Holiday packing is never simple, but these non-obvious beauty travel essentials will elevate your toiletry bag - and stop you getting in a tight spot while you're away.
Whether it's our best long-lasting perfumes or our best hyaluronic acid serums, most of us tend to jam-pack our holiday beauty bags full - but we'll still end up in some sort of sticky situation while we're away because there was something we didn't think of.
Well, as a Beauty Editor who has also been fortunate enough to do a lot of travelling, I have my beauty packing down to a tee. These are not-so-obvious essentials I always pack - and usually end up sharing...
The non-obvious beauty travel essentials you need to pack for your next break
Whether it's for looks, comfort or making an impression with your scent, these are the beauty travel essentials I always pack for my holidays...
Foot cream
We all love a pre-holiday pedicure, but when it comes to aftercare, we can sometimes be a bit lax. With all the sun, sea, sand and walking around that comes with a holiday - in the same period of time we're getting our toes out in most of our outfits - topping up with a bit of foot cream will definitely not got amiss to help your shiny pedi last longer.
RRP: £9.50 for 88ml
Wave goodbye to dryness, itchiness and irritation, this rich, yet non-greasy, formula helps gently exfoliate the skin without stripping it of its natural hydration. Packed full of ceramides, Salicylic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid, this CeraVe foot cream offers a smoother finish.
RRP: £25 for 90ml
For the full works, this nourishing footcare kit comes with an ultra-hydrating foot cream and an exfoliating smoothing board designed to buff away dry skin cells, leaving a supple feel.
RRP: £16 for 75ml
For those looking for more intense moisture, this cream works to reduce the look of cracked and hard skin with its harmony of hydrating ingredients. What's more, it also minimises the risk of unwanted odours.
Hair serum
While this may seem obvious to some, my naturally-frizzy hair had to endure a long three days in a humid climate very serum-less after I failed to pack some in my toiletry bag. Take a couple of options, depending on your hair type - but if you're someone whose hair is affected badly by moisture, packing some of the best hair products for humidity is definitely a good idea.
RRP: £26 for 45ml
Help tame your locks, smooth frizz and protect it from any heat damage with this OUAI hair oil. Apply a few drops onto wet hair to achieve a high-gloss finish, or alternatively use as a hair mask at night before rinsing off in the morning.
RRP: £28 for 90ml
Protecting hair from pollution, controlling static and tangled tresses and revealing a satin shine. What's not to love about this hair serum?
RRP: £31 for 45ml
Looking for a serum to help manage your locks? This option from Living Proof speeds up time spent on styling to reveal a softer, conditioned feel with a shiny finish.
Cuticle oil
With lots of sun around and our hands probably experiencing a lot of water and sand, our holiday manicures can quickly fade. Pack a cuticle oil to top up once or twice a day and keep your pre-hol BIAB nails or gel manicure looking fresh.
RRP: £15 for 14ml
Protect your mani from chips and breaks with this multi-tasking cuticle oil. Its list of superfood ingredients means that applying a swipe just once a week helps to maintain the look and feel of healthy nails. .
RRP: £19.90 for 14.8ml
For those looking for a lightweight oil to apply quickly on the go, this fast-absorbing OPI number boasts a mess-free dropper applicator but still gets the job done.
RRP: £10.50 for 7.4ml
With healing and rehydrating benefits that work to promote nail growth and nourish dry cuticles, this intensive oil can even be used on any patches of dry and rough skin, or in the bath for an extra moisturising soak.
Hydrating face mask
If you're heading somewhere where you'll be spending most of the day in the sun, the sweaty heat or even a polluted city environment, one of the best face masks can keep your skin looking fresh and feeling healthy and comfortable - and prevent any post-trip acne flare-ups!
RRP: £27 for 15ml
A cooling face mask sounds like a dream after a day spent in the sun. This two-step formula is designed to enrich your skin as you sleep. The first hyaluronic acid and rosewater gel rehydrates your complexion, whilst the second water-based cream locks in the moisture, unveiling dewy skin by the time you wake up.
RRP: £16.25 for 50ml
For those with dry and sensitive skin, this calming option from Avène refreshes and soothes dull complexions for a plumper and radiant finish.
