Expert Skincare Tips for Spring and Travel from Holistic Esthetician Elliot Valdes
As we move into spring, many of us start spending more time outdoors and traveling. While the shift in season can feel refreshing, it also brings new stressors for the skin - including increased sun exposure, dehydration, and changes in climate.
In my practice, I always encourage clients to focus on supporting the skin barrier and maintaining hydration during seasonal transitions. When your skin is properly supported, it stays resilient, balanced, and radiant no matter what the season brings.
Here are a few of the tips I share most often with clients this time of year.
1. Don’t Skip Peptides in Your Daytime Routine
As we move into spring and spend more time in the sun, I always recommend prioritizing peptides in your morning skincare routine.
Peptides help support collagen production, which becomes especially important when skin is exposed to more UV and environmental stress. They also help strengthen the skin barrier so skin can stay resilient throughout the day.
I love using Solara’s Guardian Angel Super Peptide Sunscreen Milk because it protects the skin while also supporting collagen production and barrier health. It’s a great example of how your morning skincare can both protect and support the skin at the same time.
2. Focus on Hydration and Barrier Support When Traveling
Travel introduces many variables for the skin — dehydration, shifting climates, changes in routine, and often increased sun exposure.
When I’m traveling, I focus on simple, peptide-rich and hydrating products that help the skin stay resilient and balanced. Supporting the skin barrier becomes especially important because it helps prevent irritation, dryness, and inflammation.
As an herbalist, I love incorporating plants into my skincare routine! My favorite beverage that supports hydration from within is a Hibiscus Iced Tea with marshmallow root, linden, and honey. Marshmallow Root (Althea officinalis) is moistening to the body’s tissues, which helps keep your body hydrated. Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) cools the body by pushing warmth from the core of your body outwards, and opening your pores to release heat. Linden Flower (Tilia cordata) is a moistening herb that also promotes relaxation, helping you to stay calm, cool, and collected during travel. Honey is also naturally moistening, and is a wonderful addition to sweeten things up a bit. Here is my favorite recipe below. :)
Hibiscus Iced Tea Recipe:
1. Fill up a large mason jar with water, and the following:
2 tbs marshmallow root (Althea officinalis)
1 tbs Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
1 tbs Linden (Tilia cordata)
2. Let sit overnight on the counter and strain out herbs in the morning.
3. Add honey to taste, and ice cubes. Sip on throughout the day for a relaxing, hydrating boost!
(For informational purposes only, always consult your physician before taking herbs especially if you are pregnant or nursing.)
3. Your Sunscreen Should Do More Than Just Protect
I always remind clients that SPF shouldn’t be a “bare minimum” step. The best sunscreens do more than simply block UV rays.
A well-formulated sunscreen can also support the skin barrier, help protect against blue light and environmental stressors, and maintain hydration levels throughout the day. When sunscreen works alongside the skin instead of just sitting on top of it, it becomes a much more supportive step in your routine.
Choosing skincare that protects while also supporting overall skin health can make a big difference in maintaining a healthy, radiant glow.
4. Support the Eye Area During Travel
The eye area is often the first place to show dehydration and fatigue when you’re traveling.
Airplane cabins, disrupted sleep, and changing climates can all contribute to dryness and dullness around the eyes. I always recommend giving this delicate area a little extra attention when you’re on the go
For clients who see me post travel, I use Botnia’s apothecary-style back bar, so every facial mask I do is hand mixed and fully customized with botanical ingredients.
I usually start with Botnia’s Soothing repair mask, which is nourishing, hydrating, and great for bringing dry, dehydrated, and sun damaged skin back to balance. I then add ingredients like vitamin- rich Kale, soothing chamomile, vitamin A rich Rosehips, and hydrating and barrier reinforcing Colloidal Oatmeal. This botanical combination is great for soothing and hydrating stressed skin.
After masking, I follow the treatment with a hydrating serum and nourishing face cream. Lastly, I apply Solara’s Guardian Angel Super Peptide Sunscreen Milk and Day Dreamer Super Peptide Eye Primer SPFs, which is the cherry on top of the post facial glow.
For myself, I’m typically a bare-faced gal, so I try to keep my travel skincare routine simple, yet nourishing and effective. After gently cleansing and toning, I like to apply Botnia’s Hydrating Serum with rose geranium and hyaluronic acid, followed by their Well Serum, a sun-safe botanical retinoid serum. I then apply a light weight moisturizer, and finish with Solara’s Guardian Angel and Day Dreamer. This creates a lightly layered routine to protect and nourish my skin from all angles.
For me, Guardian Angel Super Peptide Sunscreen Milk and Day Dreamer Super Peptide Eye Primer are two products I rely on to keep my skin healthy, hydrated, and protected while traveling.
Discover Solara’s peptide-powered skincare essentials and support your skin’s barrier, hydration, and glow all spring. Your future skin will thank you.
