Travel Skin Care Tips From A Dermatologist

I travel all over the world to lecture on the latest advances in skin care and cosmetic procedures, so I’ve had my luggage lost enough times to learn to carry on my bags whenever possible. Since current TSA restrictions make it tough to get all the hair and skin care products that I need through security, I’m happy to share a few tricks I’ve discovered to ensure my ultra-sensitive skin survives the trip.

1. Know your skin type and your skin’s needs
Learn the ingredients that are crucial for your skin type so that you know which products to pack and which to leave behind. I have found that many people are harming their skin simply by using the wrong ingredients. For example, one patient washed with a foaming cleanser that stripped the fats from her skin, leaving it red and irritated. Another patient used products that overly dried her skin, leading to inflammation and skin discoloration. Are you making these same mistakes? Knowing your skin type can help you simplify your regimen so that your skin looks better with fewer products.

Bonus Tip: Want more real-life examples of how people just like you are unknowingly harming their skin? Watch my television special, Skin Type Solutions With Dr. Leslie Baumann, airing in the next few weeks on your local public television station.

2. Determine which products are vital for your trip
When I travel, I take the 5 essentials: cleanser, moisturizer with sunscreen, night treatment, lip hydrator, and a body lotion.

Cleanser: Air travel dries out your skin, so choose a non-foaming cleanser like Cera Ve that won’t strip vital fats from your skin. If you choose an inexpensive brand, you won't feel guilty discarding the remainder to make room for things you purchased on your trip. Travelling outside the USA? Consider stocking up on local beauty treats at your final destination, like these picks from France.

Day moisturizer with SPF: If you have oily skin, you do not need a moisturizer. So replace it with a sunscreen like Jan Marini Antioxidant SPF 30. For dry and combination skin, choose a day moisturizer with SPF such as La Roche Posay Hydraphase UV.

Night product: Address your specific skin concerns with an appropriate product, like an acne treatment or anti-inflammatory cream. Because I have sensitive skin, I use Caudalie Vinosource Cream Mask or AtoPalm MLE cream which calms and moisturizes my skin. You can find the products right for your skin type by taking this easy questionnaire.

Lip hydrator: There's no need to leave space in your clear plastic bag for this product because it can stay in your luggage during security screenings. I use the Hwood lip teas which are a little pricey but are great if you have sensitive, allergy-prone skin like mine. I recommend bringing two of these since they always seem to disappear.

Body lotion: I find that the free hotel lotions do not hydrate adequately and often make me itch. You can find travel sizes of better products in drugstores. Look for Cetaphil Cream, Vaseline Intensive Therapy or Cera Ve Cream. Again, get an inexpensive one so you can leave it behind if needed.

3. Pack for your destination
Consider the climate at your destination. If it's drier than you are accustomed to, bring a heavier moisturizer; if it’s more humid, you might not need a moisturizer at all. Those traveling to hot, sunny places or ski resorts (where sun reflects off of snow) should be particularly vigilant about sun protection. Keep in mind that SPF loses its potency over time, so buy sunscreen once you’re there instead of digging out that old tube from last summer. The best brands are Neutrogena, Vichy, Aveeno, La Roche Posay and Skinceuticals.

4. Pare down
Substitute your gels and liquids with cleansing wipes by Ponds or Dermalogica or other solid bars and sticks. For example, opt for a bar soap like Dove which is perfectly suitable for use on the face. You can even buy shampoo and body lotion in bar form—try the Godiva Shampoo Bar and Therapy Massage Bar from Lush.

5. Be a savvy shopper to find products 3.4 ounces or smaller
Why buy what you can get for free? Pack perfume samples instead of a full-size bottle and ask your dermatologist if she has sample sizes of your skin care products and prescriptions. Some stores, such as CVS and Sephora, make it easier for you by offering travel-size versions of your favorites, and web retailers like SkinCareRX or 3floz.com feature products at many price points that meet the 3.4-ounce rule. Many beauty companies offer travel-size all-in-one kits. Try Frederic Fekkai’s Travel Faves hair care set or travel kits by Caudalie, Dermalogica or Shiseido. When possible, take inexpensive products you can abandon in favor of the great skin care finds you discover on your trip—I’m always coming home with some type of skin care discovery!

Have a great trip and a happy and healthy holiday season.

-Dr. Baumann

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Watch for the public television special Skin Type Solutions with Dr. Leslie Baumann in November and December to learn what ingredients are best for your Baumann Skin Type™.

Dr. Leslie Baumann is the Director of the Baumann Cosmetic and Research Institute in Miami Beach and the author of the best-selling book, The Skin Type Solution. Check out the Skin Type Solutions Channel on YouTube. You can also follow Dr. Baumann on Facebook or Twitter.

To discover your Baumann Skin Type®, visit her Web Site, SkinTypeSolutions.com.

Once you know your Baumann Skin Type®, you can shop by your skin type and choose from hundreds of brands at SkinTypeSolutionsStore.com