Skin Care Tips For Road Trips
When the holidays are approaching, many of us begin to think about road trips to visit family. These long journeys in the car for hours a day disrupt our normal routines. Our skin often suffers, because we can't care for it as well as we do when we're home and it can become dehydrated and dull.
Here are a few tips that can help you keep your skin glowing, even when you're on the road for hours, or even days at a time:
Eat Fresh Fruit And Vegetables
Of course it's not so easy to find fresh fruit and veggies on the road. But you can pack a bag of apples and a bag of oranges before you set out. They travel well and will remain edible for a few days even without refrigeration. If you're lucky enough to find rest stops with other fresh fruit and raw vegetables along the way, snatch them up and eat them, too. Opt for salads at fast food places, instead of greasy burgers and fries. Several fast food chains including McDonald's and Jack in the Box offer salad choices.
You might be reluctant to drink as much water as you should when you're on the road, because it causes you to have to stop to go to the bathroom too often. High water content fruits and veggies give your body the moisture it needs without causing you to have to pull over every hour.
According to Dr. Howard Murad, author of The Water Secret the water we "eat" when we consume fresh fruit and vegetables is water that will provide a slow and steady infusion as we digest it. It's also water that nourishes our cells even better than the water we drink. Murad explains that much of our drinking water passes right through our system, but the water in high water content fruits and vegetables stays in our bodies longer. So, eat an apple, or an orange, or even better, both, a few times a day and you'll get the hydration you need, but you won't have to use the bathroom as often as you would if you were hydrating with water alone. An added benefit: According to Dr. Murad, the hydration you get from fresh fruit helps your skin look younger!
Wear Hat And Sunscreen
If you're driving during the day, the sun can really abuse your skin. Even when you're inside the car with the windows closed the rays are penetrating, so be sure to protect any exposed skin. Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and wear a hat, preferably one with a wide brim. You'll help prevent freckles, age spots, and premature aging. Be sure to put some sunscreen on your hands as well. We tend to forget about protecting our hands. As a result, age spots show up there even faster than they appear on the face. Keep a tube of sunscreen in the car where you can reach it easily and apply it often.
Use Cleansing Wipes Made Specifically For The Face
When you're on the road, naturally you're going to be off your regular skin-care routine. It's difficult to make it a priority when you're driving 8 hours a day or more. But don't let your regimen slack off so badly that you don't cleanse your skin at least once or twice daily.
Ready to use cleansing wipes made specifically for the face are wonderful for times when you're just too tired to go through the whole routine of washing up and removing your makeup. Be sure to pack these wipes before you set off on your journey. They can be a skin-saver when you stop at a motel after driving all day and into the night and all you want to do is fall onto the bed. It only takes a minute to run the wipes over your face and completely remove dirt and makeup, preparing the skin for a rejuvenating night's rest. According to Dr. Oz, sleep allows the skin to restore its natural balance. Cleansing and moisturizing before bed assists in this restorative process.
Moisturize
As previously mentioned, using a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher is essential during the day. Many excellent daytime moisturizers have this sunscreen protection. Consider using a moisturizing cream overnight, too. Sleep and a good moisturizer will work together to restore your skin, leaving it refreshed in the morning and ready for a new day on the road. Because you're off your regular routine and not eating and drinking as well as you would when you're home, moisturizing is even more important while you're traveling.
Take Omege 3s
Fish oil capsules, or flaxseed oil capsules, or both will help keep your skin lubricated from inside when you add them to your diet. They're easy to pack and they travel just fine. Take a couple, twice a day with meals while you're on the road and this will provide great support for your skin.
Drink A Bit Of Water At Least Every Hour
It's understandable that when you're trying to get somewhere and make good time, you don't want to have to stop to go to the bathroom every hour. But drinking a Dixie-cup sized amount of water, 3 oz, once every hour or so won't cause you to stop too frequently. That tiny amount, ingested regularly throughout the day, can be helpful to your skin and it's much better for you than forgoing water for too long. While it's preferable to drink 8 glasses a day, when you can't, if you take in a little throughout your day (and supplement with fruit) you can stave off dehydration and also assist your circulation (water helps the blood flow better) both of which benefit your skin.
Do Five Minutes Of Exercise When You Stop For Gas
Blood flow is one of the things that keeps your skin healthy. It's through the blood that nutrients are carried to your skin tissue. When you're sitting in a car all day, your heart rate remains pretty low and so the blood isn't pumping fast enough to give you good blood flow to the skin. Consider doing at least five minutes of exercise each time you stop. You might do some jumping jacks while you're filling your gas tank. Jog in place while you wait on line at the bathroom. Or you could take a power walk around the gas station or rest area. A jump rope is easy to pack and couple of minutes of jumping rope is a great way to get your heart rate up quickly. That blood flow will benefit your skin and your circulation, which will keep you looking and feeling better on your trek.
Avoid Snacks With Sugar And White Flour
Candy and other sweets are tempting while you're traveling, but once you eat them, your body craves more. Sugar and white flour contain empty calories and will lead to poor nutrition. This can show up, in a negative way, on your face and body. Sugar and white flour can lead to weight gain and skin problems. Many people find that they lose weight and their skin clears up when they eliminate sugar and white flour from the diet. Unfortunately, sugary, empty calorie treats are available in abundance on the road, so you have to make smart choices when buying snacks. Consider nuts instead of candy and look for whole grain snacks instead of things like snack cakes. It's best to plan ahead and pack things like fruit, nuts, hard-boiled eggs and individual serving canned tuna so you won't be tempted to eat junk just because it's the easiest thing to get.
You deserve to look and feel fantastic, even when you're on a road trip. With a little thought, you can keep yourself healthy and gorgeous no matter how long or arduous your journey. Hope these tips will help you arrive wearing your best face when you get where you're going. Enjoy your trip!
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