Travelling is fun, and tiring, and fun. And when we’re away it’s hard to keep up a beauty regimen. We often don’t have what we really need. With all the carry-on restrictions and just general space limitations, a few beauty hacks are necessary. Check out my favorite travel beauty hacks below and save space in your bag for more important items, like shoes!
1. Prevent leaks – We experienced this on our trip – something leaked onto 2 of my shirts and we needed to send them out to be laundered. The key to making sure your products don’t leak is to let the air out. Extra air trapped in bottles can cause plastic containers to leak when air pressure changes because of elevation. It’s simple: open the cap, release all the excess air, and quickly place the cap back on. For extra insurance, cut a small square of cling film, unscrew the product’s lid, set the film on top, and screw the lid back on. That way if the lid pops open, no product can spill out. This will give you an extra layer of protection if a cap does come loose during travel.
2. Plastic baggies are a must – Your toiletry bags are cute but zip-lock plastic bags are actually really great for travel. If you need just another layer of liquid protection, you can put each product in its own bag, that way if it does leak, at least you can be sure it won’t get all over your belongings. I especially love the heavy duty freezer bags – and quality is key, so go with brand names like Ziploc or Hefty.
3. Contact cases can have a new use – These small containers are the perfect size for storing small amounts of face wash, masks, and lotions. Instead of packing big, bulky makeup bottles for a quick getaway, pour a little bit of the product into a clean contact case for easy travel. Label the bottoms of each with a permanent marker so you know what’s inside.
4. Don’t throw away the hotel’s toiletries – Hotel toiletries are appealing and they’re free! But I always question whether I should be using these products because I’m not sure if they’re the best for my skin or hair. I’ve worked hard to find products that work for me. However, I do take some of those toiletries home. Then I swap out their contents for mine for my next trip. And if you find you won’t actually be using those free shampoos, shower gels, lotions, etc. please donate them to your local shelter. They’re always in need of toiletries!
5. Mini products rule – While tiny versions of popular products may not be the most cost-efficient option, they are certainly travel-efficient. And you can find a miniature swap for just about every product.
Lipstick – This is a necessity when we travel. A full face of make-up is the last thing you want when you’re in the sun or at night when you want to show off that sun-kissed glow. But a nice bright lipstick is a great alternative to make-up. And I love these lipsticks for travelling.
Deodorant – There’s tons of mini options – even my favorite deodorant, Crystal All-natural.
6. Don’t want the minis? Instead, saturate cotton pads generously with your favorite beauty liquids for however many days you’ll need them. Put each category of soaked pads into their own plastic baggie (toner pads go into one bag, makeup remover pads into one bag, etc.). My daughter loved this idea and felt like she made her own face wipes.
7. Keep your hair pins in place. I love bobby pins. They’re my go-to hair style especially when I’m away and I don’t want to keep wearing a ponytail. But I always lose them. Now, I store them in a Tic Tac container so they don’t all get lost. This works for hair elastics too. It just means I have to eat a pack of tic tacs before I travel. No problem. Especially the orange ones.
8. Make your products multi-task – Hair conditioner is the perfect multi-tasking product. Swap it for shaving cream, as it will already be in your hotel shower. The same moisturizing ingredients that hydrate your hair are also good for nick-free shaving. Chapstick is another multi-tacker: rub it on your heels to prevent blisters; fix a stubborn zipper; tame unruly eyebrows; use it as an instant moisturizer for elbows or knees; and an effective eye makeup remover in a pinch.
9. Leave bulky eyeshadow palettes at home. I purchased the Naked 2 Color Palette and it wasn’t cheap, or tiny. I was hesitant too take it with me on our trip but I love, love the colors and I wanted a few of the colors for a little nighttime shimmer. Instead of lugging the case along, I simply coated a few cotton swabs in my favorite shadows, wrapped each color individually in plastic wrap, and then stashed them in plastic baggies. You’ll be surprised at how much eyeshadow a few cotton swabs will hold. And how much more room I had in my makeup bag.
10. Protect breakables – Slip glass fragrance bottles or other glass products into socks before packing them.
11. Prevent powder makeup products from breaking – Simply stick a cotton pad or cotton ball inside the compact before putting it in your makeup bag.
12. Protect your razor – and your hands – Some razors don’t have a protective cap so instead, use a large binder clip to cover the sharp blades so you don’t accidentally cut your finger when digging around your makeup bag.
13. Funky smelling clothes – Add a few dryer sheets to your suitcase to get rid of that certain funk after a long flight. I love these Mrs. Myers Lavender scented dryer sheets from Grove Collaborative.
14. And wrinkled clothes – Clothes will get wrinkled when we travel and we don’t always have the time (or desire) to iron them. Instead, bring a bottle of Downy Wrinkle Releaser and spray it right onto your clothes – you can even do this while wearing them. Then use your hairdryer to blow heat onto the wrinkles and they’re gone! I don’t like ironing when I’m home and I sure don’t want to do while I’m travelling.
The following aren’t really hacks – they’re just good travel beauty tips I either discovered or read about.
• Rosewater & Aloe Facial Spray – Fill a small spray bottle with this spray and use it to refresh during your flight. This product is great for after sun skin too. Spray it on your skin after you shower, before your moisturizer.
• Shout Wipe & Go individual wipes – use these to remove any stains on your clothes while away. We needed these in Hawaii.
• Colgate Wisp On-The-Go Toothbrushes – these mini disposable toothbrushes come with toothpaste already on them. They’re perfect for plane rides where you’re either too lazy to go to the bathroom to brush or you just don’t want to pack a mini tube of toothpaste and toothbrush with you. These brushes are great and come in packs so you can use and throw away as needed.
• Water!! It’s so important to stay hydrated while travelling but I find it’s often very hard to keep up with it. Having your own water bottle is the best way to keep up on drinking water. And the KOR Nava bottle is is the perfect traveling companion. It features a coconut-shell filter straw so the water’s taste and quality isn’t compromised. I like the hands-free push-button cap, and nozzle.
• Elf Shine Eraser Oil Blotting Sheets are an easy and convenient way to freshen up on or after a long flight. They come in a slim, tiny package great for travel.
• And while I’m away I still like to stick with my vitamin regimen so my individual packets from Care/of are the perfect solution. No need to bring your bulky bottles – one pack per day and that’s it! Click here to check out my post about Care/of – it’s a great company that offers high quality vitamins and minerals personalized for your needs.
I used most of these hacks and products while we were away. I just wish we were still there.
Do you have any travel beauty hacks or advice to share? Send them along in the comments – I’d love to hear them.
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