EPISODE 3: VACATION

Traveling soon and worried about how your skincare routine will survive flights, sun, and beach days? This episode gives you the ultimate guide to protecting and maintaining healthy skin while on vacation, so you can enjoy your trip without worrying about breakouts, sun damage, or travel mishaps.

Learn exactly what to pack in your skincare “first-aid kit,” from travel-friendly cleansers and SPF layering strategies to enzyme masks, LED treatments, and hydrating essentials. We cover dos and don’ts for morning and evening routines, protective wear like hats and covers, and smart tips for ocean, pool, and airplane exposure.

If you’re a skinthusiast, jetsetter, or professional who wants to maintain glowing skin anywhere in the world, this episode breaks down every step into easy, actionable advice. No more guesswork or overpacking, just practical strategies that actually work!

Hosted by experienced estheticians who have perfected the on the go routine. We explain why you need full routines even on vacation, how to prep for different climates and sun exposure, and how to repair and hydrate skin effectively while away from home.

Subscribe to the Pore-Decisions podcast to travel smarter with your skincare, keep your skin balanced and healthy, and enjoy every trip without compromising your glow.

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Follow Gabriella on Instagram at - https://www.instagram.com/purefectionla
Follow Natalie on Instagram at - https://www.instagram.com/theskinclinic_la/
Website coming soon - www.pore-decisions.com

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:10

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SPEAKER_03 0:51

Seriously. So welcome. Hi. We are back. We are here and we are so excited to share with you. We were gonna talk about something different, actually. And then Gabby just went on vacation.

SPEAKER_02 1:13

And Natalie just went on vacation at the same time. Exactly. Because knew each other. Yeah, because one couldn't be here while the other was gone. We just thought, okay. Um not dependent, I'm sure. We're not, we're not. We're we're co-supportive. Yeah. And so we came back and we were like, um, what did you take on your trip?

SPEAKER_03 1:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:31

Did you have as much skincare as I did? Right. And we were like, do other people do this? Show me your skincare. And so we decided that we should probably talk about what we take on vacation because clients always ask, Do I need to bring all this? Like, come on, like, can I shorten it? Or I'm not gonna bring this because of course I'm gonna be in the sun. Why would I take this? And so we want to talk about the do's and don'ts and the extras and all the things in between.

SPEAKER_03 1:55

Right. And so uh I think the biggest question is if I have a 10-step hair routine, skincare whatever routine, do I need to bring everything with me? And okay, I honestly, yes, yes, but I do understand it can be a lot, especially if you're traveling overseas and you like have a weight limit, whatever. But like the truth is, I have one bag, which I will plug this one. I'm not sponsored. This parallel toiletry bag is my fucking absolute favorite toiletry bag. Everything is parallel, like it all stands up, nothing is on its side, nothing ever spills. It's just the way you pack it, and then when you get to your destination and you unzip it and unpack it, it literally is exactly the same when you closed your suitcase. It's incredible. I love that one. You really do. It's expensive, and they do come in three different sizes, but like so with our skincare, you need the large one. And that's just that's literally just skincare. Like my hairbrush, da da da, like even the wrist cups and stuff that goes in a different floss, the toothbrush, the toothpaste.

SPEAKER_02 2:49

Between Peter and I, we literally have like a full bag of just skincare. I know. Thank God for the minis and all the travel sizes that every brand has come out with because I know that saves us because we really were surprised that we were able to cut down so much this time and not have a full suitcase of product. Right. But we were gone a week and we were able to have everything we needed and a little bit extra. Like I had, you know, a mini thing of the body lotion just in case, or like a little overnight mask just in case, little things that I added in because I had that space because of the small sizes. So there are travel size and mini sizes of things that save us.

SPEAKER_03 3:22

Yes. And so that's definitely a huge thing. Like, and you know how Gabby and I, we sample. We like to try before you buy, right? That's like I feel like our motto for our businesses. And so when we give you sample bottles, a lot of them are refillable. So I tell people, do not throw that away. Like the cleanser, the toner, you can refill that when you get the larger size and take that. Like I have one that's I think maybe 10 years old.

