Help! I'm On Vacation Without My Skincare Products!
Once you discover what products work to treat your skin, especially acne, you wouldn't dare put anything else on your skin, right? So what happens when you take a trip but forget to pack your skincare routine? Here are the dos and don'ts of getting by without your ride-or-die skincare.
Do: Still wash your face at night
Use an acne-safe drugstore cleanser in a pinch; we've listed some options below. If it's not entirely removing your makeup, be sure to opt for some micellar water as well. The most important thing is that you are getting the sweat, makeup, and sunscreen off your face.
Don't: Use hotel bar soap
It's not because we're divas; it's simply because bar soap is hard on your face and will make your skin feel dry and rough. We like squeaky-clean skin, but not that way.
Do: Buy a drugstore cleanser, moisturizer with SPF, and Aquaphor/Vaseline
Here are the acne-safe options you can easily find. We are not recommending these products outside of a "skincare emergency." However, we also don't want you to break the bank on products you'll only use for a few days. Don't stray from these specific products, or you may accidentally end up with pore-clogging ingredients.
Cleanser:
For those with active acne or very acne-prone skin, seek out Differin 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Daily Deep Cleanser at Walgreens, Target, or Wal-Mart. You'll want to lean on this acne-safe BP cleanser in times of emergency. The reason you can't use it all the time to keep you clear is that the results just aren't there. The ingredients may look similar, but the formulation is not as stable or efficacious as Vivant Skincare's benzoyl peroxide cleansers. Dr. Fulton, Vivant's founder, was the master formulator and the first to stabilize benzoyl peroxide.
For those with normal, dry, or acne-prone but not currently concerned with breakouts, look for Bioderma's Sensibio Foaming Gel Face Cleanser. You should be able to find this cleanser at any Ulta. It is a gentle formula that may require a double cleanse to get you clean, but it will suffice while you're away and without your favorite Skin MPLS cleanser. Another option is CeraVe's Foaming Facial Cleanser, which should be at Target, Walgreens, and Walmart.
Our favorite micellar water, Bioderma's Sensibio H2O, is often available at Walgreens. Pop in and grab it if you need extra makeup remover or if you want to get by with as little as possible. You can also use it as a face cleanser if you're only away for a short weekend. Garnier offers a similar version that's also acne-safe, in case you don't see Bioderma at your local store.
Moisture and SPF:
You can find CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF30 at most stores. We're relieved to be able to offer you an easy option that's acne-safe and has SPF – because you need this while on vacation! Additionally, this option simplifies your life by combining moisturizer and SPF, saving you money and reducing the number of products you need to purchase. Remember, this is the only acne-safe Cerave face moisturizer available.
While you're at the store, grab Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly (or Aquaphor or a generic brand). It will come in handy for your lips, and also, if you're away for just a few days, you can get by using this for "moisture" in a pinch (it's not a moisturizer, but it locks in your skin's natural moisture) – and it costs less than $5. Otherwise, plan on using the AM moisturizer in the PMs as well.
Don't: Buy a whole skincare routine
It may seem tempting to pop into Sephora and replace all your goodies. But that has "looking for an excuse for a shopping spree" written all over it. And while it may seem fine at the moment, you will pay the price with pimples or just wasted funds down the road. You are better off replacing just the basics: cleanser, micellar water, SPF, and moisturizer.
Do: Email your aesthetician or the studio
If your trip is long enough, you might be able to even get products mailed to you. Or, depending on your location, you may be able to find a Vivant or Face Reality distributor to pick up the basics to survive. Otherwise, we can assist you in any way possible and provide you with more personalized advice.
Don't: Panic
You will be okay. The number one thing is to make sure you wash your makeup off and avoid pore-clogging products if you're prone to acne. This will just be a blip on the radar, and you should be able to maintain your results even if you forget your skincare. In the worst-case scenario, book an earlier-than-usual facial treatment for when you get home, and we'll help you get back to feeling like yourself, skin-wise.
Do: Keep Sulfur Spot Treatment handy
Even if you don't have much acne or breakouts, this product is so affordable and travel-friendly that it's worth keeping in your travel bag at all times. So, if you forget all your acne-fighting ingredients and find yourself feeling a pimple coming on, you can wash, use the Sulfur Spot Treatment liberally, and finish with moisturizer. It's also ideal for treating and preventing perioral dermatitis in individuals prone to PD flares, which can easily come with air travel.
Don't: Try random acne spot treatments.
If you get a pimple, just use ice, and most importantly, do not pick it! If you can leave it alone, you will likely survive the vacation without it getting too bad. Unfortunately, many acne spot treatments available contain pore-clogging ingredients. It makes us so mad!
If you frequently travel, here are some TSA-friendly products that should always hang out in your travel bag.
Travel-sized cleanser bottles are essential, as none of our favorite cleansers come in TSA-approved sizes. You can easily dispense cleanser into these travel bottles to save space and weight. Proper cleansing is the most crucial step, after all.
Bioderma Micellar Water – travel-sized
Toning pads pre-saturated with toner are one of our favorite travel tips. You can make your own and put them in a baggie or another travel jar/container, so you don't have to bring the whole bottle of toner and risk a leak. Triad Pads or Daily Repair Pads also work great because they're already saturated and ready to use on the go. Additionally, Triad Pads come in a box of ten individual pads specifically designed for travel.
Serum travel bottles also travel with us wherever we go because they save space and weight. Additionally, we've heard of a few too many serums being lost due to travel leaks because they weren't closed fully. Since serums are often the most expensive part of a routine, we like to keep those stored safely at home.
Allantoin Hydrating Lotion is a universal moisturizer that works for all skin types, all climates, and day and night, and is three ounces!
Sun Protection Ultra Repair SPF 50 provides ample protection, along with moisture and peptides, all within the travel size limit.