Summer travels are coming soon, wondering how to keep a good and glowy skin when traveling? Celebrated New York City plastic Surgeon Dr. Lara Devgan shares personal beauty tips.
Dr. Lara Devgan
Lara Devgan MD
Why is traveling so important?
Travel punctuates the rhythm of our daily lives-it helps us take a step back from our daily routine. For me, there is nowhere I would rather be than my regular life in the operating room during the day and with my family at night. But yet I love traveling because everywhere I go expands my ability to think and understand. I grew up with an international background and I take care of people from all over the world, and that has always colored my view of the world. Some of my most memorable experiences have come from travelling-visiting my parents’ hometowns in Kenya and India, interning at the World Health Organization in Switzerland, rotating at the incredible Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, and showing my kids the Malibu Tidepools, the Eiffel Tower, the Venice Canals, and the places that have changed me. Sometimes going far away helps you appreciate how special it is to come back home. I think that’s true for all of us.
If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
I would stay here in New York. I feel incredibly fortunate to be a New Yorker. I grew up in Los Angeles, California, and I moved to New York for my plastic and reconstructive surgery residency and fellowship at New York Presybterian Hospital, the University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell. I never imagined staying here, but now that I have experienced living and working in a place that is such a diverse and lively mini version of the world, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Watching New York get through the past few years was both trying and fortifying, and it has strengthened my faith in the people and heart of the city.
Dr. Lara Devgan Scientific Beauty Serum Superheroes
Lara Devgan MD
What makes travel difficult from an aesthetic standpoint?
The disruption of circadian rhythms, dietary patterns, and normal skincare routines is the biggest aesthetic issue when it comes to travel. It is difficult for most of us to keep our normal exercises and eating schedules, and little things like different bathrooms, hotel rooms, and flight schedules wreak havoc on our skin.
What can you do to help your skin stay in good shape when you’re travelling?
Consistency is key. This can be difficult because we are in a completely new environment and are out of our daily routine. The most important thing is to be consistent and keep it simple! Many things get edited out, but I try to keep my skin care routine as a non-negotiable. Even when my timing is tight, my absolute desert island must have products like my Vitamin C+E Ergothioneine Antioxidant Serum, Hyaluronic Serum, Peptide Eye Cream, and SPF BB Cream in the morning, and my Vitamin CBE Ferulic, Retinol Bakuchiol Serum, and Resveratrol Night Cream at night. And catching a glimpse of me without Platinum Lip Plump, Platinum Long Lash, and Extreme Lengthening Mascara is rarer than a Bigfoot sighting!
Dr. Lara Devgan Scientific Beauty Serum Superheroes
Lara Devgan MD
How do you treat dry skin after a long flight?
Replenishing and hydrating your skin after a travel day is crucial to repair the skin’s barrier function and treat dryness. I recommend applying my Hyaluronic Serum on a freshly cleansed face. This ultra hydrating serum is formulated with mixed molecular weight hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to plump and rejuvenate the skin, reduce fine lines, increase skin firmness, and improve elastin production. If your skin needs an extra dose of hydration or you are travelling somewhere with a drier climate, I recommend applying my Resveratrol Night Cream. It is specifically designed to dovetail with medical-grade ingredients to soothe, calm, and repair the skin.
How long do you have to wait to fly after receiving botox or filler?
I constantly have non-surgical patients flying in from out of town, and truly there is no meaningful downtime after injectable procedures. I suggest keeping your head elevated for four hours after botox, and trying to sleep on your back for a few days after fillers. It is always helpful to avoid alcohol, aspirin, advil, and other blood thinners for several days before and after injectables to reduce the risk of bruising. That being said, there is no formal restriction in terms of timing after injectables.
Dr. Lara Devgan Scientific Beauty Neck Firming Cream
Lara Devgan MD
What’s your advice for someone dealing with hyperpigmentation after a sunny vacation?
Hyperpigmentation is one of the most common skin concerns that I get asked about. I recommend my Hyperpigmentation Collection and my brand new Vitamin C+E Ergothioneine Antioxidant Serum for a gorgeous and even complexion. My Hyperpigmentation Collection contains the five core products you need to combat dark spots and sun damage. My newest Vitamin C+E Ergothioneine Serum is great for stubborn hyperpigmentation, and for those looking to go the extra mile to brighten their skin. It is formulated with 20% vitamin C and plant-based antioxidants to fade dark spots and protect the skin from further damage. I also recommend my in office Erbium Laser treatment. This is used for resurfacing, erasing fine lines, reducing dark spots and pigmentation, improving the tone and texture of skin, and improving the appearance of scars. The procedure requires only a short period of downtime and one’s skin looks rejuvenated after two weeks.
What do you suggest to deal with puffy eyes after travelling ?
A combination of jet lag, fluid shifts, and dehydration can lead to puffiness, periorbital wrinkles, and swelling. The products I recommend for brightening and improving the appearance of the eyes are my Peptide Eye Cream, SPF 50 Concealer, and Extreme Lengthening Mascara. My Peptide Eye Cream uses a unique blend of vitamins, ceramides, and mixed molecular-weight hyaluronic acid to nourish and brighten the eye area. I continue with the SPF 50 Concealer to correct and protect the eye area and finish off with my best-selling mascara— it’s formulated with an intensely black carbon-based pigment, and is all you need for luscious multidimensional, dramatic eyelashes. To keep my eyelashes long and fluttery, I use Platinum Long Lash twice a day— I think long lashes really frame the eyes and add dimension.
Dr. Lara Devgan Scientific Beauty Serum Superheroes
Lara Devgan MD
What are your top must-have products when travelling?
I am a true loyalist to Dr. Lara Devgan Scientific Beauty, my own line of luxury medical-grade skincare products. I designed the products to be an edited collection of effective ingredients in powerful combinations for meaningful improvements in skin quality. When I’m travelling, I bring my edited set of the products I know I’ll need to protect my skin from changes in climate and unfavorable travel conditions— regardless of what they are. It’s especially convenient that their sizing makes them carry-on friendly. My essentials are our Hyaluronic Serum, Vitamin C+E Ergothioneine Antioxidant Serum, and SPF BB Cream in the morning, and at night our Vitamin C+B+E Ferulic Serum, Retinol Bakuchiol Serum, and Resveratrol Night Cream. I also love our Microdermabrasion Scrub for exfoliation.
What’s in your purse when you travel?
Hand sanitizer, mini green and red Tabasco, my SPF 50 Dusting Powder (which contains zinc and titanium), an extra face mask, and some Platinum Lip Plump, Platinum Long Lash, and Extreme Lengthening Mascara to freshen up on the go.