Best Travel Cosmetics
Travel experts have pitched in with their favorite travel cosmetics, hacks and products they never travel without.
To find out more about the best travel size beauty products, travel beauty essentials and even mens travel toiletries read on below!
*Disclaimer: I have not personally tried all the products mentioned in this post and do not take responsibility for the accuracy of the content by guest authors. The opinions expressed in this article are not mine, but those of the respective contributing authors. Due diligence was done with regard to the pictures published to avoid any copyright infringement. For questions or concerns please use the contact form.
Microfibre cloth
by Clotilde of A Princess Travelling with Twins
The microfibre cloth to remove make-up is one of those accessories that once discovered and tested will become part of your daily routine never to be abandoned!
The appearance of a microfibre cloth does not seem unlike a small towel, but this is deceiving. These small cloths use microtechnology and the fibres have an absorbency about 30 times greater than the usual cotton pads or cleansing wipes.
Use them wet, with circular movements on the face and neck. This allows them to capture dirt and make-up without adding other products.
They have a light peeling effect and work like magic leaving the skin ready to receive beauty treatments.
Glov produces a cloth that fits like a very practical glove, but there are various other types.
Not only do they allow you to save space when travelling, since you can avoid carrying make-up removers or cleansing wipes, but their long life will also allow you to save a lot of money.
Aloe Vera Gel
by Melissa of Navigation Junkie
Aloe vera is a natural plant that is not only pretty to the eye, but also has many healing properties and benefits for the skin.
Aloe vera gel is a clear substance that comes from the leaves of an Aloe plant. Moisturizers contain it to keep your skin young and healthy. And as a gel it can help soothe that dreaded sunburn you often get on your beach vacations.
Aloe Vera moisturizing cream from Green Leaf Naturals is a great product to have and apply daily both when traveling or at home. It comes in many different sizes. The 4oz. container is perfect for packing and bringing with you on the go.
Regularly applying aloe vera moisturizing cream will help keep your skin looking young and healthy by helping to exfoliate, hydrate, and soothe the skin.
A travel size organic aloe vera gel from Seven Minerals, which can be found as a traditional gel or spray, is also a must have on hand when traveling.
Not only will it relieve the discomfort that comes with sunburns, but it also has an antibacterial effect that can help with small cuts and insect bites.
Eco-friendly tinted moisturizer
- Keeping you protected from the sun,
- Keeping your skin smooth and supple, and
- Adding just enough coverage that you don’t feel like you’re going bare
Shampoo Bars
by Brodi of Our Offbeat Life
Shampoo bars belong on every traveler’s packing list. In addition to saving space on liquids allotments for carry-on only travelers, they also save on overall packing space in checked luggage as well.
Most shampoo bars last at least 60 hair washes. Some brands claim to last up to 100 washes. This means that even a traveler packing for one month on the road will never run out of shampoo!
Shampoo bars come in varieties for all hair types, and many brands even make conditioner bars as well.
For environmentally-conscious folks, many shampoo bar brands sell their products in plastic-free, all-recycled materials.
Ultimately, from eco-gurus to packing minimalists, shampoo bars need to be in every traveler’s bag.
Nature’s Aid Skin Gel
by Anne of Packing Light Travel
Packing minimalists and carry-on travellers tend to pack multipurpose products that can serve as many functions as possible.
One such product is Nature’s Aid All Natural Skin Gel. The ‘beauty’ of the company’s skin gel is that it’s a multipurpose healing and beauty product, as useful in a cosmetics bag as it is in a first-aid kit.
With its anti-aging, astringent, moisturizing, and regenerative properties, it can be used as a facial toner or body moisturizer, or to treat minor wounds, abrasions, and burns, including sunburn. It can also quell the itch from biting insect.
Nature’s Aid produces an original skin gel, and a moisturizing version containing sweet almond and organ oil.
Both are available in a variety of sizes, including a 35-ml (1.2-oz) travel-sized bottle that you can fill from larger containers.
Shea Butter (mens travel toiletries tip!)
by Dan of Urban Abroad
For men and women traveling the globe with dry skin or sensitive skin, there is no need to carry bottles of expensive skin cream or lotion. Just carry shea butter, a zero-waste option that you can use on your skin and hair.
In many cases, we end up buying unsustainable products from big conglomerates without knowing.
The great thing about shea butter is that not only does it soften and hydrate your skin, it also protects it from environmental damage that can be caused by pollutants, especially when in bigger cities.
