Ah! It’s that time of year again. Beach resorts and tropical locales are vying for your dollars because, you guessed it, it’s time for Spring Break! Whether you’re a student, a teacher (yes, we know you go on break, too), or just someone traveling during this busy time, it’s important to have a skin care plan. After all, once you arrive at your destination, everything has to happen on auto pilot.
Wherever your travels take you, here are a few things to keep in mind that will make all your activities that much more enjoyable.
#4 Slather on Sunscreen
We have to start here because, frankly, it bears repeating. Sunscreen may not be the sexiest product on the market, but it is the very best anti-aging product out there. “Why,” you ask? Because it prevents damage. Instead of spending your entire trip trying to recover from a sunburn, plan ahead and take the best sunblock you can afford with you. EltaMD UV Clear is a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 46. If you tend to breakout when wearing sunscreen, this one won’t do that. It contains transparent zinc oxide, so it doesn’t leave a white cast either, and it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Sunforgettable by Colorescience is also a good choice, especially if you don’t like the feel of sunscreen. The powder formula contains both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide and comes in a range of colors to match various skin tones.
#3 Take a Break from Retinol
Most Spring Break destinations offer a bevy of outdoor activities, which equates to additional sun exposure. Retinol helps increase your body’s natural skin cell turnover process, and that can put you at risk for sun damage. Reduce your retinol usage to every other night or every third night while enjoying your vacation. You don’t need to eliminate it entirely, but you also need to protect that new skin, and sometimes good intentions (aka reapplying sunscreen) fall by the wayside when the good times are a’rollin’.
#2 Wear Some Clothes
We can hear you laughing already, but ultraviolet light doesn’t discriminate. It can penetrate fabric, which means you can easily get a sunburn even when wearing a T-shirt and shorts. In fact, one study found that “one-third of commercial summer clothing items provide a UV protection factor (UPF) less than 15.” In layman’s terms, if you can see through it, then the sun’s rays can get through it, too. Now, consider what you’ll really be wearing. If there’s a beachfront destination on your itinerary, you’ll be getting a lot more sun than during an ordinary week. Before heading out, consider buying photoprotective clothing. Add a hat and some quality sunglasses labeled “UV absorption up to 400 nm” or “Meets ANSI UV Requirements,” and you’ll reduce your risk of sun damage and lessen the likelihood of scorched skin.
#1 Drink More Water
Fun times can quickly turn disastrous, especially when your primary form of hydration is something other than water. Energy drinks may help keep you going, but you can quickly become dehydrated if you don’t take in enough water. Alcohol also inhibits the body’s ability to reabsorb water. Normally, the kidneys would reabsorb some of the water in your body, but that’s not the case when you drink alcohol. The end result? Every gram of alcohol consumed increases the body’s urine output by 10ml. Over the course of several hours (or days), the body can become severely dehydrated to the point of needing emergency care. The easy way to prevent this, according to Dr. Thomas Narsete, MD, is to “drink a glass of water in between alcoholic drinks. It will help to counteract the dehydration from the alcohol.” Bonus: You’re also less likely to have a hangover the next day.
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Whether you’re heading for the tropics or someplace close to home, we wish you safe travels. Let us know if you need guidance when selecting skin care items for your travel bag. Our sample kits are the perfect size for traveling.
To having a great time,
Team Reflect
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