I have a friend who almost always comes back with a new breakout on her face whenever she goes on vacation or a trip. Traveling can be tough on your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin. Exposure to unhygienic environments, hotel soaps and lotions and even travel-related stress can cause breakouts and flare ups.  

So we’ve put together this guide for traveling with sensitive skin. Try to follow as many of these tips as possible to protect your skin. If they don’t work, see a dermatologist for help. 

1. Travel With Your Skincare Kit 

The first rule of traveling with sensitive skin is to never trust any skin products other than the ones you are used to. Don't use hotel lotions or buy a new sunscreen you’ve never used at a local store. 

Always pack your own skincare kit when traveling. If you travel often, we recommend getting your favorite products in travel size bottles (less than 100ml). This allows you to carry them in your carryon luggage. 

But you can also pack regular size skin products in the checked baggage. But get a small bottle of moisturizer for your carry-on so you can moisturize en-route. 

2. Bring Your Own Toiletries 

It’s not just strange lotions and creams that can cause a breakout on your skin. Soaps, shampoos and other hotel toiletries can be an issue too. 

To be safe, carry the toiletries you’ll need for your trip. This is especially important if you only use a specific shower gel or shampoo that doesn't affect your skin. 

3. Moisturize Skin Before and During Travel 

Traveling is stressful on the skin. The crowds, the pollution, the low humidity of an airplane and other factors can trigger skin breakouts. One of the best ways to protect your skin is to keep it well moisturized. 

Some people put on a sheet mask during their flight to keep their skin hydrated. 20 minutes is enough to deeply moisturize your skin. If you’d prefer not to look like a ghost in the plane or train, apply a regular moisturizer. Apply some before you leave home and re-apply during the flight. 

4. Avoid Touching Your Face 

When traveling, you’ll touch numerous surfaces full of dirt and germs. This is why you should avoid touching your face as much as possible. Touching your face will transfer dirt and bacteria onto your skin, increasing the risk of a breakout. 

Washing or sanitizing your hands often will also help protect your skin, especially if you have a tendency to unconsciously touch your face. 

5. If You Wear a Mask, Pick The Right One 

Even if you are not concerned about Covid-19, it is still a smart idea to wear a mask when traveling. It can protect you from other kinds of respiratory infections. 

But be careful what kind of mask you wear. When worn for a long time, most masks irritate the skin and can cause an acne breakout. We recommend a soft and gentle skin-friendly mask. 

Our own Aplu anti-acne flight mask is specifically designed to be worn on long flights. It’s comfortable, soft and anti-bacterial.  

6. Bring Your Own Pillowcase

In a recent post, we talked about carrying your own bedding when you travel. This can be helpful if you have sensitive skin. Hotel and Airbnb bedding can sometimes be unhygienic or they may be rough on your skin. 

In most cases, carrying your own pillowcase is enough to protect your skin. Pick a pillow case that is soft, breathable and wicks away sweat. A cotton, silk or bamboo pillowcase is an excellent choice. For extra protection, use the anti-bacterial pillowcases that are included with our Jax Sheets. You can also order the pillowcase separately. 

7. Hydrate 

As you moisturize your skin, don't forget to drink plenty of water. This is especially important when you're flying. Air in planes tends to be dry and can cause dehydration, which in turn leaves your skin vulnerable to breakouts. 

Drink water before, during and after your flight. And don’t forget to stay hydrated during your vacation. Get a large reusable bottle so you can easily carry water wherever you go. 

8. Get Plenty of Sleep and Rest 

The stress of traveling combined with poor sleep because of jetlag can cause or worsen skin flare ups. So try to rest as much as possible during your flight and afterwards.

9. Pack Emergency Treatments

No matter what you do, there is still a risk something could affect your skin. To avoid walking around with a face full of pimples, carry some emergency treatments like benzoyl peroxide or Salicylic acid. 

If you have a particular cream or ointment that you use when you have a breakout, carry it just in case.