Convalescence travel is the wellness practice seeing travellers visit healing locations to boost their well-being. But, did you know that there are specific skin-boosting destinations able to improve the quality of your complexion too?
Offering more than just indulgent spa treatments or an escape from your stressful day-to-day routine, these trending travel hot spots use their healing waters and other bountiful natural resources to rejuvenate your skin.
From the Dead Sea’s mineral-rich waters for soothing irritation, to the hot springs of Costa Rica, if you are struggling for inspiration for your next spa trip, make these skin-boosting destinations top of your list…
The Dead Sea, Jordan
The Dead Sea, located between Israel and Jordan, is renowned for its high salt concentration and mineral-rich mud. In fact, it is one of the saltiest bodies of water on the planet, with particularly high levels of therapeutic minerals, such as magnesium, calcium and potassium. That’s what makes it so easy to float in. The unique waters are not only incredibly relaxing to experience though. The minerals help boost skin hydration while the mud acts as a natural exfoliant, leaving your skin smooth and refreshed; and both can have an anti-inflammatory effect on your complexion, making a trip excellent for anyone with skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
The Blue Lagoon, Iceland
Famous for its geothermal seawater (and beautiful social media pictures, it has to be said), the Blue Lagoon in Iceland is the perfect place to try balneotherapy – aka immersion in mineral-rich water for healing. The waters are rich in silica and sulfur – two minerals that might smell a little ‘off’, but have incredible skin-healing properties. In particular, silica helps strengthen the skin’s barrier function, leaving it hydrated and soothed, while sulfur is antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. The combination of the mineral-rich water, UV light from the sun, and the exfoliating properties of the area’s mud can also help alleviate symptoms of psoriasis, and, of course, the warm, soothing waters create a serene and stress-reducing environment too.
The Healing Hole, Bahamas
Tabacón Hot Springs, Costa Rica
Thermal Baths, Budapest
If skin-boosting rest and relaxation is on your agenda for your next European city break, make Budapest your destination. The capital of Hungary is famous for its thermal baths, fed by natural thermal springs that have been used for centuries for their therapeutic benefits. There’s the stunning Neo-Baroque architecture of Széchenyi Thermal Bath, with its indoor and outdoor pools; the joint pain-relieving waters at Gellért Thermal Bath; and the wealth of quieter, historic Turkish baths too, all of which benefit from mineral-rich thermal waters to hydrate and detoxify your skin. Team this with the Turkish tradition of steam rooms, hot pools and exfoliating scrubbing treatments, and the experience can help prevent clogged pores, flush out toxins, and leave you with brighter-looking skin.
Safaga, Egypt
A coastal town located on the Red Sea coast of Egypt, Safaga has become a go-to destination for travellers looking for skin healing and overall wellness, due to its famously mineral-and-salt-rich waters, natural hot springs and warm, desert climate. It’s eye-catching black sand is said to be high in joint-soothing minerals, and it’s also worth a visit due to its popular practice of thalassotherapy, which involves the use of seawater and other ocean-based ingredients such as seaweed to soothe and nourish your skin. Whether you choose to wallow in the sea mud together with friends, indulge in a seaweed wrap, or soak in a seawater bath, Safaga offers a unique and entertaining experience that has also been shown to help soothe irritating skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.
Onsen Bathing, Japan
The tradition of Onsen bathing is an integral part of Japanese culture, and soaking in the sulfur, calcium, magnesium, and potassium-rich waters of the country’s geothermal hot springs is said to have multiple skin-healing benefits. That includes boosted hydration and exfoliation, as well as improved circulation, and an anti-inflammatory effect, which can help acne, eczema and joint pain. For the best experience stay at a ryokan, or Japanese inn, which tend to have Onsens in picturesque mountain and forest-locations. These are often inherently linked to forest bathing, an ancient Japanese process of relaxation, which involves surrounding yourself with the peace and quiet of nature. The technique is designed to help reduce stress and burnout too, especially when combined with the slow, thorough body cleansing treatments that are recommended as part of Japanese bathing therapies.
Roman Baths, Bath
Dating back nearly 2,000 years, the Roman Baths in Bath combine historical significance, architectural beauty, and skin and wellness benefits, so it’s no surprise that the iconic spa town is such a favourite with wellness seekers. The bubbling, naturally-flowing thermal spring that flows underneath the city is laden with minerals such as calcium and sulfate, and while the original baths are now a no-swim tourist attraction, more modern spa experiences mean you can still reap all the benefits. The most famous of these is the nearby Thermae Bath Spa with its rooftop thermal pools with incredible views of the whole area. Here you can sample the ancient healing waters for yourself and engage in a wide-selection of pampering treatments. The nearby Pump Room, which was frequented by Jane Austen, is well-worth a visit for refreshments too.
Tikitere, New Zealand
The world-famous geothermal park, Hell’s Gate, or ‘Tikitere’ in the Maori language, is a sight to behold with its boiling mud pools, steaming fumaroles, and 35-foot Kakahi Falls waterfall. One of the most active geothermal areas in New Zealand, visitors can immerse themselves in the therapeutic mud baths to exfoliate and detoxify their skin, and improve their circulation and skin hydration in the sulfur hot pools. Sulfur also has soothing properties and can help with oil regulation, making Hell’s Gate another of the leading skin-boosting destinations for soothing inflamed complexions, including acne-prone skin. For further indulgence, take the opportunity to experience one of the mud wraps and massages at the on-site spa facilities, as these all use the famed skin-nourishing ingredients from the local area.
Additional research: Shira Frankl; Lead photo credit: Blue Lagoon
We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
Any Questions or Tips to add?