Travelling is soothing for the soul but taxing for the body, especially your skin. The changed environment, different microbial flora (changes every place) , dry air of airplanes (especially if you are on a long flight), general adventure nature of the trip and so many other factors have an adverse effect on our skin in one way or the other. However if we are careful and take care of our skin diligently, we are able to indulge in our trip without having to worry about breakouts and all! Hence following a healthy skincare routine (Ayurvedic face wash, SPF, adequate moisturising etc) is a mandate. So here I am presenting a cheat sheet which would make our skin not only fuss free but healthier too!
1. Don't forget to wash your face!
We often are too tired at the end of the day (especially after a long day of exploration) to wash our face and go to sleep without washing our face. This leads to accumulation of dirt and dust and grime on our face ; which our skin readily absorbs during sleeping. Not to forget the caking up of make up that we slather on before any excursion. It's not called 'Beauty Sleep' without any reason. Our skin heals during those hours and it is our duty to nourish it as much as possible.
Similarly when we take a shower in the morning, it is important to incorporate a face wash before we step out of the hot shower. A clear face glows more beautifully and also takes up make up more efficiently.
2. Hydrate. I can't stress on this point enough. Our skin needs water to drink more than we do (yes we consume in various other forms like drinks, fruits, etc) while our skin gets water from the glasses we chug down.
3. Cut down on alcohol and caffeinated drinks. We all love to indulge on a trip but we want perfect pictures for our albums too. So restrict your alcohol intake to one drink per day or just avoid it completely. Don't drink too much caffeine, it can lead to breakout.
4. Don't forget your greens on a trip. We all love to experience local cuisine but we should reserve one meal for healthy food. The easiest way to do this is to have a big plate of salad and a fruit at one time of the day.
5. Don't forget sun protection. Irrespective of the weather, you have to slather on SPF on all your exposed body parts and reapply it every four hours. Also carry a wide brim hat, sunglasses and scarf with you when you are visiting a sunny destination.
6. Don't forget your supplements! Correct nutrition may be unachievable during a trip (who's complaining anyway). So if you pop a vitamin everyday, you don't have to worry about your skin or hair!
After exploring 23 countries of different terrains so far, these are the tips that I have collected and happily pass them on to my readers and patients. Do let me know if you want to add more!
