How to Keep a Consistent Skincare Routine This Holiday Season While Traveling
The holiday season is here and soon many of us will be packing our bags to spend time with loved ones. However, while we plan for long drives and airport lines, we often overlook the toll that seasonal travel can take on our skin. Just like your travel plans, your skincare routine requires some preparation to handle the journey ahead.
Between holiday stress, changes in diet, sleep patterns, exercise, and temperature fluctuations, your skin undergoes a lot of stress this time of year. Adding air travel to the mix introduces even more challenges, including dehydration, exposure to recycled cabin air, and the increased risk of exposure to germs and bacteria.
All of this triggers the body’s stress response, releasing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline that can increase inflammation, oil production, and sensitivity. The result? Breakouts, redness, and flare-ups of existing skin conditions just when you’d prefer to look your best.
Here’s a breakdown of what can happen and why:
Stress and sleep disruption. Travel fatigue and irregular sleep patterns can affect collagen production, leading to dull skin and under-eye circles.
Dehydration. Airplane cabins have humidity levels as low as 10–20%, which can strip moisture from your skin. The skin may feel tight, flaky, or irritated.
Inflammation and breakouts. Changes in air pressure and recycled cabin air can trigger inflammation and clogged pores, especially if you’re wearing makeup during long flights.
Dull complexion. A lack of circulation from prolonged sitting and low hydration can make the skin appear tired and lackluster.
Dryness and redness. Cold, windy air and indoor heating sap moisture from skin, leading to chapped lips and flaky skin.
Cracked cuticles and brittle nails. The combination of cold air and frequent hand washing can weaken nails and cuticles.
Sun damage. If you are traveling somewhere tropical this holiday season, remember that UV rays are stronger near the equator, leading to dryness, premature aging, and pigmentation if sunscreen isn’t reapplied.
Hard water. Different mineral levels in hotel or city water can strip hair color, cause buildup, and make skin feel tight or itchy.
Diet and alcohol. Festive foods, alcohol, and sugar can trigger inflammation, puffiness, and dehydration.
If the thought of holiday travel has you feeling stressed, you’re not alone. At Sage Stone Botanicals, we believe in holistic, organic skincare that supports balance from the inside out. In this post, we’ll share simple, natural ways to keep your skincare routine on track, and even restore your skin’s calm and clarity, during the busy travel season, featuring a few of our favorite Sage Stone Botanicals essentials.
Holiday Travel Skincare Solutions
To maintain healthy skin during holiday travel, prioritize hydration, moisturizing, and self-care. Travel can be stressful and trigger breakouts, skin irritations, and other issues. Common ways to mitigate these triggers include:
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate from the inside out. Cells are mostly composed of water, so staying well-hydrated helps maintain your skin’s elasticity and smoothness, which can improve its overall appearance. Staying hydrated from the inside out is critical for holiday travel or anytime of the year. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your flight.
Also, hydrate from the outside in. We recommend spritzing your face with a hydrating mist and applying your moisturizer to slightly damp skin to lock in extra hydration. Apply a facial oil or serum like our OiLixer to keep your skin from drying out in recycled air during the flight.
Follow your daily skin cleansing routine. Cleansing your skin daily is essential for maintaining a clear, balanced complexion. Using a gentle face wash in the morning and at night helps remove oil, dirt, and dead skin cells that can accumulate over time. Use warm water to avoid irritation, and always wash with a gentle touch to protect your skin’s natural barrier.
Work up a sweat. Opting for gentle exercise can help reduce stress, inflammation, and prevent breakouts, while supporting healthy circulation for a clearer, more balanced complexion.
Protect your skin from environmental stressors. Protect your face with a hydrating serum and avoid touching your face to prevent breakouts. Your hands can carry bacteria, so avoid touching your face to prevent breakouts.
Avoid heavy metals & makeup. Skip heavy makeup and steer clear of skincare and makeup products containing irritating chemicals like aluminum and phthalates, which can clog pores and cause irritation. Be cautious of ingredients in your skincare products, such as alcohol and added fragrance, which can dry out or irritate your skin.
Avoid using hotel-provided soaps and shampoos. Avoid harsh soaps with drying ingredients, such as sodium laurel sulfate, which can be drying and irritating. Bring your own and pack a Sage Stone Botanicals Body Wash instead. In general, stick with sulfate-free and paraben-free products, and other natural skincare products that are typically gentler to reduce irritation and support long-term skin health.
Keep a high-quality lip balm in your pocket. Cold air and airplane cabins can quickly dry out your lips. Stay hydrated and use a rich balm with shea butter and vitamins A and E to soothe and protect. Reapply often, especially before landing, to keep lips soft and healthy year-round.
Prep your skin before the trip. Gently exfoliate the night before your trip to remove dead skin cells and help your skin absorb moisture more effectively. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, helping to clear out pores and improve overall texture. Just be careful not to overdo it, as excessive exfoliation can damage your skin’s natural barrier and cause irritation. Dermarplaning is another procedure that is beneficial.
