Travel Beauty Tips

Article by BR Natalie

Whether you're the jet-setting kind and go on a couple of holidays a year, or managed to nab a weekend away here and there, you'll be faced with the ultimate girl dilemma. 

How on Dior's good name is one supposed to condense their makeup, beauty and hair stash in to a piddly travel bag?

Never fear, we've been brainstorming all week and have come up with the ultimate beauty travel tips - to save you time, money and valuable packing space!

1.  When travelling on a plane, forget your usual makeup routine and moisturise more!

• Use an intensive moisturiser before you fly, to help prevent your skin dehydrating
• Don't worry about foundation for the journey, you'll more than likely end up with cake face.  Slap on some BB Cream just before you arrive to look fresh faced.
• Long lasting lipsticks tend to dehydrate in planes, so go for a lip stain you can refresh with lip balm or gloss (if you're allowed it in your hand luggage!
• Go easy on the perfume - you don't want to suffocate your neighbour!

2.  For any journey, embrace the boho lifestyle and make do with small luxuries!

• Drink lots of water, dehydration not only makes you feel poopy (yes, poopy) it will make you look like you've been travelling on the back of a mule.
• Don't worry about perfectly coiffured hair.  A side plait keeps your hair off your face and looks boho-chic after hours of traveling.
• Cleansing wipes are great for quick freshen ups of the face, neck and armpits (in the privacy of the bathroom of course!)
• Moisture mists are great to refresh your skin during the journey. 
• I travel bare faced, I figure au naturale is better than panda eyes, cakey foundation and half faded lipstick.  When we're about to land I apply BB cream, lip balm and big sunglasses.

3.   Literally shrink your stash!

• Look for travel sized versions of your favourite products, Evolu's Travel Tower is ingenious - 6 pots of all the essential products, that join together in a space
• If you can't find travel sized versions you'll find empty travel sized bottles and pots in your local pharmacy, you can decant your products in to.
• Don't want to pay for mini storage?  Old pill bottles, lip balm pots and even contact lens holders make great travel containers.
• Go for multi purpose products like all in one eyeshadow/bronzer/powder/lip tints

4.  Failure to prepare is preparing to fail!

• Don't leave your packing to the last minute.  You're bound to forget something and you don't want to have to buy something you could have brought with you.
• Separate your carry-on beauty products in to wet and dry before you leave.
• Store tubes, bottles and anything else that will fit in your shoes.

5.  Make wise substitutions!

• Dry shampoo is great for overnight trips, meaning you don't need to worry about leaking shampoo and conditioners.
• Solid shampoos are great space savers and great if you're going away for more than a night!
• Find other uses for your products - a teeny amount of lip balm or hand cream can smooth frizzy flyaway hairs in an instant.
• Raid your sample stash and opt to try something new and leave your full sized usual product behind.

6.  Damage control BEFORE you leave to minimise spills!

• Ensure the lids are secure on all of your products to prevent your packed clothing being ruined.  Remember powders can be just as destructive - bronzer on a white bra?  Sad times.
• Try wrapping your spill-ables in a towel, or place them in a zip lock bag.

7.  Protect your assets!

• Put a cotton pad on top of your compacts before you close the lid.  A shock absorber if you will.
• If you're taking a product with a pump, the last time you use it before traveling, pump and lock the lid down.  Broken pumps are not only messy, they're a nightmare to get products out of!

8. Save time by planning ahead!

• Check the airline regulations for what's allowed in your carry on before you fly!  I remember one trip where my friend scored some pretty nice items because I wasn't allowed to board with them!
  
• Pack a micro fibre towel to cut your hair drying time in half.

9.  Fully utilise your straighteners!

• Your flat iron can double as a clothing iron, so you don't have to rush around the hotel looking for an iron, like Mr BR Natalie on our wedding day!
• Straighteners can be used to curl hair as well, so leave the curling rod behind!
• Get a travel heat mat like the Sugar Beauty Hot Pad, so you can wrap your straighteners and go, without risking a fire in your bag!

10.  Know whhat not to take!

• Hair dryer. Most hotel rooms have one, even if it does have the power of a battery operated fan!
• Unless you have coloured or damaged hair, you can use the complimentary shampoos - be sure to take your own conditioner though.  (Don't be that person.  You know, the one who uses her own shampoo and then packs the miniatures to take home.  To never use.)
• Shaving cream.  Your conditioner or shower gel will do the job just fine.
• Makeup brushes.  Opt for creams or roll on products you can use a cotton bud or even your fingers to apply. The bristles of brushes can damage easily when traveling.
• Leave the nail polish at home for short trips - paint your nails a nude colour and chips are less likely to show.  Plus, let's be honest, if you travel with nail polish you've got to expect some sort of polish-explosion-pickle right?

So there's our Top Beauty Travel Tips.  Anything to add?