I frequently spend the night at out and while there are some items I have to sacrifice bringing with me, there are others that are small enough to travel with, and are basically essentials in my nighttime/daytime routine. Learning how to pack quickly and efficiently has been an unlikely saving grace. Here’s what I drag along with me.
Morning:
At home, my morning routine involves different steps depending on my mood. When I travel, I prefer to bring only products that are mini/trial sized and can fit in a small pouch. (I love using my little pouches from Ipsy for this)
Products:
- Eau Roma Water or Colour Pop crystal spray
I always need some toner or facial spray. I don’t know why but if I don’t spritz my face in the morning I just don’t feel awake. Lately I’ve been using the Rose Quartz and Amethyst crystal face sprays and they’re a bit smaller than some face sprays – perfect for travel!
- Tarte Frxxxtion Stick
I tend to exfoliate in the evening, because it makes me feel like my face is really clean after a long day, but sometimes in the morning my pores are enlarged from too much fun the night before. I got a mini Tarte Frxxxtion Stick in one of my past Sephora Play Boxes and I love this for travel. It is a very light, sandy exfoliation but detoxifies and clarifies my skin for a smoother, more balanced appearance.
- Caudalie Reservatrol Lift Face Lifting Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20
Another love from a Play Box of the past is the Caudalie Reservatrol Lift Face Lifting Moisturizer with SPF 20. I’ll be honest here, as a person of color I’ve been living that “I don’t need SPF” life. I avoid the sun as much as possible but I know I’m just signing up for skin damage without some kind of sun screen on my skin. Even though this is only SPF 20, it does make me feel a little bit better about my skincare for the day. It has such a pleasant scent for sunscreen and while I don’t notice an actual lift, I do feel like it sinks nicely into the skin.
- Glam Glow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer
I tend to always double up on moisturizers. I don’t know why, I just always feel like I could use another layer once the original has sunken in. My recent fave has been the Glam Glow Glowstarter in Nude Glow. I love the sweet scent and it has a minor luminous finish that is just perfect for a lightweight makeup day if need be. I recommend this moisturizer to everyone, unless you’re super oily.
- Milk Blur Stick
Finally, my last morning must-have (skincare wise at least) is the Milk Blur Stick. This is something that I only apply in my T-zone, as it does tend to get oily throughout the day and more so with age. While I am not sure if I love this product enough to purchase the full size, I do like the finish on my skin and it does help to create a smoother finish with an airbrushed look when I eventually apply my makeup, or if I decide to go bare-faced.
Honorable Mention:
I also received a mini of the Urban Decay Makeup Setting Spray and while I already owned it and loved it, it is super convenient to have a mini size. I love using this after applying my makeup on work days. Do you guys use this daily or only for special occasions?
Evening:
In the evening, my routine is much more minimal when I’m “traveling.” It is e-ssen-tial that I have something to remove my makeup but other than that, I am not usually able to bring anything pertaining to my evening routine simply because I’m not really willing to travel with my nighttime essentials.
Products:
- Neutrogena Makeup Wipes
I always start my bedtime routine with taking off my makeup and I’ve been consistently using the Neutrogena wipes for at least 1 year. They work so well, don’t dry out quickly, don’t irritate my skin and I can get them in bulk at Costco (including 2 travel packs that are perfect for my weekend excursions). They don’t remove 100% of the dirt and makeup on my face, but when I add in the eye makeup remover I feel as clean as can be.
- Sephora Eye Makeup Remover
The Sephora eye makeup remover is really a backup, because I often wear a whole lot of mascara and that doesn’t come off with just a little Neutrogena. This remover is one of the best I’ve tried and doesn’t burn my eyes or dry out my lashes/brows.
- Origins Checks and Balances Cleanser
I received this cleanser in a complimentary trial pack from Influenster and at first, I wasn’t wild about it, but it has definitely grown on me. It can make me feel slightly cleaner than I’d like, but at the end of the day it is what I end up bringing with me. I am still on the hunt for the perfect travel sized cream based cleanser. Anyone have suggestions?
- Ouai Rose Hair and Body Oil + lip balm and/or sheet mask
Here’s the point where 1 of 2 things happen. I always bring lip balm with me, and I’ve been using a Kate Moss one that is lightweight but feels satisfactorily nourishing. Next I would either apply Ouai’s rose oil to my hair and face or I’d put on a sheet mask. I always bring a sheet mask with me when I travel but 8 times out of 10 I don’t use it. I feel the pressure to really relax when I have a mask on and I don’t always have the opportunity to do that when I’m not at home. If I were to go for a mask, I’d probably choose something brightening or balancing. I would recommend the TonyMoly I’m Real sheet masks or the A’pieu Strawberry Milk mask for brightening.
Final Thoughts
Part of my ability to pack light when traveling is because I have the Play Box and the Ipsy bag. Without a steady influx of trial sized items, I’d probably have to pack things in small, individual containers and hope they don’t spill.
If you don’t have any beauty subscriptions I don’t recommend buying trial sized items. They don’t have a ton of value and unless you travel once to twice a month, they end up being underutilized. On the other hand, if you are a frequent traveler, i.e. once a week or more, I am sure you’ve got your travel skincare and toiletries down pat. If you’ve got any tips I haven’t included or products you’d like to recommend, feel free to leave them down below!
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