Travel Skincare Tips and Product Recommendations
I used to love packing skincare samples in my travel beauty bag. I’d grab the samples I had hoarded over the years like a squirrel in pre-hibernation mode and just shove them in my carry on. Samples were great since they were light, disposable, leak-free, and airport security ready.
But when I started traveling more and more, I realized that samples were good for…well, sampling and maybe serving as backups.
My skin would sometimes react negatively to the new product sample or the product just wasn’t effective for me. Plus, I already had my routine in place so I would miss using products my skin liked. I hate changing up my routine on a daily basis, so why did I think bringing a bunch of new product samples on a trip would be a good idea?
So I decided to ditch the samples and create my own travel-friendly Korean skincare kit.
Below are my favorite products (and tips!) to take while traveling. They all come in 100 ml or less for airport security readiness.
COSRX Standard Pad Case
A MUST! I picked this up right before knowing I’d be on four long flights in a span of two weeks. I know I could technically bring an entire cleansing pad container in my bag but I prefer to pack light. With this portable case, I can easily access my cleansing pads on a flight and clean my face of dead skin cells (mine and others’—remember we’re sharing the air!), sweat, and sebum.
I usually whip this out before sleeping during the flight and right before I get off the plane to refresh my face. Once, I didn’t wipe my face during a 6-hour domestic flight because I thought it’d be okay. It was not okay. After my flight, my used pad was a pale yellow shade. Ugh!
Plus, you can custom decorate it with stickers they provide. How cute and creative! This is one of my favorite purchases to date.
NEOGEN Real Fresh Green Tea Cleansing Stick
Cleansing sticks are great for travel since I don’t have to worry about messy leaks. And if you have a long layover, it’s quite easy to pull this out and do a quick cleanse in the bathroom.
I like the Neogen cleansing stick for its effectiveness in cleansing and gentle exfoliating benefits. Love how this pH 5.5 cleanser is mild enough for my sensitive skin. The olive oil and camelia oil in the formula feel amazingly soft on my skin.
I love multi-purpose products. Atoclassic Real Tonic Soothing Moist Mist duals as a toner and a mist! It’s a skin loving pH 5.5 formula that’s hydrating and soothing. I can use it right after cleansing to balance and prep my skin, and throughout the day to keep my skin in check. I also like that it’s quick absorbing since I’m always in a rush when traveling.
The 80 ml size fits perfectly in my purse. As such, it’s my official on-the-go and on-flight mist. According to the World Health Organization, the humidity in airplanes is extremely low: less than 20%. Compare that to a normal rate of above 30% in our homes. As a result, our skin is prone to more irritations and increased dryness during flights. Aside from doing sheet masks, you can spray this on your face frequently throughout a flight to retain moisture and soothe irritations.
Our skin is prone to more irritations and increased dryness during flights.
Also, Kristina Holey, a facialist and skincare expert, explains that “with the [extreme] dehydration on flight, your skin’s pH can also increase, which leaves you susceptible to bacteria.” The Atoclassic Real Tonic Soothing Mist contains Goldthred (a medicinal herb) as a key ingredient which is known for its anti-inflammation and anti-bacterial benefits. Another reason to spray often and liberally: it helps me feel less grossed out about the communal pathogenic plane air.
*This mist is also sold as a set with a travel sized (30ml) essence which can be a nice addition to a travel kit. You could also opt to for the mini-sized Atoclassic First Toner!
Sheet Masks
Thank God sheet masks are easy to pack because I pack a lot of them. I have three purposes for these:
- Essence/Serum/Ampoule – To travel light, instead of bringing bottles (or random samples) of serums I stock up on my favorite sheet masks during my trip to do the job.
- Hydration During Flights – As mentioned, the dehydration during flights is real. Restore hydration with sheet masks during flights. Also, build up your skin’s moisture barrier with sheet masks before flights.
- Post Flight Repair – Even when I try my best to protect my skin while flying, there are times when I don’t do a good job because I fall asleep during flight. Or, other factors such as stress, lack of sleep, and airplane food still affect my skin. So I turn to sheet masks to give my skin an extra boost for recovery after a flight.
Banobagi Milk Thistle Repair Cream
This is my new found love! Banobagi Milk Thistle Repair Cream is soothing to my skin, the formula is non-greasy, the texture is a dream, and it’s unscented. It’s also lightweight but very moisturizing which makes it perfect for a travel moisturizer. I love that it comes in a 50 ml tube so it will fit nicely in my ziplock bag with my other products for TSA.
*Another option would be A’pieu’s Madecassoside Cream. I find their plastic tubes extremely lightweight for travel and it is also 50ml.
SPF is a non-negotiable. You’re exposed to more UV rays and more intense UV rays when flying since you are closer to the sun. Plus, if you’re traveling for leisure there’s a good chance you’ll be spending a lot of time outside.
I always travel with Earth’s Recipe Waterful Sun Gel. First, because look at the size! So cute, so travel-friendly. Second, it’s lightweight and moisturizing, but also has broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. You can’t beat 50+ PA++++!
This sun gel also absorbs well and leaves my skin with a smooth finish, making it an excellent makeup base.
My skin loves consistency and I can’t let a trip get in the way of my skincare routine. After using my travel-friendly Korean skincare kit, I refuse to go back to surviving off of samples when traveling.
What are your skincare must-haves for flying?
Do you like packing samples or creating your own travel kit when traveling?
For more on K-Beauty and travel, check out our post “In-Flight K-Beauty Skincare: How To & Why.”
[wps_products titles=”Atoclassic Real Tonic Soothing Moist Mist, Earth’s Recipe Waterful Sun Gel, Atoclassic Skin Calming Set ” limit=”4″]