I use the raw unrefined kind from a brand called Akoma which is sourced from Africa. Along with other biodegradable toiletries I use shea butter to help minimize waste and save money buying other moisturizing products along my travels.
Powder Products
by Claire of Claire Pins Travel
If you are travelling on a budget with no checked luggage, you typically want to limit or avoid packing liquids and gels.
Choosing powder based cosmetic products can be a great strategy for planning a carry-on only trip.
Consider switching out any liquid blushes, eyeshadows, eyeliners and highlighters for powder versions. You can replace liquid foundation in particular with a multi-purpose mineral face powder containing sun protection.
An option with an extended and inclusive shade range is PUR Minerals 4 in 1 Pressed Mineral Makeup or try bareMinerals Original Loose Powder.
Brands like Tarte, Supergoop, Peter Thomas Roth and Ilia all offer a mineral powder sunscreen with an integrated brush. This can be a good space saver in your luggage.
People with sensitive skin often tolerate mineral face powder with SPF better than liquid chemical sunscreens.
These powders absorb excess oil and tend to blend out to a more natural finish than heavier liquid foundations. That means they wear off less obviously over long days of travel.
A face product with sun protection is especially important to add to your packing list for Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia and other hot and sunny destinations to avoid painful sun burns and long term sun damage.
Perfume Stick
By Venaugh of Venaugh.com
For someone who travels often, one difficult item to travel with, especially when travelling only with a carry-on, is perfume.
For anyone who has this issue, a complete game changer is the perfume stick. It’s like a mini deodorant except with some better scents.
It’s a stick to be pushed up, rubbed on the skin, and good to go. Sometimes, the scents last even longer than female perfumes where the scent fades quickly.
A popular perfume stick is from Victoria Secret but there are other brands that can be used as well.
It’s something that can be used every time you travel and is not season specific which makes perfume sticks an even better buy.
And of course, the size is ideal as they can be about 3 inches long which makes them easy to take anywhere.
Lip Balm
by Nadia of Perth Weekend
A good quality lip balm is an essential cosmetic to pack with you on your next trip. Skin and lips can become dry on long distance flights. The dry air that circulates around the plane can draw moisture out.
Keeping hydrated, as well as using lip balm to provide a protective barrier will help keep you comfortable during your long journey.
Plus, most solid lip balms, like Chapstick can be included in carry-on luggage with no restrictions.
A good quality lip balm can also be useful once you reach your destination. A change in climate can also irritate the skin and lips.
Spending time out in the warm sun exploring or adventuring in the cold winter air can cause lip irritation. Lip balm can soothe dry, cracked lips.
Some great options include Lush’s Lip Service lip balm, made from fair trade, natural ingredients. It is not tested on animals and comes in plastic-free packaging.
Ethique also stock a range of lip balms that come in flavours like cooling peppermint and sugarplum. They make them from fair trade ingredients and are packaging in plastic-free packaging that is home compostable.
Perspirex
by Helen of Not Your Normal Health Blog
Anti-perspirants aren’t normally something to get excited about, but there again, you don’t put on most anti-perspirants before bed and then wake up sweat-free for up to 5 days.
Perspirex is an essential travel toiletry for those who have concerns about excessive sweating. You need to apply it a few days running (at first) to build up the effects. On lighter perspirers one application will work for 3-4 days.
Try before your trip to see what is best for you. They also now offer a gentler Comfort version that lasts 2-3 days – and a stronger one for men.
The bottle is really small which makes it easy to pack, and it lasts for ages cutting down on waste. On weekend trips apply it the night before and you don’t need to take it at all.
Just make sure you follow the rules about only using it on dry, unbroken skin – it really burns! Also note it does contain an aluminium-based active ingredient so if you avoid these then it’s not the product for you.
Moisturizer with sunscreen
A good moisturizer with sunscreen is a travel beauty essential. When you’re packing for a trip, consider leaving your regular moisturiser behind and take sunscreen to use instead. It’s a practical way of reducing the size and weight of your luggage.
Most travellers are outdoors and exposed to the elements a lot more than usual. So it’s important to protect your skin from the damaging UV rays.
Too much exposure to the sun can result in sore, red peeling skin. But the long term effects are more worrying. Premature aging, sunspots and skin cancer can develop over time.
So using good sunscreen is very important, especially when you’re travelling. You can catch the sun anytime whether you’re sightseeing, waiting at a train station or laying on the beach.
The Natio Daily Defence Face moisturiser with SPF 50+ is an award-winning sunscreen that I love. It’s light, non-greasy and will help to protect your skin against sun damage.
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