10 Travel Skincare Essentials
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I can’t live without my travel skincare essentials. Even though I didn’t get into skincare until my late twenties, I can’t travel anywhere without it now. Packing all my skincare essentials has transformed my comfort levels on trips so much so that I must share it with you.
I’ve been on trips where I didn’t want to pack my “good stuff,” or pricey items, and I would travel with drugstore items only. I regretted it each time. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying drugstore items are bad (I use drugstore cleansers daily). I am saying that sometimes, when you travel, your skin gets out of whack, and you need something more substantial.
So, as someone with sensitive skin, I will share what has worked for me.
Here are my ten travel skincare essentials.
The Lancer Method was the first big-girl skincare I purchased for myself when I became interested in skincare around age twenty-nine. Candace Cameron Bure (love her!) was Lancer’s spokesperson at the time, and I loved watching all her demonstrations of the products.
This was the best method for building consistency and a good foundation when I was new to the skincare world. While I incorporate other brands into my skincare routine now, I still use this bag on every trip I take. It is hands down the best bag I’ve used to pack skincare, and it holds so many products without being too bulky.
If you are new to skincare, then I highly recommend starting with the Lancer 3-step method.
AGE Eye Cream was the first eye cream I found online when researching products. After I caught my breath from looking at the price tag, I ordered it. I couldn’t imagine spending over one hundred dollars on a single product at the time, but have since learned just how much of an investment skincare can be.
Now that I’ve used this product for many years, I understand why it’s worth it. The skin around our undereye area is our most delicate, and I love that SkinCeuticals AGE keeps my undereye and eyelid area hydrated. This is especially handy when my skin gets dried out from multiple flights or irritated by different weather when traveling.
In case you’ve ever had dry skin around your eyes when traveling, then you know just how uncomfortable (and sometimes painful) it can be, and this eye cream cures dryness right up.
Once I was officially into skincare and paying attention to the products (and ingredients) I was using, Vitamin C seemed like the next step to start incorporating. And after a quick visit to the dermatologist to confirm (I’m pretty thorough), I purchased what most consider the “holy grail” of Vitamin C products.
Vitamin C boosts collagen production, helps even skin tone, and provides antioxidants to brighten skin complexion. I can confidently say that I’ve noticed the brightening aspect, and I love knowing my skin is protected from environmental damage when I leave the house.
One bottle of this lasts me months at a time, so it’s a product I purchase repeatedly. I always pack my skincare in my Lancer Method bag, which keeps investment products like this safe inside my suitcase.
If you are on the cleanse, moisturize, and sunscreen only routine, then consider adding Vitamin C as the next step to your AM skincare routine.
Retinol is a form of Vitamin A and is used for antiaging by promoting cell turnover (new skin cells are produced and replace your old skin cells), which can improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Additionally, retinol can help improve the texture of your skin and is sometimes used to treat acne.
There are various retinol products that vary in strength, so be cautious when starting a new-to-you product because it can cause flaking, irritation, and redness. However, once you get used to the product, it can work wonders for your skin, and knowing you will be aging gracefully makes it a necessary step for your skincare routine.
Remember, retinol should only be worn at night, and be sure to add sunscreen to your AM routine when using this type of product.
The dewy skin cream by Tatcha Beauty is a regular part of my routine. Whenever I’m running low, I buy another one before it runs out because I seriously cannot live without it.
Whenever we travel, we disrupt our skin barriers, which can create dryness, and this product provides instant hydration. It has hyaluronic acid, which helps lock in moisture and keeps your skin hydrated.
I have recommended it to multiple coworkers, family members, and friends, and everyone loves it as much as I do. I hope you get the chance to try this cream.
If you can’t tell by the product above, I am a massive fan of Tatcha Beauty. There is a reason this is the second recommended product by this brand; I think their products are incredible.
During one of my summer trips to Washington, D.C., my skin became extremely irritated. I think it was due to the hot weather, lack of water, and sleep, but my skin was a hot mess. After scrubbing the burning sensation off my face, I immediately purchased this product, which saved my skin and the rest of my trip.
The Indigo Overnight Repair Redness Reducing Barrier Cream calms irritation and strengthens the skin barrier. It is my number one product recommendation. If someone were to ask me what the one product I can’t travel (or live) without would be, it would be this.
Elta MD makes the best sunscreens. The UV Clear is one of my favorites because it’s great for acne-prone skin.
This sunscreen layers so easily under makeup, making it my go-to. Additionally, sunscreen is the top item to add to your routine if your primary concern is anti-aging because sunscreen blocks and protects from harmful rays, helping to prevent the effects of photoaging.
This is the same sunscreen as above, only this one is tinted. You still get all the added benefits, but with a little something extra for those days you may want to leave the house fresh-faced (which I do often). I love that this sunscreen gives a bit of coverage so we can head out the door without spending the time doing a full face of makeup.
The Elta MD UV Clear tinted sunscreen is also great for your weekend adventures. Anytime I’m visiting Key West or some destinations in California, I almost always go fresh-faced for the entire trip. If that’s you, too, then you will love this sunscreen.
Let’s face it: on most trips, we walk 10,000+ steps a day (if not more) and can travel around in the heat. For these kinds of trips, I always pack the UV Sport version for my arms and legs.
This sunscreen is also great for any active activities like hiking, running, or any type of water sports. Just be sure to reapply every few hours because if you are traveling in the heat, you will sweat it off!
The Epionce Lytic Gel Cleanser is one of my favorites. It has a bit of a tingling feeling, which is caused by the menthol and willow bark extract, that helps calm inflammation caused by acne, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.
I like to use this one at night because it feels extra strong, and I can rest assured knowing my skin has been cleaned. This brand also makes a gentle foaming cleanser, which I also love, and I tend to use that one in the morning. However, these don’t come in travel size, so you’ll have to add them to travel size containers if you are also living the carry-on only life.
A few other cleansers that I use that you may also love are the cleansers by Purpose, Vanicream, and CeraVe. The CeraVe one comes in a travel size, and that’s usually the one that I grab on the go when packing for a weekend getaway.
As someone with sensitive skin, I must travel with the best-for-me skincare essentials. If any one thing goes wrong and I end up flaking, peeling, or worse, with a rash, it will ruin the remainder of whatever trip I’m on, which is never fun.
Being on airplanes and away from routine can make our skin all over the place because it can’t decide whether to be irritated, hydrated, etc. As hard as I try, I drink less water and eat fewer nutrient-dense foods while traveling. So, I want to be sure that I have my travel skincare essentials to keep my skin looking and feeling its best.
I’d love to know what skincare products are your favorite. Leave a comment below and let me know which items I should add to this list.