Back To Basics: What I Learnt About Skincare After A Year Of Travelling

The world of skincare can feel extremely overwhelming, with so many different products out there and 15-step skincare routines that people believe are a must. I used to be a part of the cycle, not going to bed before my 20-minute skincare routine was complete, swearing by every step and endless skincare treatments as an essential. However, when I was faced with living out of a backpack for a year, decisions had to be made! So, I stripped things right back and learnt a few things about what my skin really needed, and hopefully this will help to inspire others who are feeling the pressure when it comes to skincare.

Don’t Cleanse Twice A Day

Part of my skincare routine previously was to thoroughly cleanse twice a day; however, when travelling, I decided to take out one of these cleanses and just cleanse in the evening. So, in the morning, I only cleansed with water to help maintain more of the natural oils in the skin, and I noticed that my skin retained moisture better and my areas of dryness seemed to reduce. I also struggled with inflammation at times on the skin, which reduced when I dropped one of the cleanses each day.

Serum, Moisturiser and SPF

In the past, I’ve had so many different skincare products involved in my routine, so I stripped it back to a serum, moisturiser and SPF. I chose a combined Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid serum to ensure that I’m getting some much-needed vitamins and peptides to my skin, which is especially important when I’ve been travelling to hot countries.

Stay Hydrated

Water is just as important as putting moisturisers on; your skin remains hydrated within, and it can be the difference between a good skin day and a bad skin day when you are dehydrated. It also doesn’t just affect your skin but more sensitive areas such as your lips, eyes and your energy levels. But also a niacinamide-rich lip gloss also helps with those areas throughout the day.

To avoid broken skin and skin conditions developing, drinking more water during hot sunny days is crucial for everything beyond skin.

Focus On Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins like Vitamin C, Iron and other minerals that you need to ensure that you’re happy and healthy. While you are travelling, you may also need vitamin D if you are by chance not somewhere where it’s good weather and sunny.

Vitamins are a great way to get some of the things you need if you haven’t been able to stop and get some healthy meals. Travelling means you don’t always have the luxury of fresh, whole food meals, so you have to resort to quick and fast food on most occasions. It also helps save money, but vitamins, in a way, soften the blow.

Other vitamins and minerals I would recommend are magnesium to help you sleep, which is a must for me when in new spaces, but also zinc to help with your immune system, as nothing is worse than being poorly when you aren’t at home in your safe space.

To make things easier, I’d recommend a multivitamin such as Optibac probiotic or a Holland and Barrett branded tub. This will keep both your body and skin happy and healthy.

Hard Water Solution

As for back home, we are lucky enough to have ‘soft water’, which is water that you will use to shower with that has a low mineral content and is gentle on the skin due to its low magnesium content. Harder water has more calcium and magnesium content, which can cause limescale buildup and be much harsher on the skin and hair follicles.

As I was a little more aware of this, I made sure to wash my face as and when with bottled water to reduce the long-term impact, but also I decided to use micellar water and invested in a low PH cleanser. Moisturising after was very key, as I have naturally drier skin; a healthy lather was needed post showering.

If you were staying in the same place for a while, I would recommend switching up the showerhead to a filtered showerhead. Usually, most are easily interchangeable, so you could take it with you to most places, but it is something if you want to take your skincare to the next level while travelling.

Ceramides (Not Hyaluronic Acid)

Constantly changing environments (planes, air-con, new climates) caused my skin barrier to freak out to begin with, resulting in redness, flaking, or sudden sensitivity, especially around my lower face. Hyaluronic Acid, while great in humid weather, felt sticky or actually pulled moisture out of my skin in dry weather, which wasn’t ideal. I did my research because on marketing bottles, hyaluronic acid is said to lock moisture but this is completely dependent on the climate.

I swapped to a niacinamide-focused serum and it completely transformed my skin during dry and cold weather.

Photo Credit
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels

Guest Author Bio
Cathy Fletcher

Cathy Fletcher is a retired physiotherapist based in Manchester, UK, with a rich 40-year career in the NHS. After navigating the challenges of divorce and retirement, Cathy discovered a new purpose: empowering individuals over 50 to live their best lives and uncover new passions. Her personal journey through these significant life changes has fuelled her commitment to sharing insights and experiences with others in similar stages.