I have a couple of short trips lined up in coming weeks, which I’m a) looking forward to and b) quite dreading LOL! All trips leave me with this conflicted feeling these days.
On the one hand, I look forward to a break and to being somewhere else for a bit. On the other hand, it means being in close quarters with people for most of the day (even if it’s family), uncertain meal times, and ugh! having to pack! And my poor plants! Will they all be dead when I get home?!
Yes, I do realise that last bit was a bit aunty, but the worry is real! I have some chillies coming along and some vege and herbs just sprouting so I hope they don’t die while I’m away.
But that aside, one of the things I have to pack stumps me the most and that is skincare. Makeup is easy. I usually toss some random pieces into a little pouch and I’m done because I know the odds of me wearing much makeup while away is very low. But skincare! Do I go with my full arsenal or do I pare it down to a minimum? Do I pack a mask? Will I use it? Help!
I’m curious to know if you feel the same way. Do you keep to your regular skincare routine when you travel or do you change it, because you’re travelling?
Time was that I’d only use skincare samples when I travel. This was the time that all the GWP and sample bottles and sachets came into play. I’d try out a new cleanser or cream or serum. I reveled in the use and toss concept of using up sachet samples, and I’d sometimes find a new favourite in the process.
Products aside, routine wise, it would be all over the place! I tended to strip my skincare routine down to something simple while away, simply because I felt lazy. Sometimes, I’m just too tired when I get back to the apartment or hotel room, and I choose to simplify my routine. Rarely do I go the whole hog from start to finish, as I would when at home and with full access to my complete skincare wardrobe.
But I don’t do that anymore.
These days, when I do travel (less than I did before) I maintain my routine, but may change one or two things to suit the environment I’m in. There is a difference between “routine” and “products”. One can remain constant, the other can change.
My travel skincare routine remains the same
When I travel, my skincare routine remains more or less the same with a few tweaks:
- Single cleanser in the morning and double cleanse at night – More important to double cleanse because I tend to be out and about a little more and your skin will get dirtier compared to normal days
- An acid toner – I find this helps keep my skin remain spot-free better when I travel and avoids the peril of clogged pores that may come with trying a new product while on holiday. I am aware of the dangers of using acid toners too much, but when I travel, I usually skip my acid serums and retinol so an acid toner is OK I feel. Acid wipes come in useful at this time as they are more portable.
- Facial mist and hydrating serums – Very important for me when I’m away because hotel rooms tend to be very dry and drying, or the weather where I am may be drier than I’m used to, or perhaps I spent too much time in the sun by the beach where the sea air turns you into a dried husk! Also very helpful for my moisture sandwich method that is keeping my skin sane and well behaved
- Facial Oils – These help skin remain more supple through the night in particular, in a cold, dry hotel room, or if you have the heater on
- Moisturiser – A moisturiser to seal everything in. Doesn’t have to be especially thick because I have sandwiched and cushioned everything well.
- Sunscreen – It’s a given, don’t even ask! Full sized all the way
- A sheet mask – I’m not the biggest fan of sheet masks (I’ve compared them to fast food for your skin!) but when you travel, it is convenient. Pop one in the fridge if you’re travelling somewhere warm, so you have a cool treat for your skin when you get back. Sheet masks add back hydration to your skin and helps your skin re-balance itself. It also gives you a nice 15 minutes to yourself and I think that’s more helpful!
To be honest, I think I am more hardworking with my skincare routine when I’m away, as compared to when I’m at home! When I’m at home, I have a tendency to cheat a little with my evening routine. I often have my Alpha-H Liquid Gold days which are so useful when you’re lazy 😛 Or I have my sleeping mask nights with Sulwhasoo. But when I’m away, I always feel like I have to over-compensate LOL 😀
But what I’ve realised is that by maintaining my routine, my skin won’t go nuts while I’m on holiday. There’s nothing worse than having to deal with holiday breakouts and thus far, I’ve found that sticking to a known routine has kept me worry free on that front 🙂 *touchwood*
Note: I do realize sunscreen is missing from my pictures. Oops!
Do I travel with my full-sized arsenal of skincare products?