SPEAKER_02 3:42

Yeah, like you washing them and sterilized and just resilling. Seriously. And it works great. Like the little droppers and all those things, like perfect for a million different things.

SPEAKER_03 3:50

Oh my god, amazing, right? So we'll talk about travel sizes in a second. But like, so Gabby, you went to you went to Mexico, right? You went to a beach vacation. So let's just talk about a little bit of like what products did you bring with you?

SPEAKER_02 4:01

So I brought my whole routine and I also brought extra cleansing steps because when you're on a trip like that, you are like we got up and went to the gym before breakfast, and then we went and showered, and then we went to the beach all day, and then we came back and showered, and then we went to dinner. So you're showering and washing a lot. So you want to make sure you have the right cleansers and the right type of cleansers and the amount of them to facilitate all of that. Because the worst thing would be to run out of cleansers and have to use like some nasty hotel soap on your face at a diet. No, don't do that.

SPEAKER_03 4:30

So that's that's a question I feel like I get a lot is that like I'm only supposed to wash my face twice a day. Like, what am I gonna do? Like, if I go to the beach and then I come back and then we take a nap and then we go to dinner and like all the things, right? So I feel like perfect example. You guys woke up, you didn't wash your face, right? You just put sunscreen on and you went to the gym, right? So you came back from the gym, and then that's when you showered and you did your whole, you like washed your face, your double cleanse because you had the sunscreen on, right? And then, and then tell me, what else did you do? What was like then after you double cleanse in the morning? What my whole routine.

SPEAKER_02 4:59

Like I did my my exosome serum, I did my vitamin C for sure. Yeah, I did do my acid because I'm very acne run. I definitely did my benzel because I need that, especially reapplying sunscreen, being in dirty water, like all those things. Oh, for sure. So I put my benzo, I did my moisturizer, I did my eye cream, I did my SPF. I actually did two SPFs. So that covered me. And I felt like that was a solid routine. I feel like during the daytime routine, because you're gonna be like reapplying and doing all this stuff, you can probably cut out a little, but I don't like to because I'm so acne prone. I feel like I, and especially on vacation when I'm eating or drinking or doing things I don't normally do, I know I'm gonna be a little bit more prone to breaking out. So I want that little extra protection. But I feel like the morning routine is where I would cut a little bit instead of my night routine. So the morning routine, like if you want to protect yourself with your vitamin C, you want to hydrate, even like an extra hydrator. Like I like my exosome or my growth factor serum is hydrating. So if I didn't have that, I would probably use like a hyaluronic serum as well. I like to keep extra hydration and then moisturizer and SPF. Those are like the focus, I would say, during the day.

SPEAKER_03 6:08

So for me, I I definitely actually I do pair down a little bit on the day routine when I'm going to the beach. I love swimming, I love getting in the water, like it's a huge thing for me. So I know I don't want to waste the product, but like my non, non, non-negotiable is okay, of course, I'm gonna cleanse my face, I'm gonna use my toner, I use my exosome serum uh plated. I don't care, we're gonna use labels, whatever. And then I do do two different types of vitamin C because I'm a psychopath. But because the vitamin C is protecting me in the daytime, it's my like insurance policy for when my SPF is no longer as active after 80 minutes or if I've just gotten out of the water. And then two vitamin C's, I will then do my moisturizer, and then after that, I do two different SPFs as well. So I do pare it down a little bit. I'm acne prone, but I feel like I don't use actives when I'm out at the beach. That's me personally, but I feel like for someone who's definitely acne prone and their skin is balanced and not dry or irritated from their acne products, you still use that in the daytime. And then now, so we have our day routine, right? Now let's talk about the SPFs that we're using. What are we carrying with us when we're on vacation?

