Skin, Tattoo and Grooming Care for an Antarctica Expedition

A trip to Antarctica is unlike any other vacation. You’ll cross the Drake Passage, step onto ice-covered beaches and stand a few feet from penguin colonies. You’ll also put your skin through some of the harshest conditions on Earth. Cold wind, very dry air and sunlight reflecting off snow and ice all take a toll. A little planning before you leave keeps your skin, your hair and any new ink in good shape so you can focus on the scenery.

Why Antarctica Is So Hard on Skin

Most expedition cruises visit the Antarctic Peninsula during the southern summer, from roughly November through March. Temperatures there often hover around freezing, which sounds mild until you add wind. Zodiac rides between the ship and shore are cold, wet and breezy, and the air is extremely dry.

Sunlight is the bigger surprise. During the summer the sun barely sets, and snow and ice reflect much of its light back up at you. That means you can burn under your chin, around your nose and on your ears, places you might not think to protect. Plenty of travelers come home with a sunburn from a place famous for being cold.

Planning Around a New Tattoo

Many travelers like to mark a big trip with a tattoo, whether it’s a penguin, a mountain range or the coordinates of their first landing. If you want one, the timing matters.

A new tattoo needs time to heal before it faces cold wind, harsh sun and salt water. The surface usually heals over a few weeks, but deeper healing takes longer. If you can, get your tattoo well before you leave rather than in the days before departure. Many travelers wait and get it after they return, using photos from the trip as inspiration.

If you’ll be traveling with healing ink, keep these points in mind:

• Skip the polar plunge. Many ships offer a chance to jump into the icy water. A fresh tattoo shouldn’t be submerged, so watch from the deck this time.
• Keep it covered outdoors. Layers protect healing skin from wind and sun better than sunscreen does while it’s still healing.
• Keep it moisturized. Dry ship air can make a healing tattoo tight and itchy. Pack the aftercare lotion your artist recommended.

Healed tattoos need protection too. Ultraviolet light is a major cause of fading, so put a high-SPF sunscreen on any exposed ink before every landing.

A Simple Grooming Kit for the Ice

Space is limited in a ship cabin, so pack a small grooming kit that works hard.

• Rich moisturizer. A thicker cream than you use at home helps your face handle dry air and wind.
• Lip balm with SPF. Chapped, sunburned lips are one of the most common complaints on polar trips. Keep a tube in every jacket pocket.
• Broad-spectrum sunscreen. Choose a high SPF and reapply after long landings.
• A compact electric razor or trimmer. It’s easier to manage than a blade on a moving ship, especially during a rough Drake crossing. Some travelers just grow a beard for the trip, since it adds a little warmth. We follow The Groom Desk for mens grooming tips and tricks
• Beard oil or a light conditioner. Cold, dry air makes facial hair coarse and brittle.
• Hand cream. Gloves come on and off all day, and hands dry out quickly.

Bring travel-size versions and pack them in a clear bag so they’re easy to find in a small bathroom.

Little Habits That Help

Drink plenty of water, even when you aren’t thirsty. Dry air pulls moisture from your body as well as your skin. Take quick, lukewarm showers instead of long, hot ones, which strip natural oils. Apply moisturizer right after you wash so it locks in moisture.

Enjoy the Trip

Antarctica is a once-in-a-lifetime journey for most people. A bit of planning around your skin, your tattoos and your grooming routine keeps small discomforts from distracting you. Pack smart, protect your skin every time you head ashore, and save your energy for the whales, glaciers and penguins.