Agh, skin care. It’s a love-hate relationship. My skin is a pretty constant battle. I had terrible acne in high school and most of college. I have tried it all from prescription topical creams and gels, oral antibiotics, so many different face soaps, lotions and routines, etc. And I use to always get stressed out about my skin prior to traveling because without fail I always seemed to breakout during and after travel. After several years of trial and error – and there was a lot of error, I am so happy to report my skin is the best it’s ever been! This is my skin care routine that works for me, and the extras I add to that routine before and during the flight to ensure I arrive at my destination fresh faced!

*This post contains affiliate links. That means, I may receive a commission for some of the links in this post- at no cost to you. See our Disclaimer page for details*

Before I dive in, I want to say my skin is not perfect. I still have the occasional breakout around that certain time of month. I also notice more breakouts if I eat too much dairy! More on that later. But I am learning to listen to my skin. Basically, if I feel that my skin is super dry I might skip washing my face in the morning (this happens in the winter, more-so). I will NEVER skip washing my face at night! I may decide to just apply topical to my acne prone spots rather than my whole face. If I sense a breakout coming, I’ll ramp up my routine.

It takes practice and like I said, trial and error. But this is my routine, and it has made such a difference for me! Recently, I have been able to leave the house without foundation or concealer, which is huge for me. I still love makeup and wear it 90% of the time, but on a Saturday errand run to Home Depot I may leave the make up in the drawer. Which is a great feeling.

1. Drink lots of water.

This is step one, because it starts before the flight and is essential to any good skin care routine! I’m trying to be a better water drinker lately in general, but a few days leading up to my flight I make sure I am at least getting my 8 cups in!

I love this Eco Vessel water bottle so much, it keeps water super cold and it even has a filter for fruit or tea infusions. This water bottle by Popflex is another favorite. It actually has a  visual timer on it that keeps you on track! Go to: agirlandakiwi.com/popflex and find them under the accessories tab.

It’s also super important to keep drinking water while traveling. I always bring my own water bottle in my carry-on.

Related: Ultimate Long Haul Carry-on

2. Eat Healthy.

I also try to eat really fresh and healthy leading up to my flight. Lots of fruit and vegetables, less dairy and sugar. I love dairy, but dairy doesn’t love me. I tend to eat very, very low dairy because I have noticed it affects my skin. On a daily basis, I drink almond milk, eat almond or soy yogurt, and use dairy free cream cheese. But I do have the occasional cheese and cracker during happy hour. Leading up to traveling though, I will completely cut it out of my diet.

3. Keep up your skin care routine!

Just because you are traveling through airports does NOT mean you can break from your skin care routine! This is my routine. Most of my skin care products are by Shaklee. These are the ones I use and love:

1. Wash my Face with Enfuselle Purifying Gel. This cleanser is effective, natural, and gentle all in one.

2. Acne Topicals. I do have acne topicals prescribed to me by my Dermatologist, which I rotate in the morning and evenings.

3. Moisturize in the AM and PM. These lotions by Shaklee’s YOUTH line are my favorite skin care products EVER. And I’ve tried a lot of them. The Advanced Renewal Night Cream is buttery soft and feels like heaven on my skin. The Age Defense Mineral Moisturizer goes on smooth, and dries quick, which is great for rushed mornings. It also has SPF 30, which is so essential for protecting your skin all year round. I use the YOUTH Restoring Eye Treatment at night, which is silky smooth and goes on with a metal tip applicator. I’ve already noticed a significant difference in the laugh lines around my eyes! I feel much more confident in photos since using this eye treatment.

If you are interested in Shaklee’s skin care or YOUTH line, contact my sister Mandy at mandymaitland@gmail.com – she will answer all your questions!

So how do I bring all this on my carry-on? Travel bottles! Something like these clear 2 oz bottles. If room in my carryon is tight, I may use a contact case! One side face soap, the other side lotion. The contact case holds the perfect amount to get me through a few flights. And yes, I am that girl who washes her face in airport bathrooms. Sorry, not sorry. I wash my face with my hands, and will dry it with a clean wash cloth or pat dry with paper towel if I am desperate.

If you do have acne topical creams or gels from a dermatologist, make sure you ask for samples. They should be able to give you small tubes with a few doses – perfect for traveling.

Related: The 6 Things I Always Wear When Traveling

4. Hands off your face.

Airports are so dirty! Don’t introduce that bacteria to your pretty face. Keep your hands off your face, and keep your hands clean by washing them often with soap and water. I also always travel with hand sanitizer to keep my hands clean.

5. Face wipes.

I use these Neutragena face wipes during long-haul flights. It’s a quick way to remove grime and extra oil, and makes me feel refreshed.

6. Vitamins & Supplements

Last but definitely not least: my secret weapon in my skin care routine! I take a lot of vitamins, but this is what works for me. Make sure you talk to a professional what vitamins might be right for you. I take a multi-vitamin, vitamin A, C, E, a B-complex, and Omega regularly. Starting a consistent vitamin regime has completely renovated my skin. I even stopped taking my oral antibiotics for skin. I can’t tell you how that makes me feel! It’s been such a relief and I feel so much more confident in my skin! I use Shaklee Vitamins and I love them.

Contact Mandy at mandymaitland@gmail.com if you want to learn more about Shaklee Vitamins!

During travelling, I will also take Shaklee’s Alfalfa supplements, which are basically just a herb, to help reduce inflammation. I like to keep them all organized in my Vera Bradley Pill Organizer.

I hope you find these 6 skin care tips helpful! Like I said, keeping a skin care routine has completely changed my skin. And I find no excuse not to keep up with that routine even when you are flying. So if you see me, I’ll be the one washing my face at the sink at basically every layover.

Travel On, 

Don’t miss a post! Sign up to our newsletter by clicking here!

*This post contains affiliate links. That means, I may receive a commission for some of the links in this post- at no cost to you. See our Disclaimer page for details*