No I do not. If I have a sample or travel sized item of one I’m currently using, I’ll bring that. Otherwise, I might bring a sample of a product in that particular category. I do realize that travelling with a brand new skincare product can be detrimental to the skin, but I’ve more or less worked out how my skin will like or dislike a product, so I’m good. But don’t try this at home if you have sensitive or reactive skin!
Sometimes, if the full-sized product is compact, I might bring it (Sunscreen always goes full size because I don’t trust samples). I will bring a full sized Vitamin C serum for example, or even the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Mask in Oil because the packaging is so compact. Also with oils, it’s easier to travel with the full sized item as it’s less messy. But with cleansers, I like being able to toss them out as I go, so sachets are fine by me, although my solid stick cleanser from SUM:37 serves me well. Creams tend to come in bigger, bulkier tubs so I skip that too and go for a sample pot or sachet. I go for sheet masks because they are use-and-go and are easy to pack.
Ditto body washes and shampoos. Yep, I always travel with my own and rarely use what is provided by hotels unless it’s a brand I recognise 😛 I’m a snob. What can I say!
Do you change your skincare routine when you travel?
To be honest, I don’t recommend that you do nor do I recommend downsizing or simplifying your routine. You can however, downsize or simplify your products. This, speaking from experience. But please share if you do or don’t. It’s always interesting to know what other people are doing 😀
Paris B
I’m guilty of simplifying my skincare routine when travelling: I’d skip toning and eye / freckle / firming cream 😛 But I *try* to mask more often if I’m not too tired at the end of the day. I also take collagen everyday when travelling and I find that this really helps keep my skin looking its best. And yes, full sized sunscreen is a must! 😀
Like you, I always pack my own shampoo and body wash too, not because I’m a snob but I usually stay at cheap hotels / airbnb and sometimes they don’t provide these XD
Hello hello! Collagen is an interesting thing to be taking on holiday! Do you take those instant sachet types? And because I’m a huge huge sceptic, does it really work? haha! I’m often curious cos there are so many types around, but there’s this inner voice going “Are you sure it does anything?!” Nice meeting someone else who carries her own shampoo and body washes! I’ve found that many people are happy to use those provided and I can safely say that even in some of the top hotels, you don’t get top quality stuff. Often, it’s the “made for hotel” bulk crap that dries hair and skin out like crazy! So better just carry our own 😀
I was a huge skeptic as well until I personally experienced a significant change in terms of skin hydration from taking collagen daily! I was in Japan when my friend and I thought it would be fun to try drinking 1 bottle a day to see if it works. At the end of my 10 day trip my skin was so glowy and plump and my foundation just glided on like a dream! Needless to say I was a convert after that! 😀 I usually take them in pill form on vacation but I find that the ones in bottles work best.
I totally agree with you – the shampoos and body washes some hotels provide are soooo drying! The husband who dislike packing his own shampoo / soap will happily use the ones from the hotel and sometimes his skin would be flaking by the end of the trip! *facepalms*
Fascinating insight into taking collagen supplements! Ok, now you have to tell me where to buy them, and what brands so I don’t poison myself LOL! 😀 Actually, my parents always use the hotel stuff and they seem to like it! I have no idea how LOL!
Hi Paris,
I’ve simplified my skincare routine over these past few months (Pls step away from The Ordinary and their complicated serums/routines Ma’am) so I guess I can cart all my regular skincare on my travels now cos the routine is simple and quick and fuss-free.
The one thing I never skip taking away with me when I travel is the Laneige sleeping mask and their lip mask. When I travel, something goes wrong with my skin & lips that I never experience at other times, and the Laneige products are the only ones that help.
The struggle is real when it comes to worrying about dem plants while away, I have 8 indoor plants and I worry everyday while I’m away if they are OK haha.
Ooh glad to have someone understand my dilemma about my poor plants! LOL 😀 I don’t use anything by The Ordinary except for this Hyaluronic Acid one just because I’m trying to finish it. But for me, it was because of my doubts about their quality and their company (after all the crazy meltdowns their owner had) and yes, they do have very complicated stuff! But simplifying your skincare routine isn’t a bad thing, as long as it works for you! I tried simplifying, but my skin wasn’t happy. So I’m back to a multi-step routine, but with more simple products. I dont’ know if that even makes sense LOL 😀 Oh and such a good point about the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask! I carry that everywhere with me too (forgot it for this post) because it’s so good at keeping lips moist and flake-free. Really good stuff!