SPEAKER_02 7:09

So, like I have my daily SPF that I always use on my face, and then I have a powder for reapplication, but I also have a stick for reapplication. I know you like the compact for reapplication. So easy. Um, and then we have the body sunscreen. Yeah. Typically I have two body sunscreens, and sometimes I have a face spray because the spray is unreliable, but I like it when I'm in the water, like to kind of touch off if I don't want my powder. And then when I go back to the cabana or whatever, then I won't do my real one. But yeah. Wait, what facial spray one are you using? Oh my god, am I gonna tell you? I use the that that's why I don't use it all the time, but it's only on my beach vacation stuff. Tell us uh vacation. They shut the fuck up. Yeah, no, I have that face one and I don't love it and I don't feel like it's reliable. But I think in when I'm like not by my stuff or whatever, that I'll put that one by the pool and I'll just spray my face.

SPEAKER_03 8:04

I would never that's I'm I'm shocked. I'm sure, I'm sure it's not bad, but I just like that's crazy. Oh my god. Okay. But I only use it in a pinch like that.

SPEAKER_02 8:11

I get it. I don't use that if I go to the pool. Like, that's only like on vacation. No, I get it. Like an extra because obviously my powder and my compact and my stick and all of those are not enough, right?

SPEAKER_03 8:23

We're not excessive. But so for me, I I definitely double layer my sunscreen. And there are some studies that show that like tinted SPF does help protect a little bit better than like a physical because the tint have more minerals in it. So, flesh-sock tinted SPF, I will that's when I like double down on it. So I use my color science, which is like an SPF 50, and then I do the skin better one, which is 75, and I put that over it, and then I carry around the compact. I just love the compact because I I'm dirty, like your hands are disgusting. Like, and the truth is, I remember when I was younger, did I, if I even put sunscreen on, but like, did I ever reapply the sunscreen? Like after getting out of the water every two hours being out? No.

SPEAKER_02 9:01

People are really big compact fans. I'm not. Uh-huh. I really am not. So I prefer the stick, like to reapply that way. I get it.

SPEAKER_03 9:09

But so I like I like the compact because it has a little mirror, and then I can like, I know that I got everywhere. And like the stick, for some reason, I don't know what it is. I feel like you have like a smaller diameter, even though you don't. No, I know, no, I know. It's just a mental thing. Yeah. And that's why I I like it. Uh I use the non-vinted stick. Oh, got it, got it. Yeah. So, okay, so then basically we're going to the beach. We have two different SPFs. We have our our beach bag with us that it's going to carry our body SPF, our facial reapplication, and the spray for in a pinch, basically, right? And also hats and visors. Okay. Well, okay. That's SPF. That's you're right, you're right. My my hat is actually like a UVA. You're right, UVB like 50 plus.

SPEAKER_02 9:47

You're right. I think that's really important too. Never ever forget that I did I left it in the room and wouldn't get in the water until I went back and got it because my melasma would be so mad at me.

SPEAKER_03 9:58

Because no, because the truth is the sun is gonna reflect off the water.

SPEAKER_02 10:01

Especially in the water, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 10:02

And it's gonna hit you, and it's gonna hit right where that melasma is, just in that little it just it's a hot spot. I know. And then the other thing is this is not SPF related, but like, I mean, we love hypochlorous acid. Yes, I carry that in my beach bag. Yes, because first of all, it is very unstable. So you have to make sure that it's not in the direct sunlight, but reapplying and spritzing that on your face, that is going to help, oh my god, prevent breakouts, especially when you're sweaty and disgusting by the pool or by the beach. That's completely like you need it.

SPEAKER_02 10:29

And I will say with hypochlorous, just make sure it's in a, yeah, not a translucent bottle. It has to be airtight and not exposed to sunlight. If it is exposed to sunlight or you can screw that top off. Yeah, it it needs to be opaque for sure.

SPEAKER_03 10:43

So let's go into the really extras. Okay, skin thusiasts. We, as you know, if you've been listening to us, we are extra. We are extra with all of our skincare, like me with two vitamin C's. We like to be prepared.

SPEAKER_02 10:54

And uh the worst thing on a trip is to break out and cause damage.

SPEAKER_03 10:58

Oh my god. Which, okay, how about I went on a trip and I forgot my moisturizer?

