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Winter Acne:How to prevent breakouts when travelling
Leaving Singapore’s hot and humid climate for a chilly winter destination can be an exciting change, but your skin might struggle to adjust. The sudden shift from warmth to cold, dry air can wreak havoc on your skin, leading to breakouts and irritation.
By understanding how winter conditions affect your skin and taking preventive steps, you can keep your complexion clear and glowing throughout your trip.
Understanding Your Skin's Reaction to Climate Changes
In our local humid environment, your skin benefits from a natural moisture balance that helps maintain its elasticity and hydration. However, when exposed to cold weather, the moisture in your skin evaporates quickly, making your skin dry.
Cold air lacks humidity and harsh winds can strip your skin of its natural moisture, disrupting the skin barrier. As a result, your skin may respond by overproducing oil to compensate for the dryness, which can cause clogged pores and breakouts.
How Cold Weather Triggers Breakouts
- Dehydration and the skin barrier: When your skin loses moisture, its barrier function may be affected. A compromised barrier function can result in inflammation and irritation, making your skin more prone to acne.
- Sensitivity to temperature changes: Rapid shifts in temperature—from warm indoor spaces to frigid outdoor air—can cause redness and irritation. This sensitivity can exacerbate existing skin issues and trigger new breakouts.
- Layering skincare in cold climates: Many travellers use heavy moisturisers to combat dryness. However, these thick products can sometimes clog pores, especially if they’re not formulated to be non-comedogenic.
How to Prevent Breakouts While Travelling
Prevention is key to maintaining clear, healthy skin during your travels, especially when moving from a humid to a cold, dry climate. Below are essential tips to help you prepare and protect your skin before, during, and after your journey.
Pre-trip skincare preparation
A week before your trip, focus on hydration by incorporating hydrating serums and rich moisturisers into your routine. Look for hydration-friendly ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which help attract and hold moisture in the skin.
Hyaluronic acid effectively pulls moisture from the air into the skin, which can be beneficial as you transition to a drier climate. Glycerin works similarly by drawing water from deeper skin layers, keeping the outer layers of your skin hydrated. This preparation phase helps your skin build up its moisture reserves before encountering the harsh conditions of cold weather.
Consider incorporating ceramides, niacinamide, or squalane into your routine to strengthen the skin’s barrier function. These ingredients help seal in moisture and protect it from environmental aggressors.
Pack wisely
When packing your travel skincare kit, make sure to include essentials that will support your skin’s health in the new environment:
Gentle cleansers: Choose a hydrating, sulphate-free cleanser to avoid lifting natural oils from your skin. Cleansers with added moisturising ingredients, like aloe vera or chamomile, can soothe the skin while cleansing effectively.
Non-comedogenic moisturisers: Choose moisturisers that provide rich hydration without clogging pores.
Hydrating masks: Pack a few hydrating sheet masks or overnight masks to boost your skin’s moisture during your trip. Masks with ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, or cucumber extract can help replenish hydration lost in the cold weather.
Avoid new products: Be mindful not to introduce new products right before your trip. Trying out new skincare just before travelling can increase the risk of a negative reaction, especially if your skin is already adjusting to environmental changes. Stick to trusted products that you know your skin responds well to.
Skincare routine in cold climates
Once you arrive at your cold-weather destination, maintain a solid skincare routine. We recommend you follow a skincare routine in the following order:
Gentle cleanser:
- Begin by wetting your face with lukewarm water. Then, massage the cleanser into your skin using gentle, circular motions.
- Focus on oil-prone areas like the T-zone, but avoid scrubbing too hard to prevent irritation.
- Rinse several times with warm water and pat your face dry with a soft towel.
Toner:
- After cleansing, apply toner by patting it onto your skin with clean hands or using a cotton pad.
- Gently press it onto your skin, focusing on areas that feel drier.
- Avoid rubbing the toner into your skin—let it absorb naturally.
Serum:
- Place a few drops of serum on your fingertips, then lightly press it into your skin, starting from the centre of your face and moving outward.
- Use an upward motion while applying to encourage absorption and help maintain skin elasticity.
