Makeup essentials for your vacation trip
We all take too much makeup on our holidays with us. We all pack as if we will be gone a year instead of 10 days. We all haul back our makeup bags with half of the products un-used, runny and sticky after days in an overheated, under-airconditioned hotel room.
When you think about every different product you use at home for your face and body, of course it feels like you need to take the entire bathroom cabinet as on-board luggage. But the whole idea of vacationing is to get away from your normal daily routine. And that means your beauty regime too. This does not, however, mean abandoning any kind of beauty routine while you're away.
Indeed your skin will have different needs while you are travelling. It will be put under extra stress of air travel, hot and humid climates, strong sunlight, late nights, extra alcohol consumption, unusual diets, salt water and, god forbid, sunburn.
What you need to do is be prepared. Even if you are booking a last minute deal and don't know exactly when you are going on vacation let alone where, you know at least it will be soon.
Here are good rules to follow and a few extra tips so that you can pack a light-weight beauty bag and be ready to go at a moments notice:
- Make sure your hands and feet are manicured and pedicured. Take a small spare bottle of varnish for toe touch-ups (although most good pedicures last a couple of weeks).
- Opt for clear varnish for your nails so touch ups aren't needed. Simply pack an emery board.
- Get your legs, underarms and bikini line professionally waxed. It lasts around 4 weeks and you don't need to think about shaving while away. You can pack one single disposeable razor just in case.
- Pack a high protection factor sunscreen that works on your face as well. There are plenty out there to choose from.
- Pack wet-wipe cleansing tissues for your face that remove makeup too. You will not use the whole packet while away, so remove half of the tissues and store in a tupperware container in your fridge for when you get back.
- Pack travel size items of shampoo and conditioner. And your favorite hair styling product.
- Pack a bottle of body moisturizing lotion that can double up as after-sun care cream. Don't take the full bottle, they are invariably too large. Empty half the contents into a small plastic bottle with a screw lid. Body shop sell travel size bottles for exactly this purpose.
- Pack liquid soap gentle enough for face and body, for example Dove.
- Pack a tinted moisturizer for your face. Don't take a separate moisturizer and foundation. Go on, dare yourself. You will be amazed at how great your skin looks and feels without using heavy foundation that simply slides off in the heat.
- Pack a tinted lip gloss/balm for day wear and a favorite lipstick for the evening. Include black mascara, an eye shadow duo with applicator that can be used wet or dry to shade and line eyes, a tiny pot of cream blush that you can apply with your fingers and a neutral, translucent
compact face powder for tidier up the shiny bits in the evenings.
Include a small hand towel, moscuito repellant, plasters and diarrhea treatment powder sachets (for emergencies - ask your pharmacist to recommend a brand suitable for travel purposes)and your beauty bag is complete.
Remember, remember to drink plenty of fresh bottle water while you are abroad in the sun, more dehydrated than usual, and perhaps consuming more alcohol than usual. You will feel better, and look great.