SPEAKER_01 11:03

Like this girl, I swear, she called she calls me and tells me that. And I was like, I'm looking up in Greece, like what moisturizers? I'm like, I can't help you. I don't think they have what we have. Like, I'm like, well, you're doomed. Let's do it, let's do a study on this. Take some pictures for us and see how you progress.

unknown 11:21

I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_03 11:22

I'm sorry, guys. I did not. I was like, I'm sure every moisturizer fucking has olive oil in it or something. And so I was like, for the sake of research, I'm not. It's my skin is not going to suffer. So luckily, my skin is in a good place that it was able to handle it. But when I came back, I was so dry. I needed to do so many hydrating and like foliating treatments to just like get my skin back to where it was prior to leaving. But don't be like me and don't forget your moisturizer. Always have a list. Um, but so let's talk about the extras though.

SPEAKER_02 11:47

So the extras. I think these are because I'm not at home and I don't have a way to get these things typically when I'm traveling around. I don't want to waste my travel time doing it and trying to find it. I think these are really important things. Like for me, I always bring a little container of an enzyme mask because you're traveling after air travel, you're in a foreign place, you're doing different things, you're so dry, it's stripped. You want to get that dead skin off gently and you don't want to be aggressive about it. You don't want to use a scrub. You want to help sloth that off so that your skin can breathe and hydrate better the rest of the trip. So I never leave without my enzyme mask. We both used it that week we were in Cabo. Like it's essential.

SPEAKER_03 12:25

And then for me, honestly, when I'm on vacation, I do try to relax, even though I'm not a really good relaxer. But so I bring my LED mask with me. Like, I the idea of like being in a bath taking a nice hot shower after being in the sun, being by the pool, and then like being in a robe with your hair up in a towel and then putting your the LED mask on for like 20 minutes. I just that's vacation.

SPEAKER_02 12:46

You're a better woman than me. I think my max is a sheet mask. Oh my god. That's my robe moment is the sheet mask. Is the sheet mask? I think but you know, good for you.

SPEAKER_03 12:56

I'm not a sheet mask person. I don't like the wetness on my face.

SPEAKER_02 12:58

I just feel like on a trip, I feel like that's the only time I would use a sheet mask, to be honest, because at home, I like I'm gonna use more hydrators or I I can handle my skin properly. Yeah. On the go, a sheet mask and a disposable thing. Like that's kind of the perfect travel moment. Um, sheet masks at home are stupid though.

SPEAKER_03 13:14

Um yeah, I yeah, I agree. So for me, it's LED. For her, it was the enzyme. And then okay, I do bring eye masks now, I will say, like the iPads. I do love them. Like they put them in my little the mini fridge, like in the room, and then like put the pop them on, and it feels so good. So cute.

SPEAKER_02 13:30

I'm glad we're doing this episode. I'm taking notes. It's such a good idea. I don't know why. Like, I know that they're in my fridge at home. Like, but I didn't think about that for travel. So smart. I'm so happy. Yeah, you learned something from me today. But I would say another one that I'm very serious about, and I have a brand that I like for it, but you can get whatever you want. A hydrocortisone bomb, like an ointment, because that is like bug bites, burns, oh my god, the mosquitoes, all the things that's really helpful. And it's like my like, we don't do neosporin. We should know better by now doing neosporin. That's crap. Yeah. You should have a 1% hydrocortisone bomb, something that's going to kind of keep clean and reduce inflammation and give a little balancing protection. We don't do pimple patches, we do bombs.

SPEAKER_03 14:15

I feel like I like what you just said. It just like clicks something with me where I'm we just want to be prepared. We want to be prepared for everything. So not only do we have a lot of it.

SPEAKER_02 14:22

Like taking a band-aid, like you know, like on a trip with you for a blister.

SPEAKER_03 14:26

It's like it's our first aid kit. Like our skin, I feel like our skincare toiletry bag is our like first aid kit. Sure. Like I love that. I can handle anything. I know. I got you. I got and anybody too. If you have a little burn, I I have you. I got you. I know exactly what to do. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 14:38

Just like a lip barrier support, like something like that. The one I use is like, yes, it's a lip barrier support, but I you put it on your cuticles, I put it on my eyes, around my eyes if they get chapped, like it's for chapped skin. Like I feel like around the nose, if it's cold somewhere and your air, you get wind burn or something. Oh, yeah. That's another like first aid kit item, I would say, that is in my skincare kit.