Not that my usual skincare routine is complicated but travelling really pares it down to the basics. I have litetally travelled with one bar of soap (gasp!) but a good soap lol
I’m just too lazy to lug stuff around and my skin suffers for this slothful attitude. Breakouts, flares, you name it.
I often can’t wait to get home and back into some semblance of a beauty routine.
One thing I do for shampoo and conditioner is squeeze my regular duo into a clean contact lens case to tie me over during a short trip. Even I know that most hotel ‘poos suck.
Yikes just soap! LOL! Ok, I could never do that 😀 Oh the contact lens case tip is a good one, but is there enough in there? I usually keep small travel size bottles if I choose to decant, or I try to get sample sachets or bottles of my usual shampoo so I can just carry those with me. But at the end of the day, I can never wait to come home and get back to my full arsenal. Something so comforting about that!
Hey Paris, thanks for talking about this. My family (hubby and 2 year old) and I recently went for a 2-week road trip around UK and being the lazy person that I am, I bought my skincare at the drugstore in UK itself, but I pared down, using the basic comprising of cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen..I skipped my eyecream, serum and oils 😉 . What I did bring was my Clinique powder foundation and yes I bring my own bathcare (shampoo and all) and toothpaste. Of course we did not stay in 4-5 star hotels so having my own toiletries were godsend. Lastly, I recently disovered a good tip if you do go to hot weather countries, I make my own essential oils spray (5 drops of lavendar and 5 drops of peppermint in a glass spray bottle (120ml) and spritz all over my face and body to counter the heatwave in Europe. My go- to essential oils is Doterra.
ooops just read my comment and realized forgot to say its 120ml water to mix the spray with the oils
Hey Kentra, thanks for the tip for making the essential oil spray! I’ll try it next time, if only just to refresh! Actually, if you know you’re going to a country where you can easily find skincare products that you know will work for you, then buying at the destination is a good idea too. I don’t, because I’m just fussy haha! But it doesn’t stop me buying while I’m there and lugging them home after 😛 To be honest, I’ve stayed at 4-5 star hotels and still bring my own toiletries. I find their quality is usually suspect because they tend to use generic ones (unless you stay in the really fancy rooms where you may get fancy stuff)
I’ve a higher tendency to break out while traveling *sadface* so I’m rather wary of trying new products while traveling. I’ll bring my regular skincare, just slightly pared down (no retinols, for example) and with slight adjustment for the climate e.g. A heavier face oil. My skincare tip for traveling is to bring a small portable humidifier! Works great next to my bed in the hotel room, and reduces the chance of dehydrated skin!
I used to breakout while travelling too! But I found that the acid toner helps me keep things under control. That’s why I always travel with it now 😀 And a portable humidifier is something I’d never ever think of bringing with me! Doesn’t it take up a lot of space in luggage?
For this year’s summer vacation I reduced my skincare to a few carefully curated products, stripping it down to the holy grail triad of anti aging: retinoids, vitamin C and AHA, plus broad spectrum SPF 50 plus hydration.
Worked out great. Actually, I could continue this 365/365, but I love to pamper myself. 🙂
You and I both Maja! I’m all for pampering ourselves during our skincare me-times. I do think we should stick to a semblance of normality in our skincare routine when we travel, just maybe fewer steps. At least that way our skin isn’t shocked into a routine that it isn’t used to 😀
I always pack light when I travel, so I don’t have the luxury to bring my full arsenal. Moisturiser and sunscreen is important. Instead of having serum, emulsion, day cream, night cream, facial oil etc, I may just bring one universal moisturizer. I may skip toner or even eye cream at times. So far, it works for me.
I don’t bring fill size bottle too. I can travel for 10 days under 7kg. It’s my travelling style. 🙂
Whatever works Nicole! 😀 I have done 2 weeks with just a carry on bag as well in winter no less! But not in recent times haha! That said, I do still pack fairly light when I travel. I hate waiting for luggage and live in fear of my luggage not arriving when I do!
