Travel Tips for Moms

What to Pack on an Overseas Trip

Anyone who loves their beauty rituals faces a serious dilemma when traveling. On the one hand, you want to look your absolute best – you never know when you’re going to meet your new summer romance – but on the other hand, all the hassles of a beauty routine can seriously cut into your cultural exploration time. While packing everything in your beauty arsenal is extremely tempting, it’s simply not practical – you need to keep it simple. The easiest way to achieve this is by opting for two-in-one products, excluding items you won’t need to use, and adding products that cater to the country you are vacationing in. Not sure where to start? I took the liberty of walking around my house and taking photos of my beauty favorites. Here’s an idea of what to pack on an overseas trip with six essential products that you should never leave behind when traveling.

Wipes

Baby/face wipes are the best thing since sliced bread – a gift from the travel gods some would say. There may be days when a shower is not an option or days where you are simply too tired after a big night out; this is where wipes come in handy. They are a quick and easy option to freshen up and stay clean while on the road. Keep one pack in your main luggage and a mini pack for when you are on-the-go. These are available in most parts of the world, so if you run out you can always buy more. 

Moisturizer

Staying hydrated is essential to surviving a long haul flight. However it’s not just about gulping down as much water as the air hostess offers – your skin needs some TLC too. The compact air in the plane does a great job of sapping the moisture out of your skin, so it’s important to keep reapplying moisturizer throughout your flight. Avoid stepping off the plane looking like a zombie by keeping a small bottle of moisturizer in your carry-on luggage; you’ll feel less tired, look fresh, and move past the jet-lag in no time.

Leave in Shampoo

Feel like spending an hour blow-drying and straightening your hair every day of your trip? Besides taking up a considerable amount of space in your luggage, packing and using all your hair tools cuts into adventure time. If you’re worried about humidity but don’t have the time to do your normal hair care, opt for a dry shampoo and an anti-frizz serum. Run it through your hair when desired to avoid a tangled lions’ mane at the end of the day.

Neosporin

Providing relief for a myriad of ailments, Neosporin is a miracle worker. Containing both anti-bacterial and antimicrobial properties, the ointment can be used to treat minor burns and scalds, sunburn, minor open wounds, chafing, dry skin, and insect bites. Keep a tube of it on you everywhere you go, especially if you plan on any adrenaline based activities.

Sunscreen

A sun-soaked vacation isn’t much fun when you are dealing with sunburn for most of the trip. Be sun safe by investing in a good-quality sunscreen free from harsh chemicals. Choose ones containing Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide; these are the building blocks to a consistent sunscreen that blocks the UV rays, instead of allowing them to absorb into the skin. Be careful and do your research of the best kind, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Quick and Easy Makeup Palette

Ladies you are going to love this. Rather than taking all of your makeup, why not bring a makeup palette? While I was attending a Mary Kay party years ago, I came upon these gems. Paper palettes! They have eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick on a small card that fits in your pocket! Seriously! Now, these are not standard Mary Kay retail, these are actually promotional items that they give you at their parties BUT you can ask any Mary Kay sales rep to buy your favorite palette for you and they can. I always bring these, they are a huge space saver and all I ever need to pack is my eyeliner, mascara, and mineral powder.

Bonus Tip: Easy Wash & Comfortable Underwear

When you are traveling, comfort is key. You want practical underwear that keeps you cool under pressure, and that doesn’t get in the way of your travel adventures. The beauty of athletic underwear is that the fabrics are easy to wash, and they usually have anti-odor and anti-bacterial properties too (yay for smelling like a daisy). Bonus points for bras that can be worn in multiple different ways – saves you packing room! The other thing you may want to consider is period underwear, as they can give you extra protection when you’re not near any facilities.

What are your beauty travel essentials? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!