Packing Toiletries for a Long Trip

If you follow me on Instagram, then you know that I've been on an incredible vacation to South Africa and Zimbabwe. I'm working on a vlog and blog post with details on my trip, but in the meantime, I wanted to share my tips for packing toiletries for such a long vacation. Products for skin, hair and body can take up a lot of room and really weigh down your bags, so for this trip I wanted to pack as lightly as possible.

packing toiletries | skincare

I spent a lot of time thinking about my trip and paring down my routine to just the basics. I knew that I would want a couple of cleansers and cleansing wipes, something for acne, a basic moisturizer, a facial oil, an exfoliator and sunscreen. That might sound like a lot to you, but as a skincare junkie and owner of an indie beauty boutique, I'm always testing out new products.Here's what I decided to bring:

• Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser. This is a classic cleanser that is gentle and effective. The fact that it now comes in a travel size (2 oz) means I didn't have to decant this into a smaller container. Don't forget you can shop with me using this affiliate link to get a discount on your first purchase.
• Rohr Remedy Rosalina Face Cleanser.  The Glossier cleanser is great for days when I'm not wearing any makeup, but when I want a deeper cleanse, I like to use a foaming cleanser. I carry this Rohr Remedy cleanser at CVTD Beauty and I love how it cleanses my face without making it feel tight or dry.
• Ogee Daily Facial Cleansing Cloths.  I always travel with some sort of cleansing cloths, especially if I'm going somewhere that's hot. After walking around sight seeing, it feels so good to wipe off all the sweat and sunscreen. Plus, I've noticed that sometimes my skin with react to the water while I'm traveling. For example, while we were on safari I noticed little bumps on my face (not acne). I suspected that it was the water because the manager of the lodge told us that the water had high lime levels. So, for the next couple of days, I just used cleansing cloths and didn't put any water on my face and the bumps cleared up. Micellar water works great too, but it's not as travel-friendly.
• Glossier Soothing Face Mist. Full disclosure - this isn't my favorite facial mist, but it's pretty good. I ended up using this more on my hair than my face this trip, and I think it helped keep my scalp from feeling too dry and itchy.
• Pixi Glow Tonic.  I've mentioned this before (in this post) and it's a cult-favorite for a reason. I knew that for a 2-week trip, I'd definitely want to bring some type of exfoliator. When I saw a cute baby version at Target, I figured it would be perfect for traveling. Since I knew I'd be out in the sun, I opted to use this on just a couple of nights. Some people like to use chemical exfoliators in the morning because they smooth the skin and can be great makeup prep. However, if I know I'll be spending a lot of time in the sun, then I will use a chemical exfoliator at night instead just to keep my skin from getting sunburned during the day.
• Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly.  Gel moisturizers are so good for hot weather. They feel lighter on the face and wear better in humid weather. This is a great basic moisturizer for normal / combination skin.
• Glossier Super Pure. Lots of Glossier came with me to South Africa and that's because I know how my skin reacts to these products. Glossier Super Pure is very light and works well to treat and prevent breakouts, so this is a travel must have for me.
• Glossier Zit Stick. Zit Stick is one of Glossier's newer skincare products and it works pretty well. I mainly brought it due to the small, travel-friendly packaging. It's main ingredient is benzoyl peroxide and I think my skin responds pretty well to it, so I'm glad I packed this one.
• Mullein & Sparrow Rosemary and Clary Sage Facial Serum. I love this serum to balance my combination skin. It's lightly moisturizing, but doesn't clog my pores, so it's great to layer over the Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly.
• Mullein & Sparrow Evening Primrose Oil.  I almost always pack an oil that can be used on face, body and hair, so I decided to bring this one. When used on the face, Evening Primrose Oil helps with hormonal acne and rosacea. When used on the body, it helps with psoriasis and eczema. Basically, this oil is packed with fatty acids and vitamins C and E, so it's very healing.
• Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask.  Airplanes and hotel rooms are super drying, so I always pack a good lip balm (or three). I got a tiny travel size in a recent Allure Beauty Box, so I decided to bring it. This is the only lip mask that I've tried, and I find that when I use it at night, my lips are very soft in the morning.
• Laguna Herbals Eye Balm.  I received a free sample of this eye balm at the Indie Beauty Expo in LA earlier this year. I wouldn't recommend using an eye balm before makeup, but it's great at night.
• Glossier Invisible Shield. Although I prefer a physical sunscreen (like this one) for everyday, when I know I'll be sweating a lot, I'll use a chemical sunscreen. I've mentioned Glossier Invisible Shield many times and it's a great sunscreen because it's light, totally sheer and doesn't make my skin look greasy.
• Super secret facial oil from CVTD Beauty (coming soon!). I'm working on a facial oil for CVTD Beauty and hope to have it in production and ready for purchase very soon. More details to come.

packing toiletries | haircare

Since I got my hair braided, I didn't really need to bring much for my hair. I misted my scalp with Glossier Soothing Face Mist daily to add light moisture and used ON Natural Edge Control to lay my baby hairs. Pretty simple.Let me know if you have any tips for packing toiletries for long trips. I'm always trying to be as efficient as possible when packing (easier said than done).