RRP: £36 for 50g
For a spa-like experience, opt for this honey-blend mask with a nutrient-packed formula that promotes hydration and nourishment.
Lip mask
Most of us won't go anywhere without a trusty hydrating lip balm or two, but topping this with a nightly lip mask can really lock in the moisture and help lips stay softer, plumper and more comfortable for longer. It's a particular help in a warm climate or if you're going through a period of wearing more makeup than usual.
RRP: £21 for 20g
There's a reason why everyone raves about the Laneige lip masks. This non-sticky treatment works its magic as you sleep, hydrating, conditioning and smoothing lips for up to eight hours - plus, there's an array of flavours and tints to choose from.
RRP: £27 for 9g
For a softer fuller-looking pout, this jelly mask's formula restores moisture whilst working to repair damage, calm irritation and strengthen your skin barrier.
RRP: £25 for 10g
Whenever your lips are in need of some love and care, this overnight recovery treatment is a great option. Packed with berry wax, hyaluronic acid and shea butter for an all-round soothed and silky finish.
Travel perfume - but not as you might expect
Holiday scents usually means old testers, fragrance discovery sets or if we're really organised then a snazzy perfume atomiser - but there are other travel perfume formats that can work even better and give you more lasting scent.
Jo Loves does a very cool Fragrance Paintbrush, which dispenses little amounts of scent along your skin wherever you brush. Or Glossier's famous You fragrance comes in a solid perfume format that you can rub on wherever you need a top-up. Or if you want to still go for a liquid perfume Marc Jacobs does handy little capsules that you can take on-the-go to top up whenever you need. Much easier to carry around and they make for subtle top-ups.
RRP: £40 for 14ml
This clever refillable product dispenses a gel-form fragrance via a fluffy brush that dries down instantly. Its slim and fuss-free design makes it perfect for travelling and reapplying when you're out and about.
RRP: £32 for 3g
Everyone loves Glossier's personal fragrance, 'You', and now it arrives in a pocket-sized wax-based formula. Simply swipe onto your skin, whether on your neck or wrists, for a scent that follows you around all day.
RRP: £28 for 30 capsules
These single-dose capsules are yet another innovative, luggage-friendly way to apply fragrance on your travels. Capturing a cocktail or grapefruit, pear, wild rose and musky cedarwood, these gel-filled capsules arrive in a handy tin which can be slipped into your bag for touch ups throughout the day.
Lip tint
If you like to have some colour on your lips but don't want to stress about top-ups or fading colour, a lip tint is a great choice. The best lip tints will bestow a sheen of flattering colour and most will last for a few hours at least - if not all day. The perfect solution for long days at the beach or out and about exploring.
RRP: £18 for 2.5g
Don't be scared off by the daring green shade of this lip tint, as it reacts with your pH level, transforming into a subtle pink hue as it melts into your lips.
RRP: £35 for 4g
This hydrating and smoothing tinted lip balm from Tatcha protects your pout's delicate skin from sun damage.
RRP: £32 for 2.3g
If you're looking for a sheer flush of colour, this Bobbi Brown lip tint is the answer. Its harmony of oils help comfort, condition and soften your lips for a healthy sheen.
Lightweight mascara
For me, lightweight mascara is a must-have on any holiday. Whether it's a beach and pool afternoon or a long day out and about, I don't like to have a completely just-got-out-of-bed look, so lightweight mascara gives my face a little pop that makes me look just finished enough.
RRP: £20 for 8.5g
Offering up to 12 hours of wear, achieve that extensions effect, with this lightweight fibre-packed formula coats each individual for a defined, lifted and lengthened look.
RRP: £28 for 8g
Enhance your natural lashes with this conditioning mascara that has a weightless and wearable feel to it. Its dual designed brush also allows you to choose between a volumising or lengthening application.
RRP: £26 for 8ml
If thicker and fuller lashes are more up your street, this volumising mascara from Milk Makeup boasts a nourishing hemp seed oil formula with added fibres that coat your lashes for a high-volume look.
If you have a trip coming up soon, make sure these beauty essentials are in your toiletry bag!
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