Toiletry Game Theory
It makes sense, just go with it, I've been in 5 states in 7 days
Hello!
How’s it going? As promised, this week we’re going to get into skincare while traveling/on planes. Particularly salient topic for me, as I just got back from a wedding near Lake Tahoe (via Reno–have you ever been to the Reno airport?!) and went straight to Massachusetts to meet my new nephew, who decided to arrive a few weeks early 🤗. It was nice of him to time his arrival so that I didn’t have to fully unpack. If there’s one thing I hate more than packing, it’s unpacking.
The wedding was beyond gorgeous (cocktail hour was on top of a mountain and required a ski lift ride, which I’m told was beautiful. My eyes were closed until we reached the top). Even more beautiful, however, was the bride–a dear friend from college who asked me to do her makeup for the big day. What an honor! The vibe was minimal, natural and pops of pink. I gave her a Sephora shopping list and instructions for prepping her skin beforehand. I wrote down some notes for you.
Event makeup (all makeup, honestly) is about the skin prep. You want a hydrated, bouncy base so that makeup sits seamlessly. You don’t want to layer too much underneath and risk pilling, so focus on lightweight layers of hydration.
You want to apply more makeup than you normally would so that the makeup pops in photos, but still be delicate in your application so nothing cakes. Prime product in your brushes and layer for longevity. Powder helps to grip and to set, but don’t over do it.
The main focus of her face was going to be the bright pink blush, so I started with a cheek stain before any concealer/foundation. Then powder blush, cream blush (as per Patrick Ta’s instructions) and topped off with some setting powder. This blush duo was the MVP. The bride wore She’s A Doll, which she is! I used the accompanying brush, too.
The Gucci Mist continues to be a hit for prepping, setting, refreshing, dampening beauty blenders etc.
This liquid eyeshadow didn’t crease at all (shade Shell). I blended all over the lid with a fluffy brush, then topped the center of the lid with a little Space Cowboy, to make the eyes pop. Brows made possible by Kosas pencil & gel.
On lips we had the aforementioned lip/cheek stain, this liner and Happikiss in Romance Kiss, which is more bright pink in person.
Left: the doll, Right: the doll + me on a very sunny mountain top. My dress is old Mango, hers is Jenny Yoo.
What is your travel toiletry theory & strategy?
The inclusion of “theory” really got me going. We’ll review in 3 parts: general, packing and flying.
GENERAL TOILETRY THEORY
My theory is to keep everything as close to normal as possible. I used to think traveling was the perfect time to try all of my little samples and minis, but it’s actually the worst time to do so. You’re already taking your skin out of its normal environment, so aim to minimize other changes. (I might break this rule for some hair and body stuff because they’re not as fussy as my face.)
While I only bring products I know my face likes, I don’t bring everything in my normal routine, unless I’m going to be gone for a while. Make it easy on yourself, your skin, TSA and the people you’re traveling with. Normally I rotate a few different serums, but on this trip for example, I only brought Sachi Pro-Resilience (antioxidant and hydrating serum) and my Mandelic Clearing Serum (exfoliant/acne treatment serum).
When deciding what to bring, think about the climate and environment of your destination, and what you’ll be doing. The environment can impact oil production, moisture content, sunscreen needs etc. If you’re going somewhere colder, you might want to bring a thicker moisturizer. Heading to a warm destination might mean a gel cleanser that’s good at dissolving sweat and excess oil. If you’re going to be in the sun a lot, leave your stronger actives at home. Wearing event makeup? Make sure you have a good makeup remover or micellar water.
Another thing I like to remember is the nature of being on vacation means that your behavior might change (alcohol, sugar, sleep habits…) and whenever that happens, you are likely to see changes in your skin. Don’t hold yourself back from having fun! That’s why we try to mitigate the impact of these lifestyle changes by keeping as much as we can consistent.
PACKING STRATEGY
Here’s the breakdown of my normal toiletry situation, if I am not pressed for space. If I’m only going to be away for a short period, I might consolidate into my Calpak. I’ve considered just getting a larger Calpak to permanently consolidate, but I kind of like having them separate.
