How to pack your skin care toiletries for that holiday!

I don’t know about you but I always get flustered before going away on a trip (especially a long one) on what to take with me. Clothes are never a problem as I can always find clothes to buy but being stuck in the middle of nowhere or in a foreign country without my toiletries…..now that’s a problem!

So I have a few tricks and self-rules to keep on track, make sure I have packed everything and stored correctly and I haven’t taken my entire bathroom contents.
So I am going to show you my check list of items I am taking – ie Hayley’s Toiletries Travel kit:

Hand Luggage

When it comes to hand luggage, remember that you can’t have any aerosol cans and no liquid bottles over 100ml.

All liquids need to be stored in a sealed bag. Place this at the top of your bag near the zipper opening or in an accessible outside pocket for security.

• Plastic re-sealable bag: I normally buy a bag of Ziploc ones, or something similar, that has a re-sealable top. I not only put my liquid hand luggage items in here but also stuff going in my normal luggage.
• Hand/face/wet wipes: I am going overseas at the start of January on a long flight (with a few stops) and a travelling journey of 21 hours and I hate feeling dirty. I used to use a little waterless hand sanitizer but I ended up smelling of chemicals plus I couldn’t use this on my body. I now buy the Kleenex Hand and Face Wipes (Aqua); available at most PnPs for R8.99, as it is easy to fit in the hand luggage and really helps to freshen up on the plane.
• Toothbrush & small tube of toothpaste: I have a few that I have collected from hotels I have stayed at, yes I am a bit of a kleptomaniac, and are perfect for traveling. They are small in a little bag and a small tube of toothpaste, perfect for one use. Now if you are lucky enough to be travelling first or business class, you get these on the plane. I have been on some flights where they provided me, yes the plebe in economy, with one as well. If you don’t have a stash of ones like me, go a buy a small cheap toothbrush (Pnp have them starting at R6.99) and a 50ml tube of toothpaste. I normally put this in a separate re-sealable bag (small one) as I have had cream link onto my toothbrush in my hand luggage and couldn’t use it.
• Small brush: I have a very small one without a handle that has a mirror at the back that fits into the palm of my hand.
• Lip balm: my lips get dry on flights and I tend to take a lip balm that I will use on my holiday. I like Labello Sun, the yellow one, or labello medium, white one, as they both have SPF factors.
• Moisturiser: I use a sample moisturiser for my hand luggage. If you don’t have one go to any major cosmetics counter and ask for a sample. Most of the sales ladies will tell you that you need to buy something first but not always. When I buy my normal size pot I always ask the lady for a few sample sizes as well.
• Eye drops: I always have a small bottle for the plane. My eyes dry out and my husband wears contacts so it’s a must for both of us.

Main Luggage Toiletry Bag

I make sure that all my items are sealed as I have had too many trips where I have arrived at my destination with cream or make-up all over my clothes. The extra Ziploc bags are use here and I even take a few empty ones for any items I buy them and want to bring back.

If I have enough space I take full bottles and then after my shopping spree at my destination I leave the bigger cheaper items there like shampoo, body creams, etc…
If you don’t have enough space in your bag for the big bulky bottles, you can buy small empty bottles from most pharmacies. Now if you are traveling with a friend or family member, try and share the bigger items (if you are sharing a room). No point in each lugging a whole bottle of shampoo each.

Don’t fill bottles up all the way; squeeze out any extra air then close to account for cabin pressure.
I never take a hairdryer as most hotels have them in the rooms. If this is a styling staple of yours, contact the hotel and confirm that they have them available.
• Shampoo & Conditioner: I normally buy the Tresemme 100ml bottles ( R14.99 from PnP ) as they are small and easy to fit into my bag
• Cream: I take body butter as it has very little chance of leaking (too thick) and it is relatively small compared to normal creams. I sometimes take a hotel body cream if I have any nice ones from a recent hotel visit.
• Normal size hair brush: Try not to take your favourite one as you might leave it there like I did on my last trip
• Tweezers: for those stray hairs and naughty brows
• Razor: You can use your conditioner as a shaving cream and save space
• Nail File
• Deodorant: my fav is Mitchum
• Toothbrush & Tooth paste
• Earbuds and cotton swabs: for make-up and emergencies
• Monthly items: even if my menstrual cycle is not meant to fall over my trip I take stuff just incase. In some countries they don’t sell tampons, so if you do use them make sure (especially in Eastern countries) you take a few just in case.
• Perfume or eau de toilette: I normally take a sample bottle of my favourite or buy a new bottle at duty free (much cheaper).
• Sunblock: Really important at this time of the year and not matter where you go you will need it – even on the ski slopes you can get burnt.
• Facial cleanser & moisturiser: I always take what I always use. You know what’s best for your skin so stick to it.
• Make-up wipes: I get lazy on holiday so I always take a bag of wipes. There are great ones out now ( TLC, clean & clear, Nivea,etc )
• Plasters: I always carry this for emergencies.

Now for make-up:

I never take my favourite most expensive make-up items with me as I have a huge fear that my luggage will never arrive and all those discontinued items and colours I love will be gone forever…like my Olay complete care multi-radiance moisturiser ( without the self tanner ). So I take a general mix that is easy to replace.

So a little trick I do to save my pressed powders, which I stole from a friend, is to place a cotton pad on top of the powder inside the compact and then close it (or cotton ball for smaller ones). This saves the pressed powder from becoming a crumbling mess. I learnt this after have my smashbox pressed bronzer powder becoming a mess inside the container – twice. This really works a treat!
Also, try to place your makeup bag in the middle of your clothes for a soft cushioning to protect it. Anything that can break or leak should be placed in a bag to protect your clothing.
Make-up must to pack:
• Eye shadow palette: I generally go for either am eye shadow palette with all colours or I do one with earthly tones that go with everything. Loose ones can get lost, left behind and take up too much space.
• Gloss and 1 lipstick: pick a neutral gloss and a nigh time lipstick that way if you want to wear the lipstick during the day you can tone it down with the gloss.
• Two eyeliners: one brown, one black – day and night
• One foundation: your usual
• One concealer: for any rhino horns that pop up
• Two Blushes: I normally go with a bronzer and then a nice pink blush
• Setting powder: this hides the shine especially on hot vacations.
• One Mascara: you don’t need more.
• Eyelash curler: because….
• A small brush set: Woolies have a nice travel set size of brushes but honestly I take my favourites (about 8 in all).

Now, most importantly, enjoy yourself and relax because stressing and worrying doesn’t help the body and happy healthy you is a beautiful you! Relaxing and getting away from the stresses of today is one of the most important antidotes to stress which can contribute to illness. There are many benefits to the body like:
 It gives the heart a rest by slowing the heart rate
 It reduces blood pressure
 It slows the rate of breathing, which reduces the need for oxygen
 It increases blood flow to the muscles and decreases muscle tension
 This in turn gives us more energy, better sleep, an enhanced immunity system, increases our concentration levels, soothes our emotions and helps reduce headaches and pain.

So go out there, enjoy yourselves and take that much needed break you deserve and dont forget your skin care products!

Article by: Renee http://www.beautybulletin.com/blog-directory/our-bloggers/the-lite-side-of-life