A Beauty Editor’s Easy Travel Routine for Skin

Sipping a cappuccino at a little table bathed in sunshine overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea in Ravello, I had a moment I’ll happily return to for the rest of my days. Another of those moments was in the Talamanca Mountains of Costa Rica: Sprawled on a heated slab of marble, I was massaged with an exfoliating herbal concoction at the world’s most decadent spa hotel.

I live to travel: Even when I’m summoned to goop HQ in LA, the hours-long journey from JFK to LAX feels more like an adventure than an imposition for work. Now I’ve mastered how to keep my skin in shape in the face of moisture-leaching airplane air, soul-leaching crack-of-dawn departures, dizzying jet lag, too many maritozzi con la panna (the airiest brioche-style bun filled with whipped cream), and spending as much time outside as possible.

The most important element of my routine—whether I’m on the sun-drenched Amalfi Coast (captured above) or ambling through Hampstead Heath in drizzly London—is mineral sunscreen every day. This one from Fré is lightweight, silky, melting, and tinted in two shades designed to work for every skin tone (I choose the deeper one). It’s essentially a foundation and water-resistant sunscreen in one, infused with a special antioxidant complex made from the argan tree’s oil, leaf water, and stem cells—so it both treats and protects my skin. The lotion feels cushiony and nourishing, blasts my skin with moisture, and deposits the prettiest sheen—I often use it in place of face cream.

When I need SPF 50 (ever done the very sunny climb from Amalfi, on the water, to Ravello, nestled up at the top of the mountains?), this ultrasheer one leaves my skin petal-soft and beautifully protected. It’s made with the same antioxidant complex as the SPF 30 to help stave off sun damage.

Along with the sunscreens (use them as your very last skin-care step), below are the other secret weapons I use before and after touching down to leave my skin positively glowing.

1

Face oil is kind of the secret whether or not you’re traveling; this one is made with the natural retinol alternative bakuchiol (a skin miracle), so it delivers clinical results for firming, wrinkle-smoothing, and moisturizing. It melts right in—you need just three drops: Press it onto damp skin for the best results; I swear your skin will look so much better, so much healthier.

2

When I’m shackled in the middle seat, feeling dry and dull—plane rides just destroy my already-dry skin—I spritz on this face mist. A blast of moisturizing, plumping peptides; probiotics; and soothing artemisia flower extract, it’s totally skin-reviving on its own, but when I spray it on and then smooth a few drops of face oil on top (damp skin is more absorbent), I get this instant glow that lasts long after I’ve landed.

3

The best way to really lock in all the moisture is to smooth on this balm as a last layer after the face oil. I need the tiniest bit for my face—I warm it between my palms first, and it blends in beautifully. It’s scentless, and you can use it all over your body—it’s also amazing for lips and smoothing my ragged cuticles and flaky elbows.

4

These depuffing eye masks wake up my entire face pretty much instantly. They’re drenched in moisturizing serum—it has niacinamide and firming peptides, as well as all these soothing, brightening botanicals—and I leave them on for 10 minutes or so to do their thing. I use them on the flight if I’m sitting in a window seat and can sort of hide. Otherwise they’re amazing for recharging myself right before going out to dinner.

5

I smooth on one coat of lip balm and I’m set for a long time. My favorite is the tomato shade in this set (it also comes with a clear and a sheer peony). It looks intensely red, but it’s perfectly mellow. My natural lip color is sort of dark purple, and I love how it looks against my skin tone.

6

This sheer berry shade—it’s called Afterglow—adds the perfect flourish of warmth to my cheeks. It’s a tinted balm, so it’s color and skin care. I sweep it on with my fingers, and the soothing mix of nourishing oils and vitamins leaves my skin noticeably luminous.

7

I bring Sleep Milk with me when I’m traveling for a wedding or a big, fun event—it injects life back into my skin overnight. Before bed, I smooth the powerfully exfoliating blend of alpha hydroxy acids and moisturizing botanical extracts over my entire face to target spots, dullness, and uneven texture (you can also use it to spot-treat). In the morning, I can’t get over how petal-soft and gleamy my skin looks.

8

This face polish delivers physical exfoliation (Sleep Milk uses chemical exfoliation) to instantly smooth and brighten. I love the feel of the gentle little granules sloughing away dead skin and grime, and the formula has this beautiful whipped texture that feels really silky against my skin. When I feel it tingle, I know it’s working. I take it with me on practically every trip. (Use it two or three times a week, or less, depending on what your skin can handle.)