3 Reasons Your Skin Might Look Worse When You Travel + How To Deal

If you're in the same boat, you’ll be glad to know I asked board-certified dermatologist Rebecca Marcus, M.D., FAAD, to explain why this happens and what to do about it. To come, some quick travel skin tips. 

“Flying on airplanes is extremely dehydrating to the skin, and changes in your ambient environment may dehydrate skin if you are going to an area with dryer air or less humidity, such as the mountains,” she says.

While you should get the most of your days off, it’s important to know that your food lineup and your sleep patterns will impact your skin during travel, so have some extra help on hand. 

Some people may bring their entire product lineup with them, but most people will cut down their skin care routine to save suitcase space. This is totally reasonable, but you may want to be a bit more intentional about where you’re cutting—are you leaving behind your treatment steps that keep your skin smooth and taut? Forgetting your trusty SPF? Skipping the double-cleansing step?

To mitigate dry skin and breakouts during travel, be mindful of what products you bring along, prioritize rich hydrating creams, and sneak in a nap or healthy snack when you can. Here, more ways to relieve dry winter skin.