Cheap skincare tips for travelling

How to maintain your skin whilst abroad and on a budget

I am big on skincare, which can often be an expensive ritual to have. But, it is just one of my quirks. It has to be done.

However, I have managed to find some great ingredients and tips for those who are on a lower budget or were not able to travel with all of their typical skin care products.

Most of these ingredients can be bought at a supermarket, local farmers market, or a pharmacy.

When you are travelling, plane journeys can often take their toll on your skin. Due to all of the recycled / lack of air, it can be difficult to really hydrate your skin, which means that the moment you decide to travel, you should be equipped with some great skin care.

In addition to this, when travelling to a hot or cold country, the elements can also take their toll on your skin. Meaning that you must ensure that you are sufficiently taking care of your skin, as some of these external factors are some of which you may not even realise are harming your skin.

So, I have compiled a list of recipes and methods of ways in which you can maintain your skin’s health – for all skin types.

All of these recipes must be refrigerated due to them being made with natural ingredients that have a shorter expiration date than some other skin care products on the market.

Exfoliation

The key to getting rid of dry skin from being on a long plane journey or from being at the beach a little too long, is exfoliation. This is key to regenerating the skin’s surface, but frequent exfoliation can actually be harmful to your skin, as you would be constantly stripping your skin of its natural oils. So, I would recommend exfoliating two-three times a week depending on the texture of your skin and how dry your skin gets.

The first recipe is for those who have dry skin.

I myself suffer with dry skin, meaning that it can be difficult to find an exfoliator that doesn’t completely strip my skin. However, I have managed to make a concoction that will maintain the hydration of my skin, whilst scrubbing away the dead skin cells. You will need;

• 1tbsp Olive Oil

• 1 tbsp Organic Honey

• 3 tbsp Organic Sugar

• 2 drops of essential oil

Mix all of the contents together in a bowl, and you can use this scrub (if refrigerated) for up to two weeks. The ingredients in this mixture help to promote elasticity and provide extra nourishment for those who have drier skin types. The Olive Oil is non-comedogenic, meaning that it wont clog your pores, and it has great cleansing properties which help to remove any excess makeup that you may have missed when cleansing. However, do not use this scrub just as a cleanser, you will need to have a clean face when using this as the ingredients will not be able to sink deep enough into the epidermis layers of the skin, if there is makeup sitting on top of it. Honey has healing properties and is also known to rejuvenate and revitalise the skin with its natural moisturising properties. It also smells great too! Sugar is a natural exfoliant, and if you find that the granules are too large and harsh for the skin, then you can blend them slightly to make their texture less gritty.

For those who have oilier skin, there is another recipe similar to this that you can follow which will give you the same results.

• 1tbsp Organic Honey

• 1tsp Apple Cider Vinegar

• 2 tbsp Kosher Salt

• 2 drops essential oil

This mixture can be used for oily and combination skin types, as a means of exfoliating and rejuvenating the skin. Salt naturally draws excess liquid, so if there are areas on the skin that you feel consist of a lot of excess oil, then the salt will help to draw this out, whilst removing any dead skin cells. The honey again will help to nourish the skin after the harsh exfoliation, and like the Olive Oil, will not clog your pores. Apple cider vinegar is also another great ingredient that helps to brighten and tone the skin. If you have age spots or discolouration, this ingredient will help to brighten and lift away the pigment within the discolouring.

                EVEN CHEAPER

There are some more tips for exfoliating the skin that are even cheaper than the ones provided here, which will benefit those who have a tighter budget.

• Lemon scrub – Take a lemon, cut it in half and dip the exposed part of the fruit into some salt or sugar, depending on your skin type, and scrub this all over your skin – rinse off with lukewarm water. Lemon has great brightening benefits, which means that if you suffer with dull or tired skin (like the majority of us working abroad) then this will be great at combatting this.

• Oatmeal – Take a scoop of oatmeal and mix with a little bit of water until it forms a paste and rub this into the skin. The oatmeal will work as a gentle exfoliant and is great for those with sensitive skin, as it is very gentle. In addition, the oatmeal will help to reduce redness and discolouration, thus evening the appearance of the skin’s surface.

Cleanser

With so many cleansers on the market, it can be difficult to decide which one will be best for your skin. So, its best to test out some ingredients at home, where you can adjust your skin to a new routine. There are some great natural ingredients to cleanse your skin with, whilst staying on a budget.

For dry skin take;

• 1tbsp Cocoa Powder

• 1tbsp Honey

• 1tbsp Sour Cream

This calming mixture is sure to rehydrate those of us with dry skins, and it smalls amazing with a mixture of the cocoa and the honey. The cocoa provides very gentle exfoliation and the honey seeps deep within the lower epidermis to hydrate from within. The sour cream contains oodles of lactic acid, which helps to exfoliate the skin and smooth out any fine lines or wrinkles. You can also add one egg white into this mixture if you wanted to turn this into a mask, as the egg whites’ firm on the skin when mixed with the oxygen in the air. Egg whites are some of my favourite cheap skin care tricks as egg whites contain proteins that help to firm and tighten the skin.

For oily skin;

• 4 tsp Ground Oatmeal

• ½ tsp Apple Cider Vinegar

• ¼ tbsp Lemon Juice

• ½ tbsp Brown Sugar

Mix all of these ingredients in a bowl together to form a thick paste. Apply onto the skin and let it sit for 10 minutes, which will give sufficient time for the Apple Cider vinegar to seep into the skin. Apple Cider Vinegar will tone the skin giving it a brighter and smoother appearance, while the lemon boosts hydration and radiance.

For all skin types;

• ½ Cup of Blueberries

• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice

• 2 tbsp Baking Soda

This gentle exfoliator is perfect for all skin types. The blueberries contain antioxidants which combat free radicals. Free radicals (getting science-y now) are atoms which contained one or more unpaired electrons which are very active in the system, which can fight and damage healthy cells. Free radicals can be the cause of some heart diseases and other illnesses. The lemon juice then obviously brightens the skin’s complexion, with the baking soda acting as a foaming exfoliant to cleanse the skin deeply and help to reduce the appearance of large pores.

Toners

Toners for me are a vital part of my skincare routine, as it has many benefits.

1. Balances the PH levels of your skin

2. Smooths fine lines and reduces pores

3. Refreshes the skin

4. Adds moisture

5. Boosts radiance

6. Cleanses

So, these added benefits of such product can actually be more beneficial than what we realise. But, a lot of toners on the market contain harsh chemicals. So, in order to take care of your skin whilst on a budget during your time abroad, this toner recipe will be sure to help you out.

For dry skin;

• 1tsp Apple Cider Vinegar

• 2tsp Filtered water

Mix the two together and soak cotton pads into the mixture and apply to the skin.

For oily skin;

• 2tsp Apple Cider Vinegar

• 2tsp Filtered Water

The higher concentration of Apple Cider Vinegar in this recipe will help those with oiler skin to get a better cleanse and remove some of the stubborn oils left on the skin after cleansing.

Moisturiser

• Coconut Oil

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• Castor Oil

• Cocoa Butter

• Avocados

• Shea Butter

All of these natural ingredients are calming and soothing to the skin, meaning that they can be used on any skin type, in order to get that boost of hydration.

I hope that these all-natural skin care tips will help you to look after yourself whilst you are working or studying abroad. It can often be difficult to maintain every aspect of your health, especially when some skin care can be quite expensive, but, your local supermarket will house all of the ingredients that I have mentioned here – allowing you to stay glowy and fresh!