Traveling to a tropical destination is incredibly exciting—it can melt all of your stresses away and bring you a world of rest and relaxation. However, the hot and humid climate can wreak havoc on your skin, making dry skin even drier and oily skin even oilier.
Here are 5 basic skincare that we recommend you should have when traveling to a sunny destination like Phuket, Koh Samui, and Bali:
1. Gentle Facial Wash
Tropical weather will make you sweat—a lot. When you do, your pores are more susceptible to bacteria, dirt, and dust, which increases the risk of clogged pores and breakouts.
Remove surface skin cells and dirt by using a gentle facial wash. Now, you might be asking, why gentle? “If my skin is going to be exposed to so many environmental elements, shouldn’t I use something that’s stronger?” Well, gentle facial cleansers preserve your skin’s natural oils and, thus, prevent it from overdrying.
Cetaphil is one of the best mild facial cleansers out there. Its soap-free formula cleanses without irritating your skin. It is suitable for all ages and all skin types.
2. Moisturizer
Hot weather can make wrinkles and fine lines more visible, and it can even cause your skin to crack. Prevent this from happening by applying moisturizer every day.
Use a noncomedogenic product to prevent clogged pores, and use those that contain humectants such as urea, glycerin, or alpha hydroxy acids. Humectants absorb water from the air and provide your skin with the right amount of hydration.
Try using light or mild moisturizer to avoid the sticky feeling, especially when you sweat. Try the Shea Ultra Gentle Moisturizer of L’Occitane. It is specially formulated to strengthen and protect normal to dry skin, including sensitive skin.
3. Mineral Water Spray
When you don’t have access to water, a mineral water spray will give you the same refreshing feeling as washing your face. Just spray your face with the mineral water from about 1 foot away and instantly feel hydrated, rejuvenated, and radiant.
Mineral water spray soothes dehydrated skin in an instant and revives makeup, giving you a beautiful and radiant complexion.
One of the most popular and used water sprays is Evian, but there are also many other brands that make it with the same quality.
4. Sunblock/Sunscreen
Never travel to a tropical destination without a sunblock. Even if you don’t plan on hitting the beach, you still need to apply sunscreen every day.
Look for lotions and creams with an SPF of 30 or more so you can enjoy the best protection. Ideally, if you hit the beach, a product with SPF 50 is the best, while SPF 30 is just right for daytime use. Reapply every 2 to 5 hours, and choose products that are water-resistant so they stay on as you hit the waters or even when you sweat.
To know when you need to reapply, check the SPF. Each unit of SPF is equivalent to 10 minutes of being under the sun without burning. So, if your sunblock’s SPF is 20, you can stay outside for 200 minutes before needing to reapply. Coppertone and Banna Boat are two popular brands of sunblock/sunscreen products.
5. Aftersun Lotion or Cream
Skincare doesn’t stop with cleansers, moisturizers, and sunblocks. When your day of swimming or sightseeing is over, apply aftersun facial cream or lotion to calm and soothe sun-exposed skin.
Aftersun products can also soothe sunburned skin and seal in moisture, making them essential skin care products when traveling to a hot and tropical destination. Try Banna Boat‘s aloe after the sun. It will help soothe, cool, and replenish dry skin and prevent it from peeling.
Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean you have an excuse not to take care of your skin. Use these 5 basic skin care products the next time you visit a tropical paradise and come home with beautiful, protected skin.
The Luxury Signature represents and manages reservations of the finest villa rentals in Southeast Asia, specializing in some of the most stunning destinations including the islands of Phuket and Samui in Thailand, and Bali, Indonesia.
