as we learned from steve martin and john candy in planes, trains and automobiles, commuting can be a major pain in the tuchus. with the growing number of cars on city streets (thanks, uber!) and with omnipresent train and bus malfunctions, commuting can at times seem like your worst nightmare. you are either stuck in your car and moving an inch a minute or you're pressed up against ten other sweaty commuters in a train car whose windows are glued shut. not to mention the never-ending mass of bicycle commuters down market street at rush hour, their skin soaking up the grit and grime of the city. HOWEVER, commuting doesn't have to be that bad! at skinSALVATION we like to think of our commuting hours as a time to refresh and reconnect with ourselves before or after a long day. so let's dive into some commuting real-talk! by car if you are one of the ninety percent of americans who drive to work,¹ you've got plenty of great opportunities to practice stress management techniques while stimulating your mind. having moved to the bay area from new york, i know all about head-splitting traffic jams and our high-strung responses to them. we can so easily lose sight of the bigger picture when faced with major road blocks to our work day. keeping things in perspective is essential for a calm commute. if you are the type of person who stresses easily in high traffic situations, take a minute to remember that you are doing everything you can to get where you need to be and that the traffic jam is completely out of your control. once you acknowledge this, you can focus your energy on an uplifting podcast or on the melodies of your favorite musical artist. you can even take the time to reconnect with relatives or friends by calling them on speaker phone. we like to keep a bottle of rosewater toner in the glove compartment for spritzing and enlivening the automobile atmosphere on hot mornings. your commute will move much more swiftly once you accept that you can't control the vast majority of it, so sit back and enjoy the drive! by bus or train one of the main concerns our clients have about commuting via bus, bart or muni train is the spread of germs across the many surfaces we come in contact with. we like to carry a few toner pads and a 2oz bottle of sS sterilizing toner, using it as a hand sanitizer in a pinch. this is a great way to combat the spread of comedogenic germs and bacteria. you never know if the person who held onto the bus railing before you used coconut oil to moisturize, leaving a comedogenic oil slick in their wake. we always recommend keeping your hands away from your face, but this is especially important when riding public transportation. we know it may be tempting to rest your head against the window to catch a few extra z's in the morning but beware of the residue that may have been left by your fellow narcoleptic commuters. the last thing you want on your forehead is a breakout from someone's cloggy hair products! once you've gotten into the groove of popping out the sterilizing toner when needed, it's time to relax and enjoy your commute. riding the bus or the train is the perfect time to queue up your favorite podcast, zone into a meditation app or to catch up on a good book or magazine. sometimes we like to use commute time to take care of small tasks like catching up on emails, paying bills online or spending a few minutes with social media. the possibilities for fun and productivity are endless! by bicycle biking to work can be stressful as you dodge flinging car doors, swerving automobiles, potholes from crumbling infrastructure and unruly pedestrians. despite these potential setbacks, biking to work can also be one of the best ways to relieve the stress of the workday. you can pedal your worries away as your body releases endorphins in response to the physical activity. biking to and from work is also a great way to get your daily movement in, especially if you have a desk job that involves sitting still for most of the day. you can soak up some sun while toning those quads and taking in the scenery. but what about the dust, dirt and sweat that sink deeper into your pores with every city bike ride? how can you care for your skin when you arrive at work with sweat pouring from your brow? similar to carrying a travel-size bag of skin and hair products to the gym, we advise keeping the products from your sS regimen in a small container at the office, too. if you anticipate having a grueling commute under the hot sun, skip the morning makeup routine and leave a bit earlier. when you arrive at the office, wash your face or splash it with water and follow that up with the sS sterilizing toner and some moisture. then go to town painting your face. you'll feel like a million bucks all day, safe in the knowledge that the sweat has been eradicated. if you don't wear makeup, simply splash your face with some water and give it a swipe with our sterilizing toner when you get to work. this will prevent bacteria from forming from any lingering sweat. if you live in drier and/or colder climates, be sure to apply extra moisture as part of your morning skin regimen and after your commute if you need it. skinSALVATION hydrating gel is always a nice light option to apply throughout the day if your skin is craving a quench. and don't forget the sunscreen! whether you bike, bus or bart to work each day, you have the power to transform your commute into a positive and acne-safe experience. we are just here to help you along the way! talk to your esthetician about how to keep your skincare regimen on track during your commute all week long.

footnotes

1. dews, f. (2013) ninety percent of americans drive to work. brookings institute. 28 october, 2013.