Skincare Travel Essentials
Or How to Keep Your Skincare Obsession Alive While Living Out of a Backpack
I know this isn’t exactly the article you expect to land on when you click through to a travel and photography blog written by a girl with no fixed address. And yet, here we are, because I still take care of my skin, and there is zero room for negotiation when it comes to shrinking my toiletry bag down to backpack size (and trust me, you should have seen the size of that toiletry bag three years ago when I started traveling). I did a massive sort through everything, basically stopped wearing makeup and doing my nails altogether, and came back to the essentials, taking care of my skin and protecting it from the sun so I can delay the first signs of aging for as long as humanly possible.
So here’s the mini list of things that live in my backpack and never leave my side.
5 non negotiable products
(okay yes, toothbrush and toothpaste are probably more essential, but I’m going to assume you’ve got the basics of hygiene covered and you’ll figure that part out on your own while packing)
SPF
This is genuinely the essential. I carry a big bottle for the body and a smaller one for the face that never leaves my bag.
If you don’t know where to start with skincare, start by wearing sunscreen every single day, and I mean every day, even when it’s raining or grey outside. You do not mess around with the sun. A 36 year old friend of mine gave me that advice, and given the state of her skin, the woman genuinely looks 25, I haven’t broken that rule since. Especially living in New Zealand, where you see the damage sun exposure does to people who end up looking ten years older than they actually are.
One tip for sunscreens that fly with you, skip the spray bottles. With the cabin pressure or whatever it is, my beautiful Avene cream once exploded mid flight, and let me tell you, starting a camping road trip with half your clothes covered in sunscreen is not the dream.
Here are the two creams I use.
Cicaplast Balm
The ultimate product for any self respecting backpacker. This cream, or honestly any cica cream, is a miracle worker. A burn, a scar, a weird random mark that shows up on your skin out of nowhere? It all fades thanks to this stuff. It’s been with me since my fall, and I’m already seeing real results on that huge scar on my knee.
Lip balm
I’ve always had chapped lips, and it’s about as annoying as it gets, especially when you’re heading into dry or cold countries. But I found the fix, and it costs less than 10 USD, so stop reaching for that old Nivea stick that just dries your lips out even more and try this instead, you’ll thank me later. I also use it on the spots where my skin gets ultra dry, because when you’re literally traveling with your house on your back, you learn to appreciate a good multipurpose product.
The best deodorant in the world, that isn’t actually a deodorant
This glycolic acid exfoliant is genuinely incredible. You apply it under your arms at night after your shower, with your hands since there’s never room to pack cotton pads, and poof, no more sweat smell.
If you happen to be somewhere brutally hot, you can still bring backup in the form of the only actual deodorant that genuinely works.
I also use glycolic acid to exfoliate my face, alternating with a BHA, specifically this one.
It works on lips, body, basically everywhere, it’s unreal. I also use it to detox my scalp, about 15 minutes before washing my hair.
That’s the list I’d take if I weren’t a full blown skincare addict, just the bare essentials. But let’s be honest, it’s still missing a few things.
Starting with, you know, washing your face.
Cleanser
Just a foaming cream I use twice a day before rinsing with water. Come on, you always manage to find water to brush your teeth, so washing your face is possible too.
Hydrating cream
I’ll admit the packaging isn’t exactly travel friendly, but it’s such good value. Zero greasy feeling on your skin, and non comedogenic too, it’s honestly unreal.
Serums
Niacinamide
I used to deal with a lot of excess oil, and this serum completely changed that. I don’t shine at all anymore. I apply it first thing in the morning, right after cleansing my face.
Hyaluronic acid
The must have for hydration and plump looking skin. I use it morning and night, before my moisturizer.
Retinol
The magic product that smooths out fine lines and refines texture, it’s almost like I got botox done. It’s so powerful that you should never use it at the same time as a peel, so I alternate it with my two exfoliants.
And that’s my toiletry bag. At the end of the day it’s not much compared to my mom’s bathroom cabinets, but it’s everything I actually need.
If you’re curious about everything else that makes the cut in my backpack, from camera gear to the random stuff I never travel without, I’ve got a whole breakdown of my packing essentials waiting for you right here.
