10 Beauty Essentials While Travelling Abroad

I leave for my two weeks in Europe tomorrow and as always I have two dilemmas:
a. I am a skincare junkie who likes to prepare for every beauty emergency
b. I'm moving around a lot and only want to take my carry-on. (I need a make-up bag made from the same stuff those clown cars are made of.)

But while two weeks away in different climates is a challenge, its nothing compared to when I went away to India for a month (I was so prepared I had three types of natural disinfectants and even surgical masks for the more polluted cities I was in.... have I mentioned I'm a germaphobe?).

So, for any of you who also needs versatility coupled with simplicity, below is a list of beauty must-haves for travel...and all while fitting in a small transparent make-up case and following the parameters of what you can bring in-flight. Note: You can bring bottles 100ml and smaller, 10 pieces max. The sum of all contents in this sealed and clear bag can only add up to 1 litre.


10 Beauty Essentials Abroad

1. A multi-purpose cleanser: Depending on where you are going and its climate, you will need to choose between a gel and a milk. For drier environments, a light cleansing milk will keep your skin hydrated and can often also act as an eye make-up remover - more humid environments call for a gel. When I went to Mexico, I packed our Organic Spearmint face and body wash and used it for my face, body and even hair. This little gem saved me packing three items.

2. A hydrating serum: If you don't think a serum is important, you're wrong. Since serums have a water-like consistency, they are perfect for keeping your skin moist. This is especially restorative after the drying flight. I always pack a soothing serum as it is gentle enough to double as an eye gel.

3. Oil: My family loves oil. Just ask my mother - she not only oils her face, body and scalp, she puts oil up her nose and drops it in her ears. She even sometimes she puts it in her eyes as she swear its has improved her eye sight. Oil lubricates your tissues and keeps your skin and body clean. I usually bring a face oil and use it for all over as its packaged in the right sized container. Oil is also essential because you can make your moisturizer heavier with by putting a pump or two of oil into it and save you from having to guess what the weather fluctuations will be like.

4. A cooling lotion: This is what you will use to moisturize. But its very important to take a cooling, calming product with you as it will help soothe your skin after burns or during an eczema flare ups that may occur (often this happens after long flights). If the weather is too dry, simply add your oil to it to give it more body.

5. A clay mask: The last thing you need to deal with when visiting Japan is a pimple the size of Mount Fujiyama. So, to aid this, pack a small sample-sized pot of clay mask. It will save you in ways you never dreamed of. I have used my clay mask on bug bites to suck out the itchy toxins as well as on rashes. Its definitely a life-saver.

6. A gelled paper mask: After any long flight I immediately apply our Pure + Simple Skin restoration mask. It comes as a paper which has been soaked in collagen, elastin and many other rejuvenating goodies. And while its a once-use only, its easy to pack as its as slim as an envelope. I have also used other masks like this from Germany, but instead of paper it can come in the form of a gel pad. While these are also very healing for your skin, they are wicked expensive.

7. Sun block: This goes without saying. I don't leave the house without sun block -- I actually carry a small bottle of it in my purse just in case. Coming from a girl obsessed with her pigmentation, I know how important it is to protect. But a natural sunblock again has its surprising benefits. A former employee of ours actually used it while hiking through the mountains on his skin rash on his groin. The rash was coming from his clothes chaffing at his skin met with the dampness of the environment (there were floods). The healing properties of zinc in a natural block not only acts as a protective layer, but also as an anti-inflammatory.

8. A tongue scraper: I scrape my tongue with a tongue scraper every morning. But if you are afraid of hassle at security, you can also get a plastic one or one which is made from something which looks like card board. Tongue diagnosis is a large part of assessment according to Eastern medicine (I'm actually reading a book right now on tongue diagnosis). A yellowish coating can indicate excess acid while a white coating can indicate toxicity and possible internal fungus. So, scraping off any crud which is on your tongue in the morning is a form of detoxification, and is a grooming practice I am religious about.

9. Tweezers: Nothing keeps you looking more grooms than well-kept eye brows. Packing tweezers will help you look and feel polished even if you are living out of your suitcase. When I was backpacking around Australia they were an emotional life-saver while staying in tree house hostels in the jungle.

10. An anti-bacterial hydrosol: Anyone who knows me knows I hate dirt, germs, bugs and bad smells. I know this seems pretty standard, but they can actually ruin my day. So I will always pack a bottle of Witch Hazel, Peppermint or Sage hydrosol. I spray my hands, body, and any part of a hotel room that I deem germy looking (Think shower heads etc). If you can't fit in a hydrosol bottle in your beauty travel pack, opt for a small dropper of oil of oregano. I have even taken this internally when travelling in places that make me fear parasites etc. A bactericide not only helps me keeps me feeling clean and safe but they also has posses a wonderful purifying smell which clear my head. If you are not travelling to a place where you are worried about hygiene, I still pack one of these hydrosols in case I want to disinfect surprise blemishes or cuts and scrapes.