SPEAKER_03 14:59

And then for me, I'm one of my like extras that I bring, I'll bring some peel pads, like the glycolic and salicylic pads that I have. Like, let's say we've gone on like a waterfall hike or we've done like a kind of like a I'm putting air quotes over a strenuous like little activity on vacation because my husband doesn't know how to chill, which is cool. So, like having that little extra like buffer of exfoliation, even though I do bring an exfoliating uh cleanser with me, I I like it because it just know I know that I'm like, I'm not gonna break out. Like I am preventing anything from whatever I picked up in this jungle or waterfall area. It's not gonna stay on me. I'm not bringing it home with me.

SPEAKER_02 15:30

So true. I love individually wrapped peel pads for this reason. They're just amazing. Companies take note. Like, I don't I try to tell them they don't listen. I don't know why they don't listen. I don't want it in a freaking lot. Nobody wants it in a jar. Like, who wants jars? Period. But also for something like a pad like that, no. You want to take it in your gym bag, you want to put it in your backpack, you want to put it in your suitcase. I have them sprinkled all over the place. And then it's isn't it like a little like surprise when you're like, oh my god, I had some. I gotta use it now. So true. I know. It's like $300.

SPEAKER_03 15:58

And you're like, oh fuck yeah.

SPEAKER_02 15:59

Yeah. So if you need a little skincare emergency kit for your whole body.

SPEAKER_03 16:03

Honestly, should we market one? Should we?

SPEAKER_02 16:05

I think, honestly, I think we just made one. I think we should I think we could definitely market this. Poor decisions. Oh my god, with a little toilet. Okay, you guys coming your way to look out for. Yeah. Um, okay, but let's go into now the PM routines. We went over our daytime, we went over our emergency and our extras, and then there's the PM.

SPEAKER_03 16:23

I I want to just talk about cleansers for a second, though. Okay. So, like for me, and we have different cleansing preferences, but like for me with the sunscreen, because I put on so much, like when we're in the daytime, I I do bring a gel cleanser. Like I like, me too. A gel cleanser. I get that nice and foamy. I put it just a little bit, it goes a long way. I feel like get that really foamy, da-da-da-da-da. And and I'll do that twice, honestly, in the shower. Me too. And then I do love the Jan glycolic cleanse, the bioglycolic cleanser. But sometimes if I'm taking a shower, then my face is already wet, so I can't use that. So I will do like my gentle hydrating cleanser, honestly.

SPEAKER_02 16:56

Yeah, I do definitely gel cleansers. I like a powder cleanser to give a little bit extra buff. And they're also very cleansing and removing makeup and stuff. And then I do like the glycolic. So I usually will have all three at least.

SPEAKER_03 17:10

Are you doing the glycolic in the shower? No, after.

SPEAKER_02 17:12

Yeah. So I'll do my face, I'll do my shower, and then I'll get out, I'll dry off, and then I'll do the glycolic.

SPEAKER_03 17:16

Oh, see, I'm because then I'm gonna do my routine. I'm an inconvenience person. I I I don't I don't wash my face after I've just washed my face in the shower. Like the reason why I'm washing my face is I did stick a shower.

SPEAKER_02 17:24

Different people.

SPEAKER_03 17:25

I know. Okay. Okay, so then PM routine. So this is so important. Making sure that you've cleansed your face from the day. Just in general, even if you're not on vacation, like get by your sideburns. You have to get into the hairline, get down on your neck. Oh my god, behind the ears. Behind the ears. Do you know how many black is I take out of people's like behind their ears when I lift up? That's part of you. There's like gunk, you guys. Like, there's like you get to get fingernail and like like to not bother them about that as well. I know. People are mortified, but you're like, you gotta know.

