The Newest Hacks For The Healthiest Travel

Travel can play havoc on your health, with long and dehydrating plane journeys affecting your skin and body clock and hectic business trips leaving no time in your schedule for a much-needed break, let alone a pampering spa visit. Luckily, there’s a clutch of new beauty gadgets and innovative health buys perfectly designed for travellers.

Renowned aesthetic doctor since 2003, Dr Preema Vig, who has a leading aesthetic clinic in Mayfair, agrees that travel can put our bodies out of sync. “Long journey times combined with crossing time zones can play havoc with our bodies,” she says. “As a frequent traveler I have curated a few practices which mean that I arrive at my destination with minimal jet lag. I drink lots of water and I take Love Life Supplements—NMN, NR and Creatine Monohydrate—and have recently been introduced to Nuchido,” she says.

“I also increase my physical exercise before and after a flight. Walk where you can and take the staircase, and you will find that you are oxygenated to help invigorate you against jet-lag. I also practice mindfulness and being present in the moment—by deep breathing and focusing on where I am and where I am going. It can help your body and mind adjust. I always advise my patients to ensure they have ramped up their sleep quota in the run-up to their trip. A well-rested body is equipped to adjust and recover better.”

Meanwhile, ZOE, the science and nutrition company, has just launched a whole food, plant-based supplement to help people better support their health. Daily30+ contains a blend of over 30 selected plants to introduce over 35 different types of fibre and 7,000+ beneficial plant chemicals to a savoury meal in just one scoop, also adding 5g of fibre with every scoop. It’s easy to travel with, meaning you can keep your gut health at its optimum.

Tim Spector, co-founder of ZOE says: “ZOE Scientists have formulated Daily30+ to set a new standard for the supplements industry. We are supporting better health through encouraging dietary change to include additional plants which the gut microbiome thrives on. Nothing else in the current supplements market is formulated for this purpose, instead they offer synthetic micronutrients in untested combinations that are touted as ‘healthy’ but lack any evidence and are unregulated. It’s time for a change in the way we all view and use supplements.”

Dr Sarah Berry, chief scientist at ZOE and associate professor at King’s College London, also adds: “Many people struggle to find healthy options when it comes to their diet, so we wanted to help redress the balance. We’ve made this product from whole foods and specifically selected every ingredient to improve health and have a positive effect on the gut. We put the product through the highest level of scientific testing with a randomised control trial (RCT)—the gold standard of research. We found that taking Daily30+ every day led to improvements in digestive health, energy, gut microbiome composition and a reduction in hunger.”

Bio-Kult is another brand offering a supplement that is specifically beneficial to travelers. Live bacterial supplement S. Boulardii has been scientifically developed in the UK to target both the immune system and digestive tract. This advanced formulation supports the balance of microorganisms in the gut and contains vitamin D3 to contribute to the normal function of the immune system.

Kim Plaza, Bio-Kult’s technical advisor, comments: “Holidays are generally associated with feelings of relaxation and wellbeing. However, there are certain health concerns which seem to be more prevalent whilst travelling. Common complaints include digestive upsets, food poisoning, sunburn, sunstroke and dehydration among others. Sregthening your gut and immune system will get you ready for your next trip.”

She continues: “Ensuring you drink enough water is important, as it helps to eliminate toxins from the body. To help prevent digestive upsets while away, it is generally recommended to start taking a live bacteria or friendly yeast supplement at least a week in advance, continuing while you are away and for a few days after you get back. Eating well is also important as deficiencies in macro and micronutrients can compromise the immune system. Finally, sleep is intertwined with immune health, so getting into the habit now can set you up for a restful holiday. It’s advisable to get at least 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night.”

When it comes to beauty, we know that travel can have a detrimental effect on the skin. New from renowned oculoplastic surgeon Dr Sabrina Shah-Desai is a state-of-the-art Eye Regenerate LED Mask. The high-tech, home-use LED device has been designed to tackle common concerns around the eye area, including fine lines, discolouration, dark circle, and puffiness (all often caused by tiredness when traveling), offering a clinically-proven solution for perking up the skin around this delicate region.

