6 Beauty sidekicks to pack in for your next trip

The traveller exploring the unbeaten path without a scrap of makeup, no hairbrush to their name and only sunscreen as their skincare companion, might sound like the ultimate expression of freedom to some. However, to others, the thought of going anywhere without their ‘beauty family’ is the equivalent of leaving their children behind —it’s not going to happen.

While we’d all love to snap our fingers and have our ready-to-flourish looks slapped on in a flinch while on an adventure, technology hasn’t quite allowed us to work that kind of magic just yet.

I’ve travelled far and wide; made the mistake of taking too many products (which airports have happily tossed to the side) or not enough (which made me want to toss myself to the side when a surprise event came up), and I can happily say I’ve found my ultimate sidekicks for travel, beauty edition.

Here are our fighters:

1. DIY nails on-the-go

Getting your nails done for a trip isn’t always the best call. Those striking stiletto filings might’ve sounded like a good idea, but after some exploring in a foreign city, your nail’s broken off, you can’t show your hands in any pictures and you have no idea where to go to fix them because you’re not a local.

Or worse, you did your nails a little too long this time around. Now, on your travels, it has come to your attention that it wasn’t the most practical idea.

If you’re not after a gel application, get those travel-ready nails and maintain them on the go!

Try:

The DQUIP Nail Polish Dryer 2in1 is my favourite travel companion. Easy to take anywhere, simple to use (it has UV lights and a fan) and perfect for those quick fixes. Opt for your natural nail length or short tips, and thank me later.

2. The most important bar on your trip is the shampoo bar

If there’s one thing leaking or punctured shampoo bottles have taught me, it’s that they’re not necessary. Who wants a suitcase smelling like a hair salon when you can opt for a simple shampoo bar instead?

Nay-sayers will tell you to ‘wrap it up in plastic’ but let’s be honest. How long do those tiny shampoo bottles actually last before you need a refill, especially on a long trip?

Especially if you have lengthy hair and are going away for a while, a handy shampoo bar is a sure way to make sure your locks are taken care of.

Try: 

The Rêve de Miel Gentle Shampoo Bar by Nuxe, made with Provence Honey and organic Camelina precious Oil for a silky, sulphate-free finish.

3. An all-in-one face pallete

There are few things as frustrating as having to scratch around for all your scattered products. You left one in another hotel room, another lays dormant under the bed of a friend’s couch or maybe your favourite bronzer went for a swim in the Mediterranean ocean. Yikes.

All-in-one to the rescue (provided your pack doesn’t end up overboard). With blush, contour and highlighter shades packed neatly into one place, you won’t need to worry about endless items clogging up your makeup bag.

Multi-purpose products like this are the future beyond travel. More sustainable, simpler and easy to use as eyeshadows and even lip tints, it’s like a portable one-stop shop for your canvas’s glow.

Try:

Hermosa Flora’s Face Palette goes with me everywhere. Boasting 3 blush shades, 3 contour shades and 3 highlighter shades, beauty dynamite really comes in small packages. Supporters of the LGBT community, and proudly Africa, Hermosa Flor is the gift that keeps on giving.

4. Blemish patrol!

An intruding spot wasn’t on your travel bucket list, but here we sit.

If you don’t have a dermatologist-recommended kit that’s absolutely necessary to take wherever you go, avoid dragging your entire bathroom cabinet at all costs, especially if there are liquid products involved.

Instead, take what’s necessary and prepare yourself (and your skin) for the unknowns of diverse climates.

What you can do, is keep one secret weapon handy for uninvited blemishes, and its name is a pimple patch kit.

Try:

Vegan and cruelty-free ‘What’s Poppin’ pimple patches came at a time when my skin sorely needed them. Designed to ‘speed up the life-cycle’ of a stubborn spot, after 6 hours I saw a dramatic decline in nonsense from my skin. Redness had reduced as did the size of the little beasts. 10/10 recommend for those looking for a quick fix for sneaky skin mishaps.

5. Lucky Lips

No one under the sun wants cracked or bland lips on holiday, but after two days in a warmer climate, you’re already starting to notice your lips misbehaving.

Instead of packing in a gloss and a moisturizer for your lips, go for a multi-purpose option! Opt for a softener with a tinted colour that’ll double up as both care and sheer shade.

Try: 

#AirBalm Dewy lip tint by Swiitch Beauty is perfect for a little colour and a lot of care. Don’t be deceived, the colour you see is not what you’ll get as all the #AirBalm products melt into your lips to give you a natural lip look with a little sheer.

Skin adventures

Our skin is the beginning of any beauty ritual, but when we race to foreign planes, our skin will naturally respond differently. You need powerhouse products that can be transported quickly and easily, on a boat or on the road, with no fuss.

As  I said, the bathroom cabinet doesn’t need to come on your next trip with you. Mini essentials will save the day. An everyday cream, a cleanser, and something to hydrate your skin are your key ingredients.

Try: 

Skin Creamery and Sealand’s Travel Bag

Sustainable glass packaging, products that’ll have you glowing and beauty-editor approved, this kit understands the assignment.

 

The sun of the show

I don’t need to tell you that you need to pack in sunblock or sunscreen and SPF for your trip, but I will. Sunburnt, painful skin isn’t what any of us are after, and even if you’re feeling risky and want your tan to get darker quicker, don’t shirk on your sun protection.

The question then is which SPF will really do the job? And won’t leave that white cast?

Heliocare’s new 360º Age Active Fluid SPF 50 is magic.

For starters, it has high and broad-spectrum photo protection protects against the four types of radiation UVB-UVA-VL-IRA, including blue light emitted by digital devices. Not to mention an antipollution system and a triple anti-ageing complex, which helps prevent and correct photo-ageing signs.

 

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Feature Image: Pexels