Calpak Toiletry Case for products.
Star of the show, skip the dupes. I have the small size.
I keep it packed with anything non-active/that I can afford to have 2 of (basically no serums, acne treatments or sunscreen).
I decant cleanser/moisturizer into one of these airless pumps or jars, if the bottles are too big.
Before leaving, I’ll add things like $$$ serums, my retinoid, exfoliant etc.
Dagne & Dover Toiletry Case for tools.
Soft sided and padded, so easier to fit some stuff & on the rare occasions that I travel with tools like my NuFace, I like to have the padding.
I keep it packed with my contacts, travel toothbrush, mini toothpaste, mini wet brush, deodorant, q-tips, bandaids, cotton pads, bobby pins, creaseless clips etc.
Before leaving, I’ll add my nice comb and wristbands for washing my face.
Makeup bag with brush slots. I keep most of the makeup I use regularly here anyway, so I just grab and go. If I really won’t be wearing makeup, I’ll just put my concealer, mascara primer, mascara and lip gloss in my Calpak.
Daise Sun Cooler. This is a new and very welcome addition. Previously I just put my sunscreen in my Calpak, but I was sent this temperature regulating case, which is so smart.
Other: Clean Skin Club 10 ct. Travel Towels, makeup brush refresher spray and handheld fan, if I’m being extra (I usually am).
If you’re in need, Jordan Samuel Skin has an incredible selection of minis. Take a look at the Sephora and Ulta minis sections to see if anything you use comes in mini or travel size. But remember, this isn’t the time to try a bunch of new things. Another thing to remember is that most products, outside of some cleansers and sunscreen, are under the TSA carry-on limit, so if not for saving space, you can just bring your stuff.
FLYING STRATEGY
Planes are dry, the humidity is low, flying just doesn’t do any favors to your skin and most options to remedy this present their own problems (cleanliness of your hands, the tiny bathroom and the water supply). It depends on the length of your flight, but I tend to try to just avoid touching my face for as long as possible, ideally until I get to my hotel/destination. My strategy is to go onto the plane with the cleanest, most hydrated skin possible and let that carry me through until I have an opportunity to do a truly thorough face wash. I used to not do this, but it always resulted in more pimples. It’s not the most comfortable feeling by the end, but I have more success.
Bring on the plane: micellar water/cotton pad or these wipes, moisturizer, sunscreen stick, mist, lip balm, hand sanitizer.
I linked specific travel-friendly products I use, but obviously you can use what you want. I do just want to call out the mist though–it’s the best for travel because it’s in a tube and you can throw it in your bag without worrying.
Before the flight, wash your face extremely well, layer on hydration (think hydrating toners, serums, moisturizers) and SPF during the day. On overnight flights, try ending with a thick moisturizer or overnight mask.
During the flight, avoid touching your face as much as possible and sanitize your hands thoroughly before you do. If you must wash, use a cotton pad + micellar water, or these wipes. Plane bathroom water is disgusting. Moisturize after and (re)apply sunscreen if daytime. I prefer to just mist liberally, use a sunscreen stick and drink as much water as possible. Sticks are the best. There’s also this one that’s like a moisturizer in a stick form. Layer on lip balm.
After the flight, it’s go time for your skin. As soon as you get to your destination, wash your face better than you’ve ever washed it before. Double cleanse. Do an extra sweep with micellar water. Get all that plane grime off. If you’re acne-prone, you might want to use a gentle exfoliant. Then, replenish the lost hydration and moisture with your choice of products. Nourish your skin after roughing it in the air.
Alright, that’s all my brain has time for this week. Hope this was helpful! If you have more questions, leave them in the comments.
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Also, I’m still looking for a tester for the new Balancing & Clarifying Serum from The Ordinary. The brand sent this to me and since I wouldn’t be trying it before my wedding (nothing new before the wedding!!!) I'd love to send it to one of you to review for the community. Email me hi@joldef.com if you think you’re a good candidate.
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