Going on holiday can be the highlight of the summer, but long journeys to different climates aren’t easy on your skin. It’s important to stick to your routine, even when you’re travelling, to achieve your skin goals. That’s why we’ve created a guide to all the challenges your skin can face on holiday — from breakouts to sunburn — along with solutions to help you keep up your good skincare habits.
Holiday skin challenge: In-flight dehydration
Recycled air and low cabin humidity are a recipe for dry, dehydrated skin. Even short flights can leave your skin more sensitive and lacking its usual dewy glow.
Skincare solution: Hydrate! Before take-off, apply moisturiser all over your face and neck. Keep a nourishing serum or mask on hand to smooth onto your skin mid-flight — face mists are also great for a quick spritz of hydration! Don’t forget to drink plenty of water too.
Holiday skin challenge: Summer spots
Excess skin oils are a leading cause of spots and blemishes. A sunny holiday means more time in hot, humid weather, which can lead to an increase in oil production and unexpected breakouts. Add sweating and extra sunscreen use into the mix and acne flare-ups become more common.
Skincare solution: From cleansing to using the right SPF, there are many easy steps you can take to keep breakouts at bay. Here are our dermatology experts’ three top tips:
- Cleanse properly. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser to prevent any sweat or excess oil from clogging your pores.
- Check your SPF. If you have oily skin, make sure you choose an SPF that’s labelled ‘oil free’, or ‘non-comedogenic’ (that means it won’t block your pores).
- Stick to your acne plan. Our powerful prescription ingredients are safe to use in summer, so there’s no need to hit pause on your skincare routine during the sunny months — just remember to wear an SPF every day, all year round!
Holiday skin challenge: Maintaining your skincare routine
There are plenty that can get in the way of your routine when you’re abroad — long, busy days can lead to steps being skipped, and sunnier weather might leave you worrying about using powerful actives.
Skincare solution: Firstly, there’s no packing stress with Dermatica; all of our personalised treatments are under 100ml, so they can be easily stowed away in your hand luggage. As for your routine, consistency is key if you want to achieve your skin goals, which means sticking with your Dermatica plan even when you’re away. To maintain your skin health, here are our key tips:
- If you get too much sun, or burn lightly, you may need to reduce how often you apply your Dermatica treatment to prevent irritation and sensitivity,
- Apply SPF consistently and properly — SPF 30+ at least every two hours!
- Keep your skin thoroughly moisturised to combat dryness.
Holiday skin challenge: Sunburn
Sunburn can put a real dampener on your holiday fun. Not only is it painful in the moment, but it means you have to stay covered up for the rest of your holiday to prevent further damage. On top of that, it’s dangerous — having just five or more sunburns can double your risk of skin cancer*, so prevention is the best cure.
Skincare solution: At Dermatica, we believe sunscreen is the most important step in any skincare routine. Apply it regularly (at least every 2 hours) and make sure it’s SPF 30+. This applies if you’re skiing or visiting a cold country, too — UV rays can reflect off snow and increase your risk of burning, making it even more important to ensure you don’t miss areas like your chin and under your nose. If you do burn, get out of the sun as soon as possible. You can soothe your skin with cold showers, compresses or aftersun. Moisturiser is also a great alternative to aftersun if you have none to hand.
Holiday skin challenge: Storing your skincare
It can be hard to know how to pack up your routine without taking full-size products, or store it once you’ve arrived at your destination — particularly if the weather is hotter than you’re used to.
Skincare solution: If you can’t get travel minis of your favourite products, you can always decant into smaller containers to save space in your suitcase or carry-on. Avoid using clear bottles, though — direct light can affect the efficacy of certain ingredients. It may be tempting to keep your SPF in the fridge, but that could make it less effective. Instead, store it in a cool, dry place.
Holiday skin challenge: Inflammation
Skin conditions like rosacea and hyperpigmentation may be triggered by UV exposure, causing flare-ups of inflammation.
Skincare solution: To protect your skin from swelling and irritation, use products with ingredients such as vitamin E and Centella asiatica — these all have anti-inflammatory properties and can help to provide a barrier of moisture to limit sun damage.
Don’t forget: if you’re a Dermatica customer, you can contact our experts via your dashboard, any time.
Dr Catriona Maybury
Dr Catriona Maybury is a Consultant Dermatologist, working as Medical Lead for Dermatica and at St George’s Hospital in London. Catriona completed her specialty training at St John’s Institute of Dermatology in London. Catriona has a special interest in medical dermatology, completing a PhD in liver fibrosis amongst psoriasis patients at King’s College London. Catriona is a certified coach and worked as Dermatology Section Editor for the British Medical Journal.