My Travel Skincare Kit

Plenty of room for more! ;)

So keeping with the travel theme, this is what I brought with me to L.A. this time around.

I don't travel lightly, you may choose to, but I don't.! ;) I use these Muji Travel Cases because they're huge, but packable, they clean up nicely from any spillages and most importantly, they're rigid. A lot of my skincare is in glass and no-one wants that breakage to deal with. This is the smaller size, my body and hair are in the big one. I guess that's tomorrow's post.... 

Back row, left to right:

Cleansers

• Zelens Z Pure Cleansing Balm - this was a production sample that I picked up from Dr Lens pre-launch and as it turns out, it's perfect for travel. The gel texture is great for the weather over here.
• Clarins Extra Comfort Cleansing Cream - small size. So this I bring with me for when I want a cream second cleanse and I keep it specifically for travel now as it is no longer made. How rude of Clarins.
• Emma Hardie Travel Size. Obvs.

Toners

• Tatcha Dewy Skin Mist - light, airy and hydrating.
• Pixi Glow Tonic Travel Size - not available yet - but I obviously stole one. 
• P50 1970 Formula decanted into Muji travel bottles. Don't leave home without it.
• Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads, Alpha Beta Glow Pads for face and body and Medi-Spa Peel - big ones. Easy for travel. No brainer.
• Radical Skincare Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads - these were in a goodie bag and they ziplock so again, no brainer. Travel sizes for the win!

Serums

• Dennis Gross MD Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Solution - small sample size - perfect for travel. 
• Zelens Intense Defense - massive antioxidant shot - perfect for the plane and working in an inner city environment.
• Zelens Z Luminous - gorgeous brightening serum - available June - I previewed this a while ago and will review fully when I get back and bring back the serum reviews - nowhere near finished with those.
• Kate Somerville - Deep Tissue Repair decanted into Muji pots. This is light enough to be used as a moisturiser - especially in L.A.

Moisturisers

• Tata Harper Rebuilding Moisturiser - this is Tata's moisturiser for oily/combination skin which is not my skin type, but this moisturiser is so light and hydrating that it's perfect for under makeup.
• Kate Somerville Oil Free Moisturiser - I brought this because I was concerned about being really hot and sweaty. Sod's Law it's overcast and cool for L.A. so I haven't used it yet - but it's supposed to be 90 degrees at the weekend so no doubt this will make an appearance then.
• Clinique All About Lips - hydrates and firms but doesn't make a greasy base for under makeup.

Mask

• SKII Facial Treatment Mask - for the one night I get time. Hasn't happened yet. But it will. 
• Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Lifting Mask and Deep Hydration Revitalising Eye Mask. (behind the products) See above. Haven't used, but will. I save all of these types of pre-packed masks for travel. Just the perfect trick for making your skin act like it actually is moisturised.

Perfume

• A second atomiser with Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb. Too heavy for this climate to be honest. I don't want to knock everyone out. I do maybe a teeny spritz in the evening in the hotel just because the smell reminds me of home.

That's it for the face. It looks like a lot, but this is an 8 day trip. That's at least 16 cleanses, possibly more if I refresh for the evening. 20 or so cleanses is not, to my mind, decantable.

For 3 days or less, I decant everything or only bring travel sizes. For four or more days, I don't. Way too many weather/skin/allergy situations that may possibly need to be dealt with.

See you tomorrow! 

Travel Bag - or 'How to turn a dehydrating flight into a spa session'

Last week I spent over 20 hours on an airplane. That's not much for some but it is for me. There are a few conditions that really compromise your skin - one of them is an airplane. All that recirculated air, no fresh air and everyone else's germs. Ugh.

The picture above is what I took last week, but the essence of it can be used and altered by anyone, with any skin type, on any budget.

Left to right:

The Body Shop Vitamin E Gentle Cleansing Wipes - for basic forehead, cheeks and chin makeup removal. I also had Ole Henriksen Truth To Go Wipes which I love, but ran out of them on the plane. Any 'won't burn your face off' wipes will suffice. Yes, wipes on the blog. Fannies, flights and festivals.

Muji travel bottle filled with The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. Soak one cotton pad at a time, hold gently over the eye and swipe across, down and away. Turn the cotton over and repeat - then do the same on the other eye. Please don't rub your eyes like you're using a pencil eraser.

aesop Travel bottle filled with P50. Your usual exfoliating toner/lotion goes here. Use a saturated cotton pad and swipe it all over. I take it across the entire face, under the eyes, the eyelids and over the lips (P50 tastes grim). You aren't getting a proper cleanse here so this can help you out.

Georgia Louise Hydrating Rose Water (travel pack size) - a good spray toner/mist will be your most used product on an airplane. A normal can of Evian will just dehydrate you - it just works better as a toner/floral water etc. Any good alcohol free toner can be used and decanted in to the spray version of the Muji bottles above. Spray liberally. And frequently. Even when the people around you look annoyed. :)

Chantecaille Nano Gold Energising Eye Serum - (gold tube lying flat) God I love this product. No sugar coating - it's prohibitively expensive - so much so that I literally save it for using when I fly. You can substitute any similar roller-ball-effect cooling eye product from pretty much anyone. The joy in using something like this when you fly - for me - is the cooling effect and the hygiene. Look Ma! No hands! I reapply this whenever I can feel I need it. No stiff directions - depends on the length of the flight, your skin etc..

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum  (small size) - love love love this. Massive antioxidant boost to help protect against what is essentially a locked room of free radicals and other people's germs. Also, smells delicious (not relevant, but joyous nonetheless) and gives you a lovely glow. Nice if like me, long-haul flying leaves you looking like you've given birth. No-one, NO-ONE steps off a plane looking like a supermodel. Not even supermodels. They go straight to the toilets in the VIP section with their 'team'. Stop with the nonsense.

Darphin 8 Flower Nectar  (GWP sample size) - I love this oil but only really use it if I have an overnight flight. Whack it on, try and sleep (or get no sleep, end up watching 3 films and exit plane as above) and let it give you a layer of lovely smelling protection. Substitute any of your normal facial oils that you can decant into smaller bottles.

Chantecaille Magnolia, Jasmine and Lily Healing Emulsion (GWP sample size) - lovely, light, super-hydrating, really good for layering. Substitute any good hydrating, light lotion. You can layer this over other products, add extra layers on during the flight without it rolling...just keeps you soft and hydrated.

Aurelia Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser (trial pack size) - pretty self explanatory. If it's a night flight/red eye: cleanse, P50, spritz, eye, serum or oil, then this. Marvellous.

Ila Day Cream for Glowing Radiance (travel pack size) - OK so my travel products clearly have a theme. Call something 'glowing radiance' and I'm in. Arriving during the day? When the seat belt signs go on for landing I do a quick spritz and apply this. You can substitute any of your daytime moisturisers and decant into travel pots. If you're landing in a hot climate remember your SPF.

Ole Henriksen Truth Creme Advanced Hydration (decanted into brown pot front right) - This is probably my current favourite for travel - really seems to keep the moisture in and doesn't 'roll' when you layer. The citrus scent is again brilliant for being up in the Gods with no air.

Carmex/Duwop LipVenom - standard lip and a slightly more 'zingy' one to wake me up when necessary!

Chantecaille Gold Energizing Eye Recovery Mask - these are new. They're nice - but to be honest, I much prefer the roller. It's amazing.




*purchases and samples - no affiliates