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Paris Packing List: Skincare Edition
Bonjour from Paris, friends! As I was packing for this trip earlier this week, one thing top of mind (besides croissants, of course) was keeping my skin in good shape while traveling. So I thought I’d share a few of my favorite travel skin hacks in case you’ve got some adventures of your own coming up in the next few months.
How does traveling affect our skin?
There’s nothing like that first deep breath when we step off a plane in a new city. But let’s be honest—our skin doesn’t exactly love the journey.
Airplanes, airports, and hotels all keep the air intentionally dry—low humidity improves efficiency, protects the equipment, and helps prevent mold growth. Great for the machinery running behind the scenes, not so great for us. That lack of moisture literally pulls water right out of our skin, leaving it tight, itchy, and more prone to irritation or flare-ups (POD friends, I’m looking at us 👀).
Layer on the added stress of disrupted routines, different water quality, and the temptation to skip steps in our regimen while we’re on the go—and it’s the perfect recipe for skin that feels “off” before the trip even begins.
My Top 5 (Actually 6) Travel Skin Hacks
1. A travel humidifier by the bed.
This one feels extra, but I swear it’s worth the suitcase space. The first time I traveled with a mini humidifier, I couldn’t believe the difference—I woke up with skin that actually felt soft and comfortable instead of dry and tight. Now it’s non-negotiable for me on longer trips or anytime I’m traveling in the fall/winter when my skin barrier is already more sensitive. That little cloud of moisture in the room keeps my barrier intact and makes every other product I use work better. This travel one is my favorite because it’s small but mighty.
2. Scale back on actives.
Travel is not the time to push our skin to its limits. My prescription tretinoin is wonderful when I’m home and in my normal routine, but while traveling, especially in drier climates or longer trips — I always swap it for something gentler. For me, that’s Ret+. Normally I just use it on my neck and under eyes, but when I travel, it becomes my all-over retinoid. It keeps my skin consistent without risking the irritation that stronger actives can bring when everything else (air, water, sleep) is already working against us.
3. A reset mask.
There’s nothing quite like the skin fatigue that hits after a long-haul flight — tight, dull, maybe even a little blotchy. That’s why I never travel without a hydrating sheet mask or two. They take up almost no space in my bag, but the payoff is huge. As soon as I get to my hotel, I’ll pop one on while I unpack, and it instantly plumps and soothes my skin. It feels like pressing “restart” on my face so I can head out into a new city looking alive instead of jet-lagged.
4. My ride-or-die skin barrier cream.
This is my secret weapon, and I never travel without it. It was originally made to help skin recover after treatments, but honestly—it’s so much more than that. If my skin is angry, red, flaky, or just throwing one of its little tantrums (which it always seems to do when I’m traveling), this shuts it down fast. It instantly calms, hydrates, and brings even my most irritated skin back to life. I’ll dab it under my eyes if they’re extra dry, or slather it on my full-face when everything feels tight.
5. Face mist throughout the day.
Feeling dry? Makeup looking cakey? Catch yourself in the mirror and wonder where the glow went? Mist, mist, mist. A good face mist gives instant relief to dry or tight skin by replacing the moisture the dry air is stealing. I always keep one in my purse and spritz mid-flight or in the middle of the day when my skin needs a pick-me-up.
6. Don’t skip the lips and hands.
This is the underrated hack most of us forget. Our lips and hands are the first to show the effects of travel because we’re constantly washing, sanitizing, and braving recycled air. A hydrating lip replenisher and a travel hand cream have become as essential in my bag as my boarding pass. It seems small, but waking up without cracked lips or raw hands makes a big difference in how comfortable (and put-together) I feel on vacation.
Travel will always throw our routines off a bit—that’s part of the adventure. But with a little planning and a few tiny tweaks, our skin doesn’t have to pay the price. If you’ve got a trip on the horizon, I hope some of these hacks earn a spot in your carry-on too.
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