Skincare in the Air

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Have you guys ever flown on a plane and felt your skin get so dry that your skin starts to produce more oil and then BAM, pimples show up, uninvited.

This was my daily struggle at work. I love my job, but taking care of my skin became a job of its own. I’ve always suffered from the occasional break out, especially during that time of the month, but when I started flying and started eating everything in sight, acne became my mortal enemy. Wait, it got worse! I started to get hormonal acne. I’ve read that some people start to get this during their mid 20’s, but I was determined to fight this battle.

If you’re currently going through something similar like me, know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. After trial and error, detox tea after apple cider vinegar shots and the occasional goat sacrifice (kidding), I’m glad I can finally say I’m at a good place in life and have a handle on this skincare stuff. (If you’d like to see how bad my skin used to be, scroll to the very bottom)

Now, before I list the steps that I took, you must know that I’m a Latina with oily-skin and USED to have hormonal acne break outs alongside my jaw. They were painful and made me a moody Judy at times. Ask my bf Steve, he knows.

First things first..

DIET

I hate to have to write about this because I don’t like telling people what they should and shouldn’t eat, but believe me when I say that acne comes from WITHIN. You can lather your skin in all the salicylic acid in the world, but if you’re still eating the wrong things, your skin WILL let you know. I did what needed to be done. I limited my meat intake and adopted a vegetarian diet. Heck, I would even call myself a flexetarian. I completely cut out milk and any other dairy products. I also started drinking more water. Like fish out of water. Especially on the plane! If your skin is acting out of line and producing more oil, your skin might be dehydrated so drink up.  If you think any of these diet tips are hard, then I recommend you watch the following documentaries on Netflix: Cowspiracy Forks Over Knives

These will be sure to scare you away from meat/dairy products.

I also started taking a daily zinc vitamin. Apparently, zinc has anti-inflammatory properties and can help fight viruses and bacteria. I wasn’t lying earlier when I said I tried everything.

Another thing I’ve been in taking for over a month now is Ashwagandha pills. They’ve been known to help combat stress and for those who don’t know, stress can also lead to break outs. + they raise your mood and libido (lol)

MORNING ROUTINE

Before I even think about eating anything, I start each morning with a glass of water. Now if I want to be a little extra I’ll warm up the water and add some lemon to it. But let’s be real, we don’t always have the time to do this every day. Other days, I drink green tea and get my day going.

Green tea has a ton of benefits, just to name a few:

• cancer prevention
• weight loss
• anti inflammatory properties
• anti aging

Drink this on an empty stomach in the morning. If you feel it’s too much to handle at first, drink a glass of water in between.

SKINCARE PRODUCTS

Cleanse

For cleansers, I suggest using something mild and gentle, like this Cetaphil cleanser. You don’t want to use anything that could possibly irritate your skin even more with added fragrances or chemicals. I use this cleanser as my second cleanser in the evening after I remove my make up with this oil based cleanser.

Vitamin C

Let’s face it, once you turn 30 you need to start adding vitamin C into your skincare routine. I found this amazing dupe for Skin Ceuitcals and at only $26.99 versus $169, it’s totally worth trying out. I’ve used it for a couple weeks now and have noticed visibly brighter and smoother skin.

Exfoliate

Once a week, I use this peeling solution to exfoliate and help clear pore congestion. This is something I’ll probably repurchase for the rest of my life because, 1. it’s affordable AF and 2. because it actually works. My skin is noticeably smoother and more even after using this for a few weeks.

Moisturize

I’m always trying new moisturizers from Kate Sommerville to over-the-counter, but nothing has made it’s way into my bathroom cabinet like this one. This Cetaphil moisturizer is travel friendly, light-weight and doesn’t clog my pores + it has a little bit of SPF in it so it’s a perfect daytime moisturizer.

Nighttime care

I’m almost 30, so of course I had to start incorporating retinol into my skincare routine. I decided to start with something gentle like the L’Oreal Paris Retinol Serum. I started using it just once the first week, twice the second week, then slowly built up my tolerance to every other day. Must be applied on a dry face. Then I use marula oil as a nighttime moisturizer.

AND FINALLY..

Skincare in the Air

Face Mist

My best recommendation for plane travel, is to keep a bare face, or as bare as you can and keep a hydrating mist on hand. I’ve tried Mario Badescu’s rose water spray and I feel like it always made me look like a grease monkey. More oilier than what I had started with. This one is great because it’s travel sized, has natural ingredients and actually feels nice and refreshing on the face. Avene Thermal Spring Water Face Spray aka Jesus holy water for the skin + the travel size is on sale for only $8.10!

Make Up

Now, for those who are like me and need a little color correcting because you just might meet the love of your life on the plane (true story), then this is the stuff for you! I discovered this brand while visiting Paris and did some research. It had amazing reviews and once I tested in on the back of my hand, I could see why. It’s such a lightweight, sheer, but buildable coverage + it’s packed with vitamins C and E! It’s like skincare, but in make up form. Also, the price is right at only $15! Bourjois Healthy Mix

Hydration

For this one, it’s going to sound a little obvious, but the best way to keep your skin and body hydrated on the plane is.. WATER. Seriously, get yourself a reusable water bottle, bring it with you through security (empty, without liquid) and fill it up before you board your plane at one of the airport hydration stations aka water fountains. Sounds easy, right? Yet, not enough people do it because I’ve had way too many instances of people passing out of dehydration on the plane. That’s a story I’ll save for another time though.

Hope you guys found this blog helpful and please share your journey with me through comments on here or Instagram.

xoxo,

Stew