Whether traveling for a travel healthcare assignment or leisure, it’s always worth investing in your personal care habits. While it may not be as easy to do as it is when you’re at home, there are some changes you can make to your personal care habits that will still allow you to feel and look good while traveling. Let’s cover some of those tips in this article.
1. Stick to a skincare routine
Your skin will experience fluctuating temperatures, humidity, and more as you travel to and from your destinations. So, make sure that you pack the travel version of your skincare routine. Or, if you don’t have one yet, now is the time to establish and stick to one.
You can get a basic skincare routine comprised of a cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen.
Your skin can regain its elasticity and moisture with a consistent skincare routine. It’s also a great way to relax after work if you’re traveling as part of your occupation like a travel healthcare professional does.
2. Carry portable personal care essentials
Regarding carrying some travel-sized skincare products, you should also consider bringing travel-friendly personal care essentials. Examples include foldable mirrors, travel razors, nail clippers, etc.
With a portable grooming kit ready to go with you, you can reduce your packing time since you already have them tucked away in a ready-to-go set. Also, they’re most likely small in size. You can easily fit them into your luggage without rearranging everything to accommodate them.
Remember that if you bring a blade, it’s in your check-in luggage and not your carry-on to avoid hassle.
3. Manage hair removal as needed
If you want advice on how your hair removal habits should be while traveling as a travel nurse, consider doing a more comprehensive hair removal process before the trip.
For example, you can use an IPL hair removal device to remove unwanted hair quickly and thoroughly before completing your work assignment. Plus, IPLs usually remove hair, and it won’t grow for a longer time than other of the more common hair removal methods.
Once you’re working, you might be too busy to do these more time-consuming hair removal methods or ones that require the help of a professional. Once you’ve settled on a place, you can instead do the more straightforward methods, like using a razor to shave.
4. Use multi-functional products
Packing for a trip constantly can become tedious for travel healthcare professionals. To make keeping track of items while packing easier, consider investing in products that serve multiple functions to reduce the space in your baggage.
For example, you can get a scarf that also serves as a blanket, accessory, or pillow to rest your head on when needed. There are even clothes you can flip over, which look like different pieces to reduce the number of clothes you must bring.
5. Opt for appropriate hair care items
Don’t forget to care for your hair while you’re traveling. It isn’t just your skin that dries out with all the constant traveling; your hair can dry out and become frizzy from the travels, too.
Depending on the length of your hair, travel-sized hair products might not be enough, especially if you’ll be at your destination for longer. In that case, you should consider adequately cushioning your haircare products and storing them somewhere so they don’t spill onto your clothes if their packaging breaks.
If your travels involve a lot of swimming, even just one day, remember that it will dry out your hair, so you will need moisturizing hair products.
6. Moisturize your entire body thoroughly
If you have a skincare routine, you should bring some body care products. Lotions, body scrubs, and sunscreen are your friends in this case. To make it as effective as possible, apply lotion after bathing when your body is still slightly moist but not completely wet.
Some people even get body oil when they feel fancy and want to feel shiny and glamorous.
7. Pack a standard hygiene kit
Remember to create a separate hygiene kit that does not include skincare, body care, hair care, or other shower/bathing essentials.
For example, for people who have menstruation, don’t forget to bring your menstrual products with you. Although you can surely get something from your destination, having some on hand is a good idea just in case your period arrives sooner than you think.
Other items you should include in your standard hygiene kit are tissue paper, hand cream, disinfectant alcohol, and so on.
8. Keep your nails clean
Unless you’re planning on not doing anything manually, it might be harder to maintain long, manicured nails while you’re traveling. While you certainly can, maintaining it will be challenging, especially if you frequently travel for work reasons.
Even if you don’t keep them short, though, at the very least, you should keep things clean. Washing your hands and using hand cream are two simple ways to keep your nails consistently clean. Also, filing your nails is a great way to make them feel smooth.
9. Use travel-size fragrance bottles
There are tons of travel-sized fragrance bottles available that come in multiple designs. There are ones that come as roll-ons. Others can even come in a spray bottle.
A particularly good fragrance bottle would be the twist-up one, where the spray nozzle only appears after you twist the bottle. That way, there is no lid that you have to keep track of to ensure that your perfume bottle isn’t spraying perfume unintentionally.
10. Apply sunscreen
Sunscreen should be an essential personal care item at this point.
Too many people think this step is skippable, but its sun protection and its ability to reduce the likelihood of skin cancer should be reasons enough to stick to it.
You can buy many lightweight sunscreens for the face and body. Make it at least SPF 15, but the ideal SPF would be SPF 30.
Do it after moisturizing, and don’t forget to reapply, especially after sweating or swimming.
11. Don’t forget to pack your toothbrush and toothpaste
Of course, dental hygiene is another essential part of your personal care routine. Tons of kits come with travel-sized toothbrushes and toothpaste. Consider adding dental floss, too, since it’s useful for many things but also for keeping your gums clean.
Mouthwash also comes in an extra small bottle to bring on your travel.
12. Stay hydrated
You should bring a refillable water bottle instead of relying too much on plastic water bottles. Since it’s reusable, you can fill it with water whenever you run out. Don’t forget to clean it frequently.
Also, they can keep the temperature of the liquids in it for a long time, whether hot or cold. Using your water bottle, you can enjoy a cold drink or even warm soup.
Conclusion
These personal care tips will make it easier to look clean and put together even after you’ve gone through the hassles of travel. Next time you’re about to go on a big adventure, consider applying these tips to feel and look fresh even when you’re far from home.
We hope you found these personal care tips for travel healthcare professionals on the go helpful. Do you have any personal care tips you would like to share with your fellow travel healthcare professionals? Comment them below.
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