Post-Travel Skincare Reset

Don't get me wrong — I love to travel. But there are so many small things stacked on top of each other when I'm away, and every one of them throws my skin off. The dry plane air. Being out in the sun all day. Sweating in makeup I'd never normally wear that long. Eating differently, sleeping differently, drinking less water than I think I am. And then the big one: being completely out of routine. By the time I get home, I can usually feel it before I see it — that tight, dehydrated feeling, and then a few days later, the breakouts show up.

So I've stopped trying to pretend my normal routine will handle it. For the first week or two after a trip, I go noticeably more high-maintenance than usual, on purpose. The goal isn't to do more products; it's to do fewer things, more consistently, until my skin finds its equilibrium again.

Here's exactly what that looks like.

The Idea Behind It

Every choice here is doing one of three jobs: put moisture back, don't strip anything, and treat the breakouts without making my barrier worse. That last part is what I got wrong for years. When my skin broke out after a trip, my instinct was to attack it — strong cleanser, acid toner, spot treatment on everything. It always backfired, because the skin was already dehydrated and irritated. Adding more irritation just extended the whole thing. Now the rule is: gentle everywhere except the one step that's actually treating something. You'll also notice every single product here is fragrance-free, which is very much on brand for me at this point.

Morning

1. Gentle cleanse — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser

Nothing exciting, and that's the point. In the morning I'm not removing makeup or sunscreen, just the residue from overnight, so a creamy non-foaming cleanser is plenty. It never leaves my skin feeling tight, which is the whole test.

2. Moisturizer — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer

My favorite moisturizer, full stop. It has ceramides and niacinamide, it sits well under sunscreen and makeup, and it doesn't feel heavy in humidity. I use the same one morning and night during a reset week because I want zero variables.

3. Sunscreen — EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

Non-negotiable, and especially non-negotiable during a reset. Two reasons: post-breakout marks get darker and stick around longer with sun exposure, and I'm using a retinoid at night, which makes my skin more sun-sensitive. This one has niacinamide in it, it's oil-free, and it doesn't leave a white cast on me.

Evening

1. Makeup remover — Prequel Pre-Gleanse Cleansing Oil

This is the step I skipped for years and now consider essential. Oil dissolves what water can't — waterproof mascara, sunscreen, a full day of makeup — so my actual cleanser isn't fighting through all of it. It emulsifies and rinses clean without any greasy film, and it's non-comedogenic. It also comes in a travel size, which is how it ended up in my bag in the first place.

2. Second cleanse — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser

Same cleanser as the morning. The oil breaks everything down, the gentle cleanser takes it away. Two soft steps instead of one aggressive one.

3. Problem solver — Differin Adapalene Gel or Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

This is the one active in the whole routine, and I alternate them every other night.

Adapalene is the retinoid that actually works on my clogged pores and prevents new breakouts from forming. Azelaic acid is my calm-things-down night — it helps with the redness and the marks left behind without any of the peeling.

Alternating instead of layering is the part I'd emphasize. Using both every night is how I used to end up with a compromised barrier on top of breakouts, which is so much worse than just the breakouts. Every other night gives my skin a recovery day in between, and I still get the results.

If you're new to adapalene, I wrote a whole post about starting it, because there's a purge phase nobody warns you about and it's worth knowing in advance.

4. Moisturizer — La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer

Back to the same moisturizer, and I don't skimp on it. On adapalene nights especially, this is what keeps the retinoid from turning into flaking and irritation.