Travel Skincare Packing Tips for People Who Pack Way Too Much
Travel Skincare Packing Tips for People Who Pack Way Too Much
I am the biggest over packer of all time – I’ll pack three pairs of underwear for every one day I’m away, because ??? I’m also an aspirational packer (that fancy outfit “just in case”) and a logical packer (shoes for every possible terrain). Now that I travel with a toddler who actually needs multiple outfit changes per day, my overpacking habit has become unsustainable, and it spills into how I pack skincare, too.
If you’re either stuffing a separate bag just for beauty products, or skipping your skincare essentials entirely because your suitcase is stuffed to the gills, this post is for you. Here’s how to build an optimized travel skincare routine that fits in your bag, maintains your regimen and still accounts for any skin emergency that comes up on the road.
Tip 1: Consider your Climate
Just as you check out the local forecast before packing (well, you should anyway), your skin has a seasonal wardrobe to consider. Do your best to match the products you pack with what you typically use when it’s that temperature at home. If you’re going to be in a more extreme climate, you may need to get some new products. Moisturizer is typically where you have the most impact. Choose something light like Sofie Pavitt Face Skin Jelly for a really hot or humid locale, or something rich and comforting like C27 Baume 27 Creme Riche for a very cold or dry destination.
Tip 2: Maintain Consistency
As tempting as it may be to toss every sample sachet you can find into your toiletry bag and call it a day, the last thing your skin needs while traveling is to be inundated with a bunch of new products. If you wouldn’t completely overhaul your routine on a whim at home, why do it on vacation? You can minimize your routine while staying consistent with the most important steps. In my opinion, every routine needs cleansing, an antioxidant for daytime, a retinoid at night, regular exfoliation, moisturizerand SPF. I made a couple of videos on the topic of skincare cornerstones recently, and sticking to the cornerstones of your personal routine is my best advice.
Tip 3: Prepare For The Unexpected
While I am advising you to pack only the essentials, it’s important to keep some room open for your skincare contingency plan. Pimples are the most universal example of what I mean by skincare emergencies. I do not travel without a sample jar of my holy grail spot treatment, Environ Sebu-Masque. I also always pack a couple of hydrating sheet masks. Airplanes are notoriously dehydrating, so it’s great to have a pick me up on hand – and besides, sheet masks take up practically negative space. I love the Omad and Bioeffect masks, both of which feel great at room temperature or chilled in the fridge.
Tip 4: Pack Your SPF In Your Carry On
Not because it’s valuable (it is) but because you need to have it handy. If you’re taking a red eye and the sun is up when you land, you should be applying it as soon as you can wash your hands. (Don’t touch your face with airplane hands, gross.) If you’re taking a daytime flight, you should have applied it before you left home, but if you’re near the window and the shade isn’t down then you should reapply. The atmosphere is thinner up there meaning more damaging UV exposure.
Tip 5: Most Skincare Is Sized For Carry On
I definitely recommend getting minis of your favorite products whenever available, as it just makes packing easier, but if you’re fretting over bringing your full sized serum, just remember that carry on liquids can be up to 3.4 oz each. The typical serum or moisturizer is 1.7 oz. Now, a lot of cleansers and toners exceed the size limit, so you may be forced to abandon or decant, but double check the packaging before you leave behind one of your favorite potions.
And my last tip is more of a consolation – unless you’re leaving for three months to Timbuktu, forgetting something isn’t the end of the world! If your luggage disappears with your skincare and all 500 pairs of underwear, it’s highly likely the town you’re visiting will have department stores or pharmacies with interesting products, so you can try something new.
Bon voyage!
xx Raquel
