I’ve just returned from a trip to paradise! The final celebration of my turning 60 this year – yelp!! Off for 10 days in Hawaii with my beautiful and varied family. It’s wonderful to know the clinic staff can hold down the fort so perfectly! Thanks girls.
This trip had been planned and booked in December 2016. I don’t think I’ve ever planned that far ahead for a holiday and you know what – I got sick!!
It started on arrival and I still had it on my return – THE FLU!! Damn and damnation!
I so often harbour on about the types of stress and how it affects your skin and here, me, who very seldom gets sick, had them all. Stress from sickness, from sun and from travel – together and separate. What happens when your body is stressed is that cellular function throughout is changed and this means that your skin, always last on the list for goodies, receives less nutrients and eventually becomes significantly dehydrated – feeling dry and tight and looking, in one word, older! This was me – YUK!
Being aware of this I really didn’t want to come home looking and feeling like an old prune so I really tried…
However, I actually didn’t do a lot for my skin; I felt so disgusting and everything was an effort. What I did do though was to continue to cleanse, to nourish and to moisturise just once a day if I could. I know at some point everything, except my beloved Osmosis MD Immerse and CosMedix Rescue Balm stung my face, so I mixed them together and applied them around 3-4 times a day. If I did venture outside I had my CosMedix Reflect, a spray-on sunscreen, to pat over the top of everything. This contains antioxidants as well so I know it wouldn’t be drying out my skin any more than it felt already.
I blew my nose so much that I looked like a snotty faced toddler – all red and raw – it was so sore! Again – CosMedix Rescue Balm with its anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties was the treatment – oh so soothing.
My lips became quite dry and though the Rescue Balm (I love this product) helped I found adding the Colorescience Sunforgettable Lip Shine over the top helped. This had the added advantage of the SPF 35 for when I was outside. I also rubbed this over the top of my nose for some added UV protection.
I had enjoyed a Hydrating Medi-facial the day before I left and as soon as I can I’ll have another now I’m back. We really advocate this to our travelling clients as it makes a significant difference to how their skin copes with the dehydration involved with travel. Ideally having a hydrating treatment the week prior to and the week of return of any trip which involves a long haul flight or excess UV exposure such as a skiing or beach holiday is a smart idea especially for dryer, sensitive and mature skins.
When we travel just the organising, finishing up at work, packing up the house, kids and pets creates extra work and this causes stress which affects our skin, plus of course we are all excited and nervous about the great unknown. Long haul flights with airport and airplane air dries and dehydrates our skin. When we are sick and have a fever as I did, so much fluid is lost via sweating that we become salt and water depleted which causes further stress throughout our body. I know at one stage I was very dehydrated and that’s when I was pleased I’d added Hydralyte to my kit. I suspect this saved me.
I had taken with me, as I always do, the Miessence Vitality Pack and on the days I was actually up for food I managed to scull these down in a glass of water. I take them with me whenever I travel to help me survive more than my usual alcohol consumption and richer food. I never expect to need them to survive – that’s what it felt like anyway!!
I had a good time, not as good as I expected, but if you have to be ill, why not do it in a special, beautiful place!
I’ve come home with a gentle tan, a revolting cough and I’m ready for a rest. Looking forward to my next trip overseas.
As I often am asked what products to take away I thought I’d share my list. The products I chose to take with me just happened to be perfect and easy to use. I always leave my actives (serums) at home as with changes in lifestyle, diet, environment they can create some irritation and over stimulation in some skins- even my well adjusted skin.
- CosMedix Benefit Clean – often a gentler cleanser than you usually use is a good idea
- Osmosis MD Replenish – all your antioxidants in one bottle
- Osmosis MD StemFactor – so glad I had this to help with the added dehydration
- CosMedix Reflect – spray on SPF
- Osmosis MD Immerse – fatty acids to soothe and hydrate
- CosMedix Rescue Balm an Intense Hydrating Balm and Mask – always travel with this one!
- Colorescience Sunforgettable Lip Shine – SPF 35 with Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB sun protection.
Still need help with what products to take travelling?
Fill in the Online Skin Consultation and Gaye, our registered nurse will happily help you to choose the right treatments and products to take on your trip for your skin type or concern.
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