With our beauty editor's pro packing tips, you may never have to check a bag again. (Getty)
When I was younger, I was a legendary seat-of-my-pants packer — the kind of slacker who threw random stuff in whatever bag I could find, raced to the airport at the last minute and hoped for the best. Among my many travel mishaps were exploded sunscreen bottles that ruined an entire trip's worth of clothes and a $75 hair-care treasure confiscated by TSA because it didn't fit size rules.
Then, a few years ago, I landed a dream job based in Ireland and had to regularly pack for 10-day-long business trips. Checking an unwieldy, oversized bag slowed down the already painfully cumbersome process of international travel. I quickly grew tired of my old ways.
These days, I've got packing down to a science. Trial and error from my Ireland trips taught me what to prioritize, and my experience as a beauty editor helped me narrow down my travel beauty regimen to the highest quality, most useful essentials. The following 14 items are my non-negotiables whenever I fly. Each serves a specific purpose that anticipates common issues while prioritizing comfort and efficiency above all else.
When I was younger, my hair would tolerate even the cheapest motel shampoo, but now that I'm a "mature" bleached blonde, I have to be careful about what I use or risk damaging my strands. Many shampoo bars I've tested feel like you're just rubbing soap on your scalp, but this one from Kitsch is actually super nourishing and leaves my hair voluminous, smooth and soft. I can pack it with my socks and underwear, freeing up precious room in the liquids bag.
In lieu of face wash, I like to travel with face wipes, and these compostable micellar and rose water towelettes from Burt's Bees are some of the best I've tried. They're gentle and soothing on the skin, and they easily remove makeup without stripping your face of essential moisture.
Travel can honestly get kind of gross, so wet wipes of any stripe are good to have around — I've also used these to clean schmutz off my hands, phone, glasses and shoes.
I only travel with waterproof mascara because it holds up better than the regular stuff if I swim or sweat or sleep on a plane or train (and, truly, who wants to deal with smudgy raccoon eyes when you're away?). This ultra-affordable mascara by viral brand Essence is my favorite for long, thick lashes — in fact, I like it even better than the beloved original formula as it goes on clean with zero flakes.
Did you know your mouth gets drier as you age, and this includes your lips? Even though I literally wrote a guide to avoiding chapped lips this winter, last week, I somehow found myself with the most cracked, bone-dry pucker I've ever experienced — the kind where you get a gross, scabby, brownish line around your mouth that looks like you're Pamela Anderson lining your lips, circa 2001.
When I couldn't find my trusty Aquafor, I picked up this delightful salve at the grocery store, and I may never use another lip treatment again. It's made of chamomile, calendula and sunflower seed oil. It's rich, moisturizing, soothing and just plain ol' effective and pleasant on your mouth. I would pay three times as much for this balm but am happy to report that it's just 7 bucks.
There's nothing better for travel than highly effective, multitasking products, which is why this face mask is an ideal item to toss into your toiletries bag. It works not only as a hydrating face mask but a day cream, hand cream and body moisturizer — all in one handy, compact, easy-access tube.
The lotion is packed with super hydrators like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to ward off dreaded plane dryness and is suitable for all skin types, including the most sensitive.
For years, I jammed all my liquid travel products into a quart-size sandwich bag that inevitably ripped or busted at the seal the first time I tried to close it. Then I became a sensible person and invested in a classy toiletry bag with a wide base that sits upright in even the wonkiest hotel bathroom and allows me to place all my lotions and potions upright, so they're less likely to leak. The shape of this one is especially good, and the zippers are uber-sturdy too.
Depending on the length of your trip, contact cases make excellent vessels for travel-size dollops of your favorite foundation, serums, hand creams and the like. Each case can hold about six days' worth of most products, takes up scant space in your liquids bag and — bonus — is completely leak-proof.
I gave up regular hair ties a few years ago, after realizing how much they were damaging my thin, fine hair. Silk scrunchies turned out to be the just-right alternative. They've long been heralded as a hair miracle by stylists and beauty experts for their myriad hair-health benefits and, unlike harsh elastic bands, they lessen hair breakage and loss, help prevent frizz and keep your coif smooth overnight.
Because they are low-tug, silk scrunchies can also help you avoid the headaches and discomfort of too-tight ponytails. And, since they're ultra-easy to remove, they keep your hair from breaking and splitting. Seriously, they're ideal for travel and an all-around win.
After wasting what feels like years battling ever-crappier in-room irons or hauling around a portable steamer that inevitably created a wet mess, I finally realized the error of my ways and will never go back. Downy's Wrinkle Releaser spray works like magic on even the most heavily creased items, and the fresh scent gives life to travel clothes that are on their second (or third, or fourth) wear.
I'm always looking to swap my everyday liquid beauty products with TSA-friendly powders and solids without sacrificing quality — or those coveted hydrating properties. To that end, I'm smitten with this instantly glowifying sunscreen bar from Supergoop, a "dry oil" stick that manages to leave your face dewy and protected from the sun without being messy or greasy.
Perhaps you're noticing a theme here: If I can find an effective liquid alternative from a quality brand, you can all but guarantee I’m bringing it. There's no better example of this than dry shampoos, which are equally good — if not better — in powder form over aerosol sprays. I especially love Briogeo's Scalp Revival, which refreshes even the limpest coif. Just a few shakes will perk up greasy hair after a long flight.
If I've learned anything from travel pros, it's that getting dehydrated compounds jet lag, which is why I'm never without this sleek Hydro Flask. It's my all-time favorite water bottle: insulated, sturdy, leak-proof and slim enough to slip into the umbrella pocket of my backpack. Plus, it holds enough water to get me through most flights. I also drink a ton of water in the 24 hours leading up to any trip and try to down at least half of a bottle when I land.
I'm not a nervous flier, but even the least anxious among us can get a smidge frazzled on bumpy flights. When I'm feeling overwhelmed with nerves — or, frankly, other passengers' in-flight smells — I shake a drop or two of this calming essential oil on my wrists and take a few deep breaths. The lavender-orange scent calms me right down and it serves as a perfume oil in a pinch.
I never travel without some kind of scarf. Even in the hottest months of summer, you never know when you're going to encounter an unexpected chill or overly enthusiastic air conditioning. Scarves also help me get my beauty sleep on long flights — I'll sprinkle a few drops of a soothing essential oil directly onto the fabric, wrap it around my neck and up to my nose, take a few deep breaths and drift off.
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