- Ensure the serum is fully absorbed before proceeding to the next step.
Moisturiser:
- Scoop a small amount of moisturiser and warm it between your palms. Gently press the moisturiser into your skin, beginning at your cheeks and forehead and working outward toward your neck.
- Use gentle upward strokes to help the moisturiser absorb more effectively and avoid tugging on your skin.
Sunscreen: Even in cold climates, UV rays can still damage your skin, especially with the added reflection from snow. Squeeze a good amount of sunscreen onto your fingers and gently swipe it across your face and neck. Let it absorb fully before applying any makeup or additional products.
Lip Balm: Remember to protect your lips, as they are particularly vulnerable in cold, dry air. Use a nourishing lip balm with beeswax or shea butter to keep them moisturised and prevent cracking.
Adapting your skincare routine to include these steps will help maintain your skin’s hydration, protect it from harsh elements, and keep it looking healthy in cold climates.
Lifestyle Tips to Prevent Breakouts
Besides adjusting your skincare routine, you can adopt several lifestyle habits to further reduce the likelihood of breakouts while travelling.
Stay hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is essential for maintaining healthy, hydrated skin from within. Dehydrated skin is more vulnerable to irritation and breakouts. Aim to drink at least two litres of water daily to keep your skin well-hydrated. Herbal teas and water-rich foods like cucumbers and watermelons can also help boost your hydration levels.
Moisture in the air
Consider having a portable humidifier in your hotel room or accommodations to combat low humidity in cold climates. A humidifier helps maintain moist air, creating a more skin-friendly environment. Moisture in the air can greatly reduce the drying effects of indoor heating and prevent your skin from becoming too dehydrated.
If a humidifier isn’t available, placing a damp towel near a heat source or using a facial mist throughout the day can help add moisture to your environment.
Keep hands and face clean
Avoid touching your face with your fingers. Your fingers can transfer oils, dirt, and bacteria to your skin, causing clogged pores and acne. Wash your hands regularly before applying skincare products or touching your face.
Balanced diet
Eating a well-balanced diet can support your skin’s health during your trip. Foods like avocados, berries, nuts, and leafy greens provide essential nutrients that help strengthen your skin barrier and maintain hydration. Avoid excessive consumption of sugary or greasy foods, as these can contribute to breakouts.
Proper preparation and mindful habits can help keep skin healthy and clear during travels.
Managing Breakouts After Returning to a Humid Climate
Upon returning from your winter getaway, your skin will need time to readjust to the humidity of your home environment. Understanding this transition can help you manage any post-travel breakouts effectively.
How skin recovers after returning to humidity
When you return to a humid climate, your skin may initially feel oily due to the sudden increase in humidity. This sudden change can lead to breakouts as your skin recalibrates its oil production.
For some people, being extra oily after their travels indicates dehydrated skin, which can also cause acne. To ease this transition, continue using a non-comedogenic, hydrating skincare routine.
Other symptoms of dehydrated skin include:
- Skin tightness
- Dull appearance
- Flakiness
- Itchiness
- Increased sensitivity
Post-travel breakout management
If you experience any breakouts after your trip, we advise you to follow these remedial measures:
- Implement spot treatments: Consider incorporating spot acne treatments such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to minimise breakouts without causing excessive dryness. Alternatively, you may also consider getting a prescription for medication like AKLIEF even before the start of your trip.
- Facial treatments: Treat your skin with a professional facial tailored for acne management. One option is the Acne Express Defence Facial by SkinLab, which combines papaya enzymes’ natural power with high-frequency therapy’s benefits to clear your skin of acne. This facial is designed to soothe inflammation and target active breakouts, giving your skin a fresh start.
Troubled skin after travelling?
Travelling to colder climates doesn’t have to mean sacrificing clear skin. Remember to prepare your skin before your trip, adapt your skincare during your travels, and manage any breakouts once you return home. With these strategies, you can fully enjoy your winter vacation without the worry of acne blemishing your skin.
If you are having breakouts, consider getting a treatment from a specialist. We offer customised facial solutions for symptoms of dehydrated skin, acne and skin sensitivity.
Book an appointment for a facial treatment today.