How to Help Your Skin Survive Euro Summer
Dr Yalda Jamali is a UK-trained cosmetic doctor with more than 10 years of experience in aesthetic medicine. She works clinically at Epios Cosmetic Clinic in Paddington, Sydney and spends much of her time talking about skin both in the clinic and online. Passionate about evidence-based skincare and patient education, she loves translating complex science into practical, easy to understand advice. Find her on Instagram @dr.yalda
Our skin can be surprisingly unpredictable on holiday. Between long-haul flights, change of weather, air conditioning, sea salt and chlorinated pools, even the healthiest skin can become dehydrated, irritated or congested. Skin that is normally balanced may suddenly become oily, while more sensitive complexions can become red and reactive.
The good news is that you don't need to pack your entire bathroom cabinet. A few carefully chosen products can help keep your skin calm, hydrated and happy throughout your trip.
Here's everything I'd recommend packing for a Euro summer as a cosmetic doctor.
1. When your skin feels tight and dehydrated
Long flights and hot weather can quickly leave the skin feeling dry, tight and uncomfortable. Changes in humidity, increased alcohol consumption, air conditioning and long days spent outdoors can all contribute to dehydration and disruption of the skin barrier.
The result? Dullness, tightness, flaking and increased sensitivity.
My advice is to simplify your routine and focus on ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides and vitamin B5.
One of my favourite additions to any travel bag is a thermal water spray. Avène Thermal Spring Water is so refreshing after a day in the sun and can help soothe skin that feels hot, irritated or tight.
Follow this with a hydrating serum and a nourishing moisturiser to lock in moisture and support the skin barrier.
Products to pack:
Pro tip: Apply your moisturiser while the skin is still slightly damp to maximise hydration (another place where the Avène Thermal Spring Water comes in handy!
2. When your skin suddenly becomes red
You don't need to have rosacea to experience redness while travelling. Redness when travelling usually is a sign of inflammation and reactivity. Don’t reach for strong actives in this case as the skin barrier needs support rather than irritation or stripping.
Simplify your routine and focus on repairing and protecting the skin barrier.
Products to pack:
Pro tip: Applying a slightly thicker layer of your moisturiser in the evening can also help restore hydration after a long day spent outdoors.
3. Why holiday breakouts happen
Heat, humidity, sweat, pollution, long travel days and repeated applications of sunscreen can create the perfect environment for blocked pores and congestion.
The temptation is often to scrub the skin or introduce stronger products, but this can make matters worse, especially on holiday. Instead, focus on keeping the skin clean while maintaining a healthy skin barrier.
Double cleansing in the evening is one of the simplest ways to minimise congestion while travelling, particularly if you've been wearing makeup or spending long periods outdoors.
Ingredients such as niacinamide and salicylic acid can also help reduce excess oil and keep pores clear.
Products to pack:
4. A few simple mistakes I would avoid while travelling
When it comes to skincare on holiday, I often find that people fall into one of two categories: those who stop using skincare altogether and those who pack half their bathroom cabinet.
In reality, the ideal approach is usually somewhere in the middle.
The skin is constantly responding to its environment, so it is perfectly normal for it to behave differently while you're away. For example, higher temperatures can increase sweating and sebum production, making congestion more likely. Lower humidity levels and prolonged exposure to air conditioning can increase transepidermal water loss (TEWL), leaving skin feeling dry, tight and irritated. Heat and increased sun exposure can also dilate blood vessels, contributing to redness and sensitivity.
There are also a few common mistakes that I see repeatedly:
- Introducing multiple new products at once (often over excitement seeing overseas pharmacies)
- Over-exfoliating in an attempt to manage congestion.
- Neglecting the skin barrier when irritation develops.
- Applying more products rather than simplifying the routine.
- Continuing to use active ingredients despite increasing sensitivity.
My advice is to keep things simple. A gentle cleanser, a hydrating serum, a moisturiser and one or two targeted treatments will usually be more than enough.
Consistency over complexity, particularly when your skin is already trying to adapt to a completely new environment. It's also worth remembering that some active ingredients, including stronger retinoids and exfoliating acids, can increase skin sensitivity.
If you're spending prolonged periods outdoors, it may be sensible to reduce the frequency of use or simplify your routine accordingly.
Final thoughts
Before I finish, I couldn't write an article on Euro summer skincare without mentioning the sun.
There is often a misconception that the European sun is somehow gentler than the Australian sun, but this shouldn't be underestimated. Long days spent outdoors, reflective surfaces such as water, sand and stone, higher altitudes, and the temptation to spend every waking moment outside can all result in more sun exposure than we realise.
As a cosmetic doctor, I also think it's important to remember that there is no such thing as a safe tan. Although a tan may be temporary, the effects of ultraviolet radiation on the skin accumulate over time, contributing to pigmentation, collagen loss and premature skin ageing.
More importantly, excessive ultraviolet exposure increases the risk of skin cancer. Ultimately the goal is to look after our skin health regardless of the location.
Find Dr Yalda on Instagram: @dr.yalda
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