Travel Tips: How To Pack for a Beautiful Arrival

By Becca Gregg

Temperatures are rising and, with that, hopefully a rise in your frequent flyer miles too! Whether you’re heading off for a relaxing week at the beach, road tripping to a weekend wedding or simply taking the train down to D.C. for a meeting, you can still look your best upon arrival. Planes, trains and automobiles can often wreak havoc on our beauty routines, but fear not jet-setters! With these easy packing tips, the only thing you’ll have to worry about is making your connecting flight.

Skin

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Cabin pressure combined with stale air, high heat and air conditioning can be dangerously dehydrating to your skin. To combat dry, flaky, icky skin, make sure to apply an intense moisturizer the night before you fly (or hop in your car, board the bus or take the train).

Avoid dehydrating drinks such as alcohol, caffeinated sodas and, yes (sigh!), even coffee. Not only will they dry out your skin, but they’ll disrupt your sleep patterns as well. You definitely don’t want to de-board with puffy bags under your eyes! Instead, opt for plenty of good ol’ H₂0.

If you just can’t tear yourself away from the java, remember to bring a small tube of eye cream in your makeup bag to combat sleepy peepers. After all, the only bags you want to be carrying are your luggage!

Don’t touch your face (which is great everyday advice too). Minimize break-outs by keeping your hands to yourself. When travelling, you are more exposed to extra bacteria on your hands, leading to unwanted skin problems in the days following.

The Beauty Bean’s Product Picks:

The Body Shop Vitamin E Intense Moisturizer, $20, thebodyshop.com
Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage, $25.50, Clinique.com

How do you care for your eyes?

Makeup

Rather than using your usual cover-up or powder, stick with a tinted moisturizer to give yourself a fresh, healthy glow.

Mist your face with mineral water to refresh makeup and add additional moisture to your skin.

Skip long-lasting lipsticks, as they’ll only dehydrate and parch your lips. Instead, opt for several coats of lip stain, followed by a clear, moisturizing gloss. To retain that fresh, just made-up look upon arrival, reapply the clear gloss when you arrive.

Don’t skimp on lip treatments! If you aren’t a fan of lip stain? Pack a medicated lip balm in your carry-on and apply liberally!

Forgo the raccoon eyes by skipping mascara and cream eye shadows. After all, it’ll be much easier to sneak into the bathroom and apply some upon arrival, than it’ll be to scrub the messy remnants of an in-flight mishap off of your face.

The Beauty Bean’s Product Picks:

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, $42, sephora.com
Evian Mineral Water Spray, $10, sephora.com
Victoria’s Secret Lasting Pout Lip Stain & Shine, $12, victoriassecret.com
C.O. Bigelow Mentha Cinnamint Lip Shine, $7.50, bathandbodyworks.com

Prevent everything from Alzheimer’s to arthritis with this drink!

Nails

Although it can be tempting, especially if you’re headed on a beach vacay, skip bright nail polish colors. They can chip easily and leave you looking unfinished.  Instead, buff and polish your nails for a clean look, or apply a neutral color for less noticeable chipping.

Make sure to carry your nail file in your carry-on. Uneven edges can get caught on everything from your cardigan to cloth seats, making your nails look ragged and your polish more likely to chip.

The Beauty Bean’s Product Picks:

Tropical Shine Mini 4-Way Nail Buffer Block, $3.99, sallybeauty.com
Butter LONDON 3 Free Nail Lacquer, $14, drugstore.com

Hair

For a luminous shine, prep before departure by applying a deep conditioning treatment the night before.

Don’t spend too much time making your hair into something it’s not, traveling will most likely make it return to their natural state anyway. Have curls or waves? Embrace them, rather than spending an hour straightening them.

Have a problem with oil? Packing dry shampoo in your carry-on is a quick, easy fix.

The Beauty Bean’s Product Picks:

Redken Smooth Down Butter Treat, $15.99, walgreens.com
Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo Spray, $11-21, sephora.com

57 minutes to fit? Get the workout celebs swear by.