How to Keep Up Your Natural Beauty Regimen When You Travel
Remember that time you went upstate with your friends and remembered to pack everything but your nontoxic shampoo and conditioner, so you used whatever was lying around and then your hair looked like garbage and your scalp was irritated?
Yeah, that happened. But normally I am much better about these things! And so are our friends at Well+Good, who put together this neat piece about how to get your natural goodies past the TSA when you travel. I weighed in, and so did the charming and wonderful natural beauty maven who co-founded the site, Melisse Gelula. Here’s their piece—click through to see what we actually pack, and share your travel tips in the comments.
Labor Day Weekend is summer’s last call. Some hop a Jitney for the Hamptons or a ferry to the Shore. But plenty hit the airports—and it’s you we’re concerned about. Are you packing your sunscreen? Will you remember your facial oil? Is your natural cleanser travel size?
To avoid long lines, baggage fees, and the apparently very-real threat of luggage theft, you need to be able to pack your natural beauty regimen into 3.4 ounce bottles in a quart-sized plastic bag—not an easy feat.
“I don’t check luggage, and I refuse to use conventional cosmetics, even when I’m out of town,” says No More Dirty Looks author Siobhan O’Connor. [Siobhan's note: Siobhan is a liar, obviously. Do as she says, not as she does.] “So I have to get crafty with how I pack my products. It took some doing, but I finally have it down.”
What are O’Connor’s essentials? We asked her—and Well+Good’s own beauty guru, Melisse Gelula—to share their perfect all-natural beauty travel kit. Bon voyage!
To see our travel picks, click here.
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Oh brilliant – I love littles! I’m a sucker for travel / trial sets so have the Tata Harper for my next “big” trip (more than a few nights) but for the weekend / long weekend jaunts I try to use samples I get with Spirit Beauty Lounge orders (Katie is soooo good at putting in lots of little surprises I end up loving!) and I’ll decant anything I absolutely cannot do without. I also find that some of the samples provided by SBL are refillable, so I use them. I especially like the tiny sample containeres they send cosmetics in, so I can have a few days’ worth of make up without using up precious luggage space or being forced to re-evaluate checked baggage versus carry on. I also find so many of the clean things are totally multi-purpose, like Kahina oil can be used around the eyes, on cuticles, hands, hair, body, etc. And Dr Bronner’s, too!
The only thing I haven’t managed to figure out is make up removers – I use the toxic (*hangs head in shame*) individual packets… Any suggestions to change this are very welcome!
I think it’s important to take extra caution when travelling with naturals:
1. Do not ever decant a product that uses an airless pump. This is part of its preservation system, so if you must take it with you, then take the whole thing.
2. Temperature fluctuations. They can damage and introduce bacteria to natural products.
@ Naomi, How about using organic coconut oil as a make-up remover?
@ Naomi–I’m with you on the multi-use products! Dr. Bronner’s is a “must-not-travel-without” for me (facial cleanser, body wash, shampoo, laundry detergent, etc.)! As well as Argan Oil (or Grapeseed Oil if I do not have the time to refill my stock) is great for moisturizing as well as letting me skip the conditioner for my hair. Witch hazel and a few drops of tea tree in a mini-spray bottle works great for a toner as well as on any cuts or burns.
I also like saving the little pots that eye cream comes in so that I can transfer my make-up into them–takes up very little space and they are stackable (a little Sharpie action on the top of the pot lets me know what’s inside). I’ve also gotten used to applying my make-up with my fingers…no brushes or sponges to pack or worry about cleaning.
As for a make-up remover, I usually use a microfiber cloth with warm water at home and when I travel. Works great without over cleaning my face.
I can’t live without coconut oil now… makeup remover, shave cream, moisturizer!! love it! just hard to travel with… I tried a few different mini bottles but it always makes a mess :( guess that’s what ziplock bags are for!
Great post. Great tips and advice. Thank you! LOL! Siobhan’s note! xx
Check out the cunning travel sets from Living Nature by hair type; skin type & for body…50ml bottles that can fit in the cabin bag or last a week on the go without having to use those nasty toxic cheap hotel products!