Taking a well-earned vacation—aka a break from the bad screen, our apartment, and our responsibilities—is one of our favorite hobbies. Renting an Airbnb in the sticks, going for a gondola ride in Venice, staying in your parents' spare bedroom for some free meals—all travel is enticing in its own special way. But temporarily fleeing your shoebox apartment totally adult crib is all lollipops and gumdrops until you get to the worst part about skipping town: packing.
Ziplining over the jungle: fun! Stuffing a bunch of button-up shirts, underwear, and chargers into a duffle bag and hoping that you remembered everything you might need for eight days: less fun. We hate packing, and often do it the night before (or morning of, because we’re chaotic). And since we apparently have to bring miniature versions of all of our toiletries in carry-on bags forever, there can be last-minute panic when your flight is in a few hours and you realize that you have failed to get travel-sized bottles and how have no way of stashing your sunscreen, skincare, or shampoo without potentially getting your bag pulled off the conveyor belt. Mercifully, so many brands make travel-sized versions of their products now that you have no excuse for showing up at your destination without a full arsenal of high-quality self-care goods.
If you, too, have the habit of leaving everything suitcase-related until the last minute, it’s best to have a handful of travel-sized, go-to products on hand to immediately throw into your luggage or carry-on. So, to lend you a hand on travel day, here are some of the best travel-sized essentials that won’t leave you scrambling.
After a long flight, our muscles are hurting. Walking up and down the aisle of the plane only helps so much, and we don’t want to be freaks and do dynamic stretching mid-flight. The Theragun Mini is portable and compact enough to travel with, especially if you plan on working out. It will get the job done with its basic three-speed settings. Just make sure to only store in your carry-on, as per TSA regulations.
If you’re headed to a sunny destination, sunblock is a must—and Supergoop sunscreen may be a big-time cult-fave, but it’s also available in travel size. We have no room for wrinkles—or sunburns—in our lives, and want to age flawlessly, but thankfully we can bring all of our Supergoop favorites with us (they even come in a small, neon-yellow travel pouch). The SPF Yeah! Sunscreen Kit includes Glow Screen, Play Everyday Lotion, Re(setting) Refreshing Mist, and Watery Lotion for when you wish to bask in the sun, worry-free.
Disheveled is not the lewk for traveling. Avoid five o’clock shadow with this TSA-approved kit that comes with pre-shave oil, shaving cream, a five-blade razor, a signature shaving brush, and an after-shave balm. Just make sure if you bring the razor on the plane it’s only in checked luggage. If you only have a carry-on, that’s what the overpriced gift shops at hotels are for.
Just because you're not at home doesn’t mean you have to throw your skincare routine out the window. Zits on a trip? Not on our watch. Keep your pores in tact with the Origins Best-Sellers Set, which includes [inhales] the Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash, the Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, the Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion, the Plantscription Multi-Powered Youth Serum, and the GinZing Oil-Free Energy-Boosting Gel Moisturizer. Whew.
Traveling is stressful, which means your pits will be working overtime. That’s where Malin + Goetz’s Eucalyptus and Bergamot mini deodorant comes in. This all-natural deodorant is aluminum-, alcohol-, paraben-, and residue-free, and comes in a compact travel size.
This super-popular French, hydrating cleansing water is *chef’s kiss* for when you need to freshen up quickly. Just squeeze a bit onto a cotton ball or pad, and swipe across your face to remove dirt and makeup and feel rejuvenated within seconds. It’s perfect for situations when you might need to wash your face but don’t want to have to go through the whole lather, rinse, dry process.
The ultimate travel makeup product, Nars’ Mini Radiant Creamy Concealer specifically covers up dark circles and blemishes flawlessly with buildable coverage for up to 16 hours, while offering a dose of radiance—hence the name.
Flights and certain weather conditions can seriously dehydrate your mane. Moroccanoil’s products quench your dry strands with hydrating and restorative argan oil, vitamin E, antioxidants, and other naturally derived, moisture-infusing ingredients. This Mediterranean Escape: Volume set comes with shampoo and conditioner, an oil treatment, and hair and body mist.
This hair-straightening iron has a 4.3-star average rating from over 7,000 reviews on Amazon, and will kick frizz to the curb if you’re traveling to a humid area. Its nano titanium plates help keep your locks smooth and shiny with its superior heat retention technology—all in a compact, portable size. It’s also a must-have if you have a thick mane that tends to need some textural help in different climates. “I have medium thick, naturally curly hair and this iron had no problem getting all of my hair straight,” a reviewer gushed on Amazon.
Race ya to the TSA line.
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