Beauty products and toiletries have always been a bit troublesome when it comes to travelling. In a similar manner to the age-old holiday shoe dilemma it’s very hard to know what you’re actually going to use on a trip, be it a weekend away or something longer. If you’re chasing sunshine and good weather, lots of sun care products and minimal (if any) makeup will suffice. But most of us decide to err on the side of caution and throw everything into the bag just in case.
All aboard
However recent security-related changes to international air travel have made this haphazard packing a thing of the past. These days, only containers of 100ml or less of liquids, gels, pastes, lotions and cosmetics may be brought through the passenger security screening points (i.e. in your hand luggage) if you’re travelling overseas. Check here to see what the limitations are.
Anything you do bring on board with you has to be contained in a clear, re-sealable plastic bag. This restriction also covers things you might not expect such as mascara, face cream, lip gloss and deodorant. Now, this is something of a nuisance for your average person, but for a beauty junkie it borders on a crisis! The most frustrating aspect is that, unless you pack your travel products very, very well, you’ll have to check in even the smallest of overnight bags.
One of the best ways of avoiding this is to buy small, travel-sized versions of products. It’s especially handy if they’re refillable, meaning you can top up from the big version of the product you have at home, every time you travel (which is better for the environment and your wallet too). Keep an eye on cosmetics counters too as the dinky free gifts companies offer throughout the year are usually full of diminutive versions of useful products.
If your favourite products aren’t available in a mini version, you can simply do it yourself! Many pharmacies and supermarkets stock a wide selection of clear, refillable bottles and tubs of varying shapes and sizes. It’s advisable, however, to label them when you’ve decanted your products into them, to avoid any ‘washing your face with shampoo’ disasters.
It’s also a good idea to seek out non-liquid alternatives wherever possible. For example, cleansing wipes are great for short trips, and you can get deodorant and fake tan in wipes form too. There are also ready-to-go wipes for removing makeup (particularly eye makeup) and ones for taking off nail polish too, which eliminate the necessity for a couple of bottles, giving you a little more room in your bag.
Aerosol deodorants are classed as liquids but fortunately there are plenty of mini sizes available. When it comes to perfume, a space-saving trick is to simply decant your favourite scent into a mini atomiser or stock up on samples of scents whenever you come across them.
Another tip, and a generally good travelling rule, is to go for multi-purpose products. Things like Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream, $35, are great – this particular wonder product can be used as a lip balm, a salve for scrapes, minor burns and ragged cuticles and it’s brilliant as an overnight treatment if your skin is parched (it might seem ridiculously greasy when you apply it to your face, but it absorbs totally and leaves skin feeling great).
Trips away are also the perfect excuse to indulge in the purchase of some gorgeous makeup palettes, as you tell yourself that you’ll pare down your beauty regime and will only bring one little kit with you.
Travel products to treat yourself
Of course you won’t, you’ll bring all your regular stuff and the gorgeous palette but you’re off on your holidays, so why not treat yourself?
- Model Co Nail Liquid Buds, $14.50
- Girl 2 Go Perfume Atomiser, $7.95
- GloTherapeutics GloRefreshing Mist (60ml), $37
- Palmolive Naturals Milk & Honey (100ml), $1.99
- Living Nature Skin Essentials – Balancing Kit, $55
- Compact Cosmetics travel kit, $25
- Thalgo Week-end Travel Kit
- Nivea Refreshing Facial Cleansing Wipes, $7.50
- Bayonelle Gardenia Body 4 Pack, $9.95
- Botanics of Australia Hair Mini Pack, $9.95