Eat mindfully. Eating anti-inflammatory foods, such as omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, helps improve skin from the inside. Limit salty, fried, or sugary snacks, as these can contribute to dehydration and breakouts. Reducing consumption of highly processed, sugary, or spicy foods, which can exacerbate inflammation.
Limit alcohol intake. Especially red wine, which can cause redness and flushing.
Get enough rest. Prioritize sleep to help your skin repair and rejuvenate itself.
Protect from the sun and UV damage (yes, even during the winter). It doesn’t matter if it’s 85°F or 15°F outside; protecting your skin from the sun is essential for maintaining collagen and elastin. Make sunscreen a daily habit, even on cloudy days or in colder climates, and use a broad-spectrum formula with a minimum SPF of 30.
Incorporate a face mask. Bring a hydrating or calming face mask to use a few times during your trip to give your skin an extra boost of moisture and relief.
Pack smart and stick to your essential routine. We love trying new things when we travel, but not when it comes to skincare! Your skin is already dealing enough with change as it is, so bring travel-sized versions of your favorite products to avoid irritation from new or hotel products. Stick with your usual, minimalist routine, including a gentle cleanser, a gentle hydrating serum like our OiLixer, a good moisturizer like our aloe-infused Hand & Heel Creme & Body Lotion, and a broad-spectrum SPF, preferably in a stick for easy application.
Look for products with botanical ingredients. A balanced natural skincare routine with products made with nutrient-rich, botanical ingredients can do wonders for stressed skin. Look for natural ingredients that have been proven to soothe and reduce skin irritation from holiday travel stress, like:
Vitamin C: a very powerful antioxidant that brightens skin tone, boosts collagen, and firms the skin, mitigating sun damage or aging, making it appear more radiant.
Rose Hip Seed Oil: Used since ancient times for its skin-healing benefits, this vitamin-rich oil from wild rose seeds hydrates, brightens, and helps fade dark spots, scars, and fine lines. Packed with essential fatty acids, it supports cell renewal, soothes irritation, and helps repair sun damage, one of the key ingredients in products like our OiLixer and Hand & Heel Creme.
Aloe Vera: Loved for its cooling, anti-inflammatory benefits, aloe vera gel quickly calms irritation, redness, and sunburns (something to keep in mind especially if you’re heading somewhere tropical this holiday season). You’ll find this super ingredient in both our Hand & Heel Creme and Body Lotion, where it helps soothe and promote skin recovery.
Sunflower Oil: With high linoleic acid content, sunflower oil soothes and reduces inflammation, making it ideal for irritated skin. It's also rich in Vitamins E and A, boosting skin health and hydration. Found in our Body Wash, Certified Organic Sunflower Oil offers dryness relief and protection.
Jojoba Oil: A skincare favorite, jojoba oil mimics your skin’s natural sebum to balance moisture and control oil production. It absorbs quickly without clogging pores, calms inflammation, and helps reduce acne, psoriasis, and signs of aging for a smoother, clearer complexion. You’ll find it in our OiLixer, Body Wash, Hand & Heel Creme, and Body Lotion; perfect for sensitive or allergy-prone skin.
Coconut Oil: Known for its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties, coconut oil soothes dry, red skin and contains antimicrobial benefits to prevent infections. It's a key ingredient in our Body Wash for enhanced skin health.
Vitamin E Oil: Vitamin E’s antioxidant properties help protect the skin against environmental damage and have anti-inflammatory effects that soothe irritation and promote healing. Products like our OiLixer, Hand & Heel Creme, and Body Lotion all contain Vitamin E Oil to combat inflammation and aid in skin recovery.
Avocado Oil: Beneficial for those with eczema and psoriasis, avocado oil deeply moisturizes and helps heal skin, thanks to its rich content of fatty acids and vitamins A, D, and E. It is included in both our Hand & Heel Creme and Body Lotion for its rejuvenating properties.
Almond Oil: High in Vitamin E and magnesium, Almond oil offers numerous skin benefits, including aiding in wound healing, reducing stretch marks, and treating chapped skin. It's featured in our Body Lotion for its light texture and nourishing properties.
Shea Butter: With its rich moisturizing properties and natural anti-inflammatory components, shea butter reduces skin redness and irritation. The certified organic shea butter in our Body Lotion and Hand & Heel Creme can be helpful in treating skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
Cocoa Butter: An emollient that heals and moisturizes skin exposed to harsh conditions, cocoa butter is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, improving skin health and hydration. The certified organic cocoa butter in our Hand & Heel Creme and Body Lotion makes it a good choice for those with allergies or sensitive skin.
Hemp Seed Oil: This oil reduces redness and irritation with its anti-inflammatory properties and balanced hydration, thanks to its rich content of omega fatty acids. Found in our Hand & Heel Creme, it maintains a healthy skin barrier and prevents irritation.
Maintaining a consistent skincare routine while traveling may sound easy, but it actually requires a combination of careful planning, using natural skincare products, and avoiding triggers as much as possible. Since some of the Sage Stone Botanicals’ products come in travel-sized bottles, it's possible to keep your healthy skincare routine even when you’re on the road during the hectic holiday travel season.
