Traveling is always fun but the truth is, it can do all kinds of funky things to your hair, skin and body. Not only are we dealing with possible climate change (depending where you’re going) and time zone change, but the airplane air itself is just horrible! If you are on vacation somewhere near an ocean, chances are you are spending time in it which is beautiful but the salt water is very drying on your hair.
If you are going on a ski trip, you will deal with all the dryness that comes along with cold weather. Going somewhere humid and sticky? That may be great to give you a nice dewiness to your skin but you may suffer from a break out or two. All this being said I wanted to share some of the things i do the night I get home from a trip.
When I get off an airplane I am always dehydrated. My skin is dry and I’m generally pretty moody (but that’s a whole other topic!) The first thing I do is start drinking water. I try to get in at least one liter of water before I go to sleep.
Right after my shower, I put some Olaplex in my wet hair and let it air dry. I sleep in it overnight and rinse it out in my morning shower. Olaplex brings hydration and repairs damaged, color treated hair. It’s a miracle worker especially if you bleach your hair like I do.
While my hair is drying, I tie it back and spread Manuka Honey on my face. You guys know how much I love my DIY masks and scrubs. Using Manuka Honey on its own as a mask is the best thing you can do for your skin.
Here is the deal on Manuka Honey: It comes from New Zealand and is produced by bees that pollinate the native manuka bush. All honey is great as an antibacterial and anti inflammatory. I have talked about the benefits of this in the past. Honey helps maintain moisture in the skin as well and is just so healing especially for people with acne prone skin. Think of Manuka honey as the Rolls Royce of honey. It does all this but in a way more powerful way.
Hydrogen peroxide is a component of honey. It gives most honey its antibiotic quality. One of the antibacterial components in manuka honey is methylglyoxal (MG). MG is a compound found in most types of honey, but usually only in small quantities. In manuka honey, MG comes from the conversion of another compound — dihydroxyacetone — that is found in high concentration in the nectar of manuka flowers. MG is thought to give manuka honey some of its antibacterial power. The higher the concentration of MG, the stronger the antibiotic effect. But, there may also be other compounds involved in the medicinal effect of manuka honey.
Honey producers have developed a scale for rating the potency of manuka honey. The rating is called UMF, which stands for Unique Manuka Factor. The UMF rating is thought to correspond with the concentration of MG and other compounds. Not all honey labeled as manuka honey contains significant levels of antibacterial factors. To be considered potent enough to be therapeutic, manuka honey needs a minimum rating of 10 UMF. Honey at or above that level is marketed as “UMF Manuka Honey” or “Active Manuka Honey.”
If ingested, (** It does NOT taste the same as regular honey! I prefer the sweet taste of other honey) It has so many benefits including fighting cancer, healing ulcers, preventing food poisoning, killing the bacteria that causes strep throat, the list goes on.
When applied topically, Manuka honey keeps skin clear, youthful and hydrated.
As an acne fighter: It works wonders for blemished skin because of its natural antibacterial properties. It is also a potent anti-inflammatory, so it soothes inflamed skin while healing blemishes. It helps balance the skin’s pH and contains amino acids which slough away dead skin cells. This helps keep your pores clear. In other words, if you are acne prone, this should be your best friend. Jut use it 1-3 times weekly as a mask and you will see immediate results.
As an anti-ager: MG has been shown to increase collagen Since amino acids are the building blocks of collagen, they also protect collagen. Healthy collagen means healthy, firm, youthful-looking skin.
As a moisturizer: Manuka Honey is a natural humectant, drawing moisture into the skin. This hydration helps to further enhance the skin’s elasticity and cell regeneration as well as promote healing. It leaves your skin feeling smooth, plump and hydrated.
All this being said, grab yourself a jar and use it as a face mask at least once a week. I take a little bit on a butter knife and smooth it over clean, dry skin. I leave it on anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Try to get a good night sleep and force yourself to get up at your regular time and get back on schedule.
How do you guys get over jet lag or readjust to life after traveling? Any tips? Share them in the comments below!
Those are such good tips, I will try to remember these suggestions. I see the hair and honey you get through Amazon, can you purchase them at a store or is it on line only. I’m not one for buying online. Really great information, thanks! Leah