The reusable Dr Sabrina Eye Regenerate LED Mask is instilled with tiny LED bulbs that emit red (at 630 nanometers) and near-infrared (at 830 nanometers) wavelengths. These penetrate the skin to stimulate collagen production, reduce under-eye lines, and diminish signs of fatigue while improving texture and tone. The mask is designed to work synergistically with the single-use Dr Sabrina Bright Eye Hydrocolloid Patches, which stick to the back of the device and face, and which contain Azelaic Acid, Asorbic Acid and Sodium Hyaluronate, to brighten, even out skin tone and hydrate the area.

“The eye area is one of the first to show signs of ageing and tiredness,” says Dr Sabrina Shah-Desai. “While the market is flooded with LED masks, very few are specifically designed to address the delicate and intricate needs of the periorbital region. I have combined my years of expertise with science-backed LED light therapy to develop a truly unique solution. By using proven active ingredients that work in combination with LED light therapy, this device will rejuvenate the eye area, as well as maintain and prolong the effects of professional treatments, like anti-wrinkle injections and lasers, in the comfort of your home or hotel room.”

Also harnessing LED technology, and perfect to use when on the road, is the LumiNIR 4-in-1 from Sunlighten. The hand-held wand provides a gentle but powerful treatment with four LED options—near-infrared, red light, near-infrared/red light combo and blue light. This type of light therapy stems from nature’s age-old process of stimulating growth, as LLLT uses specific light rays to deliver gentle energy to cells in the skin. The process is called ‘photobiomodulation’, which involves using specific light wave energy to initiate positive photochemical changes. Our cell’s mitochondria (our body’s ‘battery’) absorbs this energy and initiates biochemical responses like cell growth. The device can target a number of skin issues, such as stimulating collagen production, reducing inflammation, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and improving acne.

Developed by holistic doctor, Rabia Malik, the Skin W1 I-Shine Eye Cream is a fusion of technology and skincare and is small enough to even carry onboard with you. Created with microcurrent technology and proven active ingredients, the eye product is designed to address common concerns such as dryness, puffiness and dark circles.

“My patients were seeking effective products, tools and devices for the eye area,” Dr Rabia says. “I, too, experienced water retention and puffiness around the eye area which led me to start using massaging tools. I wanted to create a product that combined technology with active skincare ingredients and that’s how Skin W1 I-Shine —a vibrational massage microcurrent eye cream—came to fruition.”

The device has a zinc applicator that activates upon skin contact, dispensing the optimal product dosage. With its high-frequency operation at 3,000rpm, the unique tip gently massages the eye area, promoting circulation and easing puffiness, while enhancing the absorption of active ingredients—such as sodium hyaluronate, Vitamin E and Shea Butter. The improved micro-circulation and oxygenation of the tissue around the eye area also diminishes the look of dark circles. Meanwhile, the negative ion microwave current penetrates the dermis, helping to stimulate collagen and elastin, leading to tighter and firmer skin with a reduction in fine lines with continued use.

Finally, the innovative toothbrush from sustainable brand, SURI, has been designed with travel in mind. The slim brush is powerful, with a 40+ day battery life, so regularly recharging is a thing of the past (it only needs recharging once a month). It also comes with a UV travel case, which keeps the brush clean on the go, with an in-built UV light that kills 99.9% of bacteria.

The brand–its name is short for Sustainable Rituals—was inspired by the fact that every year over four billion toothbrushes end up in landfill or in our oceans. The brand has reinvented the electric toothbrush with a minimal impact on the planet. The brush heads are made from plant-based corn starch and bristles are made from castor-oil, making them bio-based and reduces a reliance on petroleum-based plastics. Furthermore, the company will recycle the heads for free in the UK and US. The body of the brush is made from aluminium which makes it long-lasting and easily recycled.