With the holidays ahead of us, a vacation with your loved ones is probably on the books. While it may be common to toss healthy habits out the door while away from home, why not utilize this time for a total mind, body, soul, and skin reset instead?!

Maintaining a proper diet with adequate hydration and ample sleep is quite the task when fun awaits you around every corner. Ok, I actually do a good job staying hydrated, but forget well-balanced meals and 7+ hours of sleep every night, haha. This simple 12 step program helps me stay on track while traveling, so I’m hoping it can to the same for you!

1: SPF! SPF! SPF!
Always protect yourself from sunburns (especially on tropical vacations) with SPF 50. Reapply every 2 hours and don’t forget your lips. There is nothing worse than a bad burn your first day of vacay!

2: BREAK OUT THOSE SUNNIES
Your eyes and the skin around them are uber sensitive, so in addition to SPF you should protect those pretty eyes with a chic pair of sunglasses.

3: STAY HYDRATED
Maintaining proper hydration can be difficult while traveling, but if you want to keep up your energy and avoid dehydration, keep a water bottle handy to refill as you go about your adventures.

4: CHOOSE YOUR DAIRY WISELY
Cheese is my vice – especially while wining and dining my way around European cities. Dairy is known to cause breakouts and compromise that pretty complexion, so be wise with your overall consumption.

5: JUST SAY NO TO SODIUM
When you wake up puffy and with a lackluster complexion, you can blame sodium for a lot of that. Try not to keep snacks on hand high in preservatives, and drink lots of water to flush those salty meals right out.

6: COOL DOWN
Hot water can dehydrate the skin and strip the skin of necessary nutrients, so skip the scolding end-of-day shower for a cooling and soothing one.

7: STAY OUT OF THAT JACUZZI
The heat and steam of a jacuzzi always sounds like a good way to unwind, but too much time in it will surely suck the life out of your skin. Limiting your time in any hot body of water will prevent dehydration and cracked skin.

8: ALOE IS A MUST
Aloe is incredibly soothing and healing, so after a day out in the sun, lather it on after a nice cool shower. Your skin will feel rejuvenated and nourished for a good nights rest!

9: AVOID HEAVY MAKEUP
Opt for a tinted SPF and non-comedogenic products while on vacation. This will allow your skin to breathe and remain breakout free.

10: RINSE IT OFF
Whether you’re playing in the pool or in the ocean, rinsing off that chlorine and salt is essential in maintaining hydration and avoiding adverse skin reactions. Don’t forget to reapply SPF when you’re all cleaned up!

11: WASH THOSE LOCKS
Hair holds onto environmental pollutants and product buildup which wreak havoc on the skin when transferred to your pillowcase. Make sure you’re rinsing your hair after swimming and washing it before bed to prevent irritating your skin.

12: UNPLUG
Keeping stress levels low while traveling will help keep your skin free of unnecessary breakouts, so enable that out of office message and don’t skip out on fun to catch up on work. You’ll be far more productive upon your return if you can leave work behind.

Depending on the type of trip you’re on, you may be able to keep up your normal skin care routine, which will prevent some of the post-vacation damage. However, if you’re traveling to a tropical place, it’s more difficult to maintain your regimen as some products sensitize your skin, so using them in the sun is a big N.O. Don’t fret, though. It’s simple to incorporate some work-arounds while outside of your normal routine. If you can commit to these 12 steps, you’ll be well on your way to a healthier vacay life!

xoxo