Have you ever hopped on a jet only to disembark at your destination and have your previously glowing complexion look dry, flaky, or just plain out of sorts?

There’s a reason this happens during travel. To understand why we must first take a look at our skin’s natural moisturizing factor, or NMF for short.

Your Skin’s Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF)

To stay hydrated, your skin produces what’s called a natural moisturizing factor (NMF). It consists of water-attracting compounds, like amino acids, urea, lactic acid, pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, and other small molecules. These substances work together to bind ambient water molecules to the skin, keeping it hydrated and in a state of balance.

The fascinating thing is, your skin naturally adjusts how much NMF it produces. And it does this based on the environment you’re in.

For example, let’s say you live in a dry climate with low humidity levels like Colorado. Your skin will make more NMF than if you lived someplace with higher ambient humidity levels like Texas or Florida.

When you travel, your skin senses the change in environmental humidity, altitude, sun exposure, etc., and works overtime to bring itself back into a state of homeostasis, or balance. 

But this adjustment takes time and it’s one of the big reasons our skin can react negatively, looking dry and dull or on the opposite spectrum, breaking out within days after arriving on vacation.

To help your skin bounce back more quickly while you travel, try these tips and tricks.

Tips for Maintaining Glowing Skin While Traveling

Consider air travel

Any air travel you do will dehydrate your skin as cabin air has very little humidity. Before boarding apply a moisturizing facial serum like the Alpine Phytonutrient Serum and reapply during your flight.

Don’t worry, at one ounce each, TSA will allow you to carry on multiple full-sized TellurideGlow serums. This will help protect your skin from drying out as a result of the constant wicking effects of dry air being circulated in the cabin. Plus the soothing scent of the Alpine will add a little extra relaxation to your trip. 

You can also use a hydrating facial mist and spritz your face periodically during the flight. This will help add moisture back onto the surface of your skin, and since TSA won’t allow you to carry on a personal humidifier, it’s your next best option. 

Bring a lip ointment or dab some Purist Delicate Skin Serum onto your lips to keep them from cracking and chapping.

Pick up a water bottle so you can stay well hydrated while you fly. To that end, avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol, both are known diuretics. 

This will help your skin bounce back more quickly and reduce the effects of jetlag if you're traveling overseas. You can always have a Parisien cappuccino or an Aperol Spritz once you land.  

Moisturize

Once you arrive at your destination, restore moisture to dehydrated skin with our Aspen Dew Illuminating Essence. As a water-based formula, the Aspen Dew will deposit moisture back into your skin while the micro-molecular hyaluronic acid in it will help to continuously pull ambient moisture back into your skin. 

Follow with a skin barrier recovery serum like the Alpine to help balance skin post-travel. The phytoceramides found in both the Alpine and Purist will help protect your skin from additional moisture loss by preventing further trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL).

Cleanse gently

For cleansing while traveling, avoid harsh soaps or foaming products as these will strip your skin barrier of its natural oils. Skip potentially irritating hotel soaps and cleansers. Look for an oil-based or cream cleanser to help deposit lipids back onto your skin. 

And tempting as it might be, try not to over-cleanse while traveling. Over-cleansing can cause an inflammatory reaction in your skin, worsening dryness, hormonal breakouts, and skin conditions like eczema. 

Be mindful of chlorinated water

The water at your destination may have more chlorine, water softeners, or hard minerals than what you’re used to back home. These can worsen dry skin and aggravate reactive skin. 

This rule applies to swimming in chlorinated pools. Always rinse off after you get out to help remove any residual chlorine.

Sunscreen

You have heard it a million times but it bears repeating, always protect your skin from the sun. Especially if you’re traveling to a mountain town like Telluride where intense UV exposure and high altitudes can literally worsen every skin condition under the… ahem, sun. 

Choose a non-toxic sunscreen with a pleasing texture that you will enjoy using and apply it every few hours when out of doors.

Wishing you happy travels and glowing skin this summer!

Studies have shown that facial massage improves collagen and elastin production. Regular massage helps boost circulation while reducing puffiness. 