SPEAKER_02 17:54

I'm like, I have to tell you, I'm your friend. Yeah, I'm helping you out. Yeah. So definitely double triple cleanse. I still do antioxidant, vitamin C at night, reparative repair, especially from the sun damage of the day. And I definitely do my retinol. Like, I think it's really important. People need to understand that retinol is actually healing to the skin and helps to repair sun damage. And so without it, you're actually causing more damage, not using your retinol when you're on vacations, even like especially if they're sun-based vacations.

SPEAKER_03 18:22

There's a misconception about the whole idea of it being like you're photosensitive and your skin's gonna be irritated. But that was the old formulations of retinol, you guys. That was retin A. Like I was put on that from a derm. Like, but your skin doesn't feel that way anymore. And the thing is, being consistent in using your retinol is so important. And it's like, I think about it as um, what was that movie, Black Panther? And he had like that Black Panther suit that like when it had all the energy in it, and then every single time you got hit, then like a little bit of the energy would go away, kind of. So if you're not consistent with your retinol on your skin, you're weakening, you're weakening the receptors, you're weakening the ability of what the vitamin A of the retinoic acid has been doing for your skin thus far, and taking that week or two weeks off, honestly, I'm not gonna say it's detrimental to your skin being dramatic.

SPEAKER_02 19:02

But it's just a it's a back step. Like you're now gonna have to bring it. Yeah, yeah, you're gonna have to start over again.

SPEAKER_03 19:08

And then the thing is, and then you fucking hydrate, and then you use your moisturizers, you use your hydrators, you put your moisturizer on. And if you are feeling a little dry, because our my lips get so trapped on vacation, like just making sure bringing a little bit of a thicker moisturizer, like a night cream, even that you know is not gonna break you out. I feel like that gives you some solid like reassurance that you're gonna be fine.

SPEAKER_02 19:26

Yeah, that retinol is gonna repair your skin, it's important, and then moisturize, and that's it. I think that's a solid plan.

SPEAKER_03 19:32

Yeah, and I mean, we'll go over it, like reiterate it, but I think, yeah, it's it's not so difficult. And honestly, just bring everything. And the thing we were talking about in the beginning was the travel sizes. So it's not like you're okay. This is what really sucks about products nowadays, is to be honest with you, there's no product that's really over like two ounces. So, like everything is TSA like approved. Yeah, travel friendly, even though it's expensive and it's really annoying. But like there are products that are even more travel friendly.

SPEAKER_02 19:56

Like yeah, the 5ML pumps have 25 pumps in it. So it's very easy to dose yourself and to be able to schedule out like I'm going this many days. I usually use this many pumps, I'm gonna do it twice a day. Oh, this is enough. Yeah, like it really is at this point easy to calculate how much you need and then bring one extra because they're so tiny.

SPEAKER_03 20:13

So basically, we're trying to tell you is stop bitching and just bring your whole routine with you. Like that's that's it. I don't want to hear it. Like, you can fit your, even if you had 15 things, like you could fit it all in a small little toiletry bag. I fit 20 steps in a little bag. I was very impressed. For two people, that's amazing. It was so moral of the story is traveling doesn't mean that you have to really break out. We can prevent yourself from breaking out because you're already gonna be prone. You're going on new pillowcases, new sheets with the detergents.

SPEAKER_02 20:38

There's so many other things that you're introducing and bacteria that your skin is not accustomed to that you need to prepare and balance it to withstand properly. So don't risk it.

SPEAKER_03 20:48

Yeah, don't risk it. Don't risk it for the biscuit. Just fucking just do your skincare routine and stay glorious. And stay glorious and don't make any poor decisions. Yeah. We've learned from all of ours, seriously. So that's uh our little vacation spiel for today. Yeah, and look out for our kits coming 2026. I know, I'm I'm actually I'm not kidding. I think no, I think we should do this. We totally should do this. All right, buy some things away. We really want to hear from you guys. So after you listen to the episode today, let us know your comments, questions, concerns. We want to keep this in open dialogue.

SPEAKER_02 21:29

Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on any of the future episodes. And of course, follow us on Instagram at poor decisions underscore pod to interact with us.

SPEAKER_03 21:37

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