It’s not difficult to find curated lists of travel beauty tips these days, but rarely are they from people who actually travel for a living.
Curious to discover what the leading voices in travel today pack into their hand luggage, backpacks and suitcases, I've grilled editors and experts from some of the world’s leading publications, including national broadsheets, specialist magazines and digital platforms championing authentic off-the-beaten-path travel.
From aeroplane skincare advice and full-size beauty products you can fly with to the best Tatcha products for long-haul flights, these nine tips, tricks and buys will leave you looking and feeling fresh whether you’re jetting off to India, a magical island or a European hidden gem.
9 travel editors top beauty lessons
Anya Hindmarch transparent two-layer toiletry bags are great, as you can just chuck them through security without taking anything out, and you always get away with more than you're meant to take. You can see what you’re looking for easily, too. Inside, I’ll often have a 111Skin Black Diamond Face Sheet for the flight; no one will disturb you whilst wearing one of these, believe me! And you arrive looking so fresh-faced. Laneige Lip Mask is my go-to; it’s so comforting and so moisturising. And don’t forget to drink lots of water.
Claire Irvin, Head of Travel, The Times and The Sunday Times
I was backpacking around Southeast Asia when I read how Victoria Beckham swears by dabbing Johnson’s Baby Oil onto her face before getting on a plane. To keep her skin feeling soft and hydrated without clogging up her pores, she’d explained. As a regular traveller, I knew how unrelenting aeroplane air could be on my face. So, I tried it, and haven’t looked back. 20 years on, I still pat the gentle skin oil onto my face before leaving for the airport, and wash it off on the other end. The result? Skin that retains moisture no matter how long the journey.
Karen Edwards, Travel Writer and Editor
When a hairdresser told me the importance of soaking your hair before a swim, it was a game changer. Your locks are like a sponge, so instead of letting them "fill up" with chlorine or salty water, always saturate them first with clean water. Better yet, smooth in a great leave-in mask to save you from coming home from your trip with brittle, damaged tresses. I never go on a beach break without Philip Kingsley’s Swimcap mask, which I apply to rinsed hair. It makes it look shiny and sleek, but crucially doesn't feel sticky when you wear your hair in an updo for the day.
Hayley Spencer, Freelance travel editor
I write a lot about wildlife and conservation, so using ethical, reef-safe products which won’t harm the marine environment is a priority for me. A good friend in travel PR recently became an Ambassador for Tropic, and I love the brand's natural, organic, vegan and cruelty-free skincare, especially the Sun Day Dewy Facial SPF and Great Barrier Sun Lotion. While they’re made in Britain, the products feature sustainably sourced ingredients from the tropics, so they’re not just planet-friendly, but also smell amazing. Tropic’s sulphate-and paraben-free hydrating Hair Feast Deep Conditioning Treatment and nourishing Hair Smooth Radiance Oil are a treat after a day snorkelling in the sea and sun, and they have travel-sized holiday skincare sets, too.
Lauren Jarvis, Editor, JRNY Travel Magazine
I'm on a flight at least once a month, which can be hell on my skincare routine. I make sure to keep travel-size versions of my important products on deck so that my skin doesn't pay the price for my galavanting. A few faves that stay in my toiletry bag are Shani Darden's 2-step Exfoliating Face Peel and Dr. Jart+ Cyro Rubber Cooling Mask. No one wants to look dry and tired after a long flight, so Tatcha Dewy Skin Moisturiser is my go-to...and it lasts! I'm absolutely addicted to how soft EADEM Le Chouchou Lip Balm keeps my lips. The colours also help you look put together right off the plane. And lastly, Touchland Hand Sanitizer because what good is all of this skincare if you're doing it with nasty hands!
Danielle Pointdujour, Senior Print Editor, Travel + Leisure
My skin is sensitive at the best of times, but throw in sun and humidity (or wind, snow and freezing temperatures), plus dehydration from air travel, greasy sunscreen and jet lag, and it quickly becomes red, inflamed and uncomfortable. So I know to keep my skincare as simple as possible when I travel – that means no new products, no perfumes, no unnecessary ingredients. CeraVe is one of the only brands my skin tolerates, so I always have two reusable minis in my bathroom that I keep topped up and ready to grab and go – one with CeraVe Moisturising Lotion and one with CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. It keeps my routine hassle-free, consistent and affordable.
Annabel Grossman, Global Travel Editor, The Independent
It might be the oldest trick in the book, but when your in-transit pouch only has so much room, doubling a good lipstick as blush is both resourceful and chic. Refy has an option made exactly for this kind of pairing. I love the shade ‘Amber’: a natural coral that feels light, fresh and instantly brightening.
Sofia de la Cruz, Travel Editor, Wallpaper*
There is nothing worse than settling into the middle seat of a long-haul flight and realising you need to sleep. SnoozeBand has made that prospect considerably less grim. It is essentially an eye mask with built-in headphones, so it blocks out light and lets you listen to an audiobook without having earbuds pressed into your head. It also means there is one fewer thing to remember when packing. On planes, buses or in unfamiliar hotel rooms, jetlagged, I put it on, play something soothing and fall asleep in ten minutes without fail.
Christy Spring, Deputy Editor, Escapism
I always travel with my RMK Comfort Airy Shine Lipstick in Shade 10. I picked it up in Osaka during a trip to Japan a couple of years ago, and I now carry it with me wherever I go. It works well as a great everyday lip colour that’s soft, lightweight and long-lasting, and it has just the right amount of shine. But I also love that it doubles as a blush stick that gives a beautiful glossy red tint, and it's super easy to apply and looks natural. I pack light, so it helps me glam up for evening dinners without having to carry other products.
Zinara Rathnayake, Travel Writer & Guidebook Author for Lonely Planet Sri Lanka