Wow. Amazing. How did you do that? I think I need my 28″ luggage for winter stay. Me too, I also hate waiting for luggage. Another reason for travelling light is when I travel to regional areas because I tend to fly on budget airlines. They used to charge $30-$40 for add on baggage allowance. Now it’s $60 to $80 per sector. If I pay $160 extra for regional flights, I might as well go full board.
So I think I need to clarify. If I go full board, I will probably be more lenient in the beauty stuff I carry overseas. 🙂
Actually I have no idea how I managed going with just a carry on for winter LOL! I think it involved just a few sweaters and mostly t-shirts inside for layering. Oh and budget airlines are certainly quite a pain when it comes to luggage, and so much stricter! They just want to make you pay more don’t they? 😛
I’m afraid of cold, so I know I need thick layers. Yah, budget airlines used to offer 10kg carry-on. Then they change to 7kg. It’s really testing my limit. Ha Ha. If they go anything lower that, I think I’ll fly full board. 🙂
7kg is quite a challenge isn’t it? OK for a nearby location in warm weather I guess but nothing more.
My travel skincare routine is pretty much the same as my daily routine. Salicylic Acid for day and Benzoyl Peroxide for night is a must while travelling, just to keep the breakout under control. Day and Night moisturisers and my usual makeup, not forgetting sunscreen which I have been using for more than 20 years daily, without fail. I also bring along some paper facial masks as well as overnight mask, but usually, I get lazy and skip that.
I have changed from Simple Facial Wipes to the extra packing Bioderma Cleansing Water with cotton pads. Still loving the Bioderma as Simple Facial Wipes tend to break me out after several days. I bring along my shampoo, conditioner, body wash (I can’t use hotel’s as I tend to develop dry skin and allergy) and two facial cleansers, one with Benzoyl Peroxide (BP). Yeah, my beautician is surprised that my 40+ year old skin can take BP, can’t live with it.
I will usually have a facial after a holiday to get the skin back to its routine. Great to read what others bring during their trip.
Thanks for sharing Nvie 😀 You are right, I’m impressed your skin can still handle Benzoyl Peroxide! Haha But you know, to each our own. Do whatever keeps our skin happy 😀 I find doing a mask while away helps our skin retain its hydration better. This especially so if you go somewhere hot like the beach. I was there just recently, and the cool mask at the end of the day was God-send for my poor parched skin! 😀 Oh and going for a post-holiday facial is an excellent idea! A good way to recover from the holiday, and to get our skin back in shape. I better schedule one soon 😀
Erm…. I am actually one of those who goes with a full arsenal of skincare & makeup lol~ *guilty charged* But well, I usually bring my entire routine (depending on the country/weather/season). So basically, I bring my cleanser (usually samples), makeup remover/Micellar water (the entire bottle cz I don’t skimp on that), toner, mist, serum & cream (they are not that huge anyways, usually around 50-150ml). But! If I’m already planning to shop for skincare, then I’ll probably skip bringing my cleanser, toner & cream hehe~ the rest of them are non-negotiable! Even when I go on road trips with my friends, I bring the entire arsenal hehe~ I’d rather be slow & not have my skin hate me than to try & heal it after the trip. Prevention is better than cure! Now I sound very high maintenance lol~ & I probably am :p
LOL It’s ok to be high maintenance – at least you’re doing some maintenance! 😀 On a road trip where luggage restrictions are less constrained, I think it’s fine to travel with full sizes and the full arsenal. Once you have to fly though, it’s a big challenge to decide between more, heavy skincare or more space for holiday purchases 😀
I think I bring more products when traveling ^^;
I always carry a facial mist and some sheet masks whenever I travel, which I rarely use at home. The rest of the regular products are decanted to travel size bottles and “DIY” some cleansing pads and toner pads.
Same here! I find I use sheet masks when I travel, which I never do while at home. OK, not never, just more rarely as I prefer using wash off or leave on masks when I’m at home as i find them more effective 😀 But hey, when you’re travelling, it’s better to have a mask than not at all right? 😀