The Miracle Breakout-fighting Serum I Never Travel Without Is on Sale Right Now

As someone who often books flights at the last minute, always packs at an ungodly hour the night before departure, and does not check a bag unless absolutely necessary for survival, I've never had a particularly fussy travel skincare routine. Actually, I've never had much of a travel skincare routine at all.

But then a fellow professional traveler brought a little blue bottle of pure, powerful, zit-clearing magic called iS Clinical Active Serum into my life and made me one of those people who puts a serum in my carry-on before even packing my passport. I'm so glad she did.

If you travel like me, somewhere between falling asleep with your head on a dirty airplane tray table and throwing your diet out of whack at the first sight of a delicious local snack, your skin is likely going to rebel with a breakout. And nothing kills the buzz of arriving in an exciting destination like having to reunite with long-lost friends (or even greet the customs agent) with a giant zit on your face.

No worries — just apply a few drops of iS Clinical Active Serum to the problem area (and smooth a small amount over the rest of your face and neck while you're at it), and you'll be on your way to clearer, brighter skin. With key ingredients that include salicylic acid and herbal extracts, the serum is clinically proven to smooth the skin's texture while reducing redness and acne. I can't yet vouch for its claim to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, but I'm hopeful.

Ideal for oily, combination, and acne-prone skin, the serum does cause that slight tingling, something-is-actually-happening-here burn when you apply it, so if your skin is very sensitive, you may want to think twice. At $135 for 1 fl. oz., it also may burn a slight hole in your wallet, and it rarely goes on sale. But right now, you can save 30 percent ($40) with code DSGIFT and grab it for $95 at dermstore.com.

Don't just take my word for it. The serum has more than 100 five-star reviews on the site, where people are calling it things like a "life-saver," "liquid gold," and a "must-have for acne sufferers."

Courtesy of Dermstore
Courtesy of Dermstore

To buy: dermstore.com, $95 (originally $135)