries might mean skipping parts of your routine, so this travel face care routine gives your skin a little buffer.
3. In-flight skin care
If your skin feels parched after a flight, it’s not your imagination. Cabin air typically has only 10–20% humidity, which is much lower than the 30–50% you’re used to indoors.[1] Since airplane water isn’t always safe for skin contact, skip your full routine and try these in-seat hydration hacks:
- Spritz on a hydrating mist
- Use an eye or sheet mask
- Drink plenty of water
- Apply Vaseline to lips or dry spots, and use hand cream
- Use face wipes to cleanse or refresh the skin on longer flights
4. Adapt your routine for the climate
Do your vacation days tend to be filled with high-altitude winter sports or high-relaxation tropical beach hangs? Depending on your destination, you may need to adjust elements of your travel skin care routine. Keep the weather, altitude, and other climate conditions of your vacation destination in mind when choosing your travel skin care essentials.
- Cold or dry? Go for thicker moisturizers, facial oils, and barrier creams to lock in hydration.
- Hot or humid? Choose lightweight, oil-free products and a breathable sunscreen that won’t clog pores.
- Sunny? Double up on SPF. And bring plenty so you can reapply, reapply, reapply!
5. Book a facial
Even when you’re on the go, every vacation needs built-in time to reset and refresh. With hundreds of franchised locations nationwide, Massage Envy makes it easy to book a professional skin care service wherever you are.
Stick with your usual concern-focused facials regimen, or try an advanced skin care service tailored to travel-stressed skin. The Oxygenating Treatment, for example, helps breathe new life into dull, dehydrated skin—perfect after a long flight or a few too many late nights.
Travel skin care essentials: What to pack
There are a lot of (adorable, pocket-sized) travel face care products out there. But when you’re on the go, your best bet is to keep your toiletry bag feeling light and your routine familiar. With all the environmental changes your skin’s already adjusting to, travel might not be the best time to test-drive something brand new. Use refillable, TSA-compliant bottles so you can bring your regular skin care products without the fuss.
Still not sure where to start? Here’s what to pack, as well as some recommendations for the best skin care for travel from PCA Skin® and Marini SkinSolutions®, available at select Massage Envy franchised locations.
What to stash in your toiletry bag:
- Cleanser
- Try: PCA Skin® Facial Wash, Marini SkinSolutions® C-Esta Cleansing Gel
- Moisturizer
- Try: PCA Skin® Rebalance, Marini SkinSolutions® Transformation Face Cream
- Sunscreen
- Try: PCA Skin® Weightless Protection Broad Spectrum SPF 45, Marini SkinSolutions® Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF 33
- Spot treatment
- Try: PCA Skin® Acne Gel, Marini SkinSolutions® Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Lotion 5%
- Lotion
- Try: PCA Skin® Body Therapy, Marini SkinSolutions® BodyTX
What to keep on hand in your carry-on:
- Lip balm
- Facial mist
- Eye/sheet masks
- Micellar water wipes
Best travel skin care routine recap
Travel can be stressful. Your skin care routine shouldn’t be. Keep it short, sweet, and impactful. Let’s recap how to prep for your travel day and keep your skin glowing all trip long:
Travel day routine
Before the flight: Stick to your usual routine: cleanse, moisturize, and apply SPF. Add a barrier cream or richer moisturizer for extra hydration.
In-flight: Use cleansing wipes, mist every few hours, and pop on a sheet or eye mask if you’re feeling fancy.
After landing: Cleanse thoroughly, reapply moisturizer, and don’t skip the sunscreen.
Daily routines while traveling
In the morning: Cleanse, moisturize, and apply sunscreen. That’s it. Reapply SPF every two hours if you’re spending time outdoors.
At night: Cleanse again, lock in moisture with your go-to cream, and add any serums or spot treatments your skin is used to.
Find a Massage Envy franchised location near you
Wherever you are in the country, chances are, there’s a Massage Envy franchised location nearby. And Massage Envy is here to help keep your skin glowing through every part of your travel plans, from prepping your glow before you leave, to refreshing your skin mid-trip, to restoring it when you return.
With concern-focused facials, full body LED light therapy sessions, and skin-savvy professional estheticians ready to tailor treatments to your skin’s unique needs, there’s a self-care service for every step of your journey. Schedule a session before takeoff, during your stay, or as a post-vacation reset.
No matter where your travels take you, Massage Envy will be there to keep your glow going strong.