Night time is optimal to apply restorative serums to skin as absorption won’t be blocked by makeup, environmental pollutants or worn away through the course of the day. 

Step 1: Cleanse with an oil cleanser

• Before bed, cleanse your face with 1/2 teaspoon of your favorite oil-cleanser for 30-60 seconds.
• Place a warm damp wash cloth on your face, then wipe away dirt and makeup. 

Step 2: Smooth away fine lines

• Evenly distribute 1 teaspoon high-grade facial oil over your face. For dry skin choose almond or argan oil. For oily skin, jojoba oil and for sensitive skin use moringa oil.
• Press your fingertips between your brows and gently slide them up your forehead toward your hairline. Repeat several times to cover your whole forehead.
• Massage from the center of your face past your cheeks and toward your ears. Keep this up-and-out motion across your entire face and jawline.
• Finish with gentle vertical strokes from collarbone upward along your neck.

Step 3: Apply serums 

• Wipe away excess massage oil before applying essence and serums.
• With barely damp skin, apply 1 pump Aspen Dew Illuminating Essence to further firm and condition skin.
• Follow with 1 pump Alpine Phytonutrient Serum or Purist Delicate Skin Serum to supercharge skin overnight and allow for optimal absorption.

We all know winter is harsh on skin. From icy temperatures to moisture wicking winds, cold weather can leave skin feeling extra dry and irritated.

In addition to protecting your skin barrier with a restorative serum like our Alpine Phytonutrient Serum or Purist Delicate Skin Serum, switching to an oil based cleanser is an easy winter skincare tip with big benefits.

Oil cleansing both hydrates and balances the skin’s pH by replenishing the fatty acids essential to skin health without stripping or drying.

Traditional cleansers are often too harsh, especially in cold weather when skin is more susceptible to dryness, cracking and chapping.

Read on for a simple cleansing oil formula, our gift to you!

Although you can definitely oil cleanse with just one oil type, a balanced mix of oils can really bring wonders to your skin.

Every oil has a unique fatty acid profile, which donates exclusive properties to the oil. While some oils might have similar properties, other oils might lack something you can complement with another oil.

Choosing ingredients

Choose high-quality, cold-pressed oils that have not been bleached, deodorized or obtained by chemical extraction methods.

Select unrefined and organic oils that are meant to be used on the skin, rather than food-grade oils.

The basics

There are three parts to this formula: a cleansing oil, a carrier oil, a luxury oil, and an optional essential oil.

If you prefer to buy a cleanser, look for 100% plant oils, no mineral oil, no fillers, and no castor oil (which can be drying).

Recommendations

We recommend hazelnut oil for the cleansing base as it contains tannins, which are powerful antioxidants. The tannins in hazelnut oil make it astringent which can help balance oily skin, cleanse and shrink pores, and remove bacteria. The only downside to hazelnut oil is a possible nut allergy.

Essential oils are optional but add a spa-like experience to the cleansing ritual. If you have sensitive skin you may want to skip them.

Simple formula for an oil cleanser:

Buy an 8-ounce, dark glass pump container. This makes application a breeze and keeps contaminants out. (All found on Amazon. Feel free to use brands of your choice).

Ingredients:

3 ounces Cleansing oil: Hazelnut (12-ounce bottle)

3 ounces Carrier oil: Sweet almond oil (12-ounce bottle)

2 ounces Luxury oil: Baobab oil (2-ounce bottle)

(Optional) 20 drops or ⅓ teaspoon essential oil. Lavender, geranium, neroli, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sweet orange, and rose are some of our favorites.

Method

Whisk oils together until well blended. Using a funnel, pour into your pump container.

The 12-ounce bottles above will give you four, 8 oz batches.

Application

Massage 1/2 teaspoon liberally into the skin. Wring out a warm wet cloth and lay it over your face, then wipe off with the same cloth until all makeup and dirt are gone.

Essential oils are especially nice here because the aroma is released with the heat. (Don’t worry, the oil easily comes out of the cloth in the wash!)

Follow with Aspen Dew Illuminating Essence and either The Purist Delicate Skin or The Alpine Phytonutrient Serum.

We hope you enjoy this simple oil cleansing formula.