Which Beauty Products Can You Not Live Without?
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OK, sure, that's a loaded question, but as many of us are traveling for summer, I think it's an interesting topic: Which items in your makeup/toilette collection do you happily swap out for whatever's available in a travel size, and what products do you decant into smaller bottles, buy expensive travel sizes of, or even travel with full sizes if you're driving somewhere?
We've been traveling a bit this summer, and I've realized that sometimes the extra hassle of having my preferred products is worth it.
Some of the products I've found I can't live without:
- I brought the full size of my preferred conditioner, as well as an almost-empty full size of one of my favorite shampoos and one of my favorite gels. (I'm still avoiding silicones, etc., while I do the Curly Girl method, so hotel shampoos aren't great — and I had overestimated my ability in rural areas to get the cheap VO5 and Suave products that are OK.)
- I'm very happy to have a travel size of my Clinique moisturizer — that was more providence (it came in a gift set, perhaps?), but I'm going to keep an eye out in the future.
- Makeup brushes: I have a bunch of cute tiny travel sets but I always just end up packing my preferred makeup brushes because if I am putting on makeup, I'd rather it look the way I want it to.
How about you, readers? What are some of the beauty products that you can't live without? (Does anyone have any great tips for putting things in travel-size containers? The one trick I've used for years — squeezing eye makeup remover into contact lens cases — is still a good one for something you only need in small volumes.)
Psst: As of 2024, these are some of Kat's favorite hair products (she largely follows curly hair routines)… but she loves this $30 brush/blowdryer!
Prescription rosacea medication in the AM, prescription tretinoin formula in the PM, both from Curology but under the supervision of my dermatologist. (Not to be a curology ad, but they were a better deal than the compounding pharmacy she was going to send me to.)
I always take a balm cleanser as I like to be 100% sure I get all my makeup and sunscreen off before bed.
Of course sunscreen is non-negotiable – yes, even if I don’t think I will be outside much. I use an asian sunscreen and rotate through because they change their formulations all the time. I rely on fiddysnails for this – I’m currently using Rohto Aqua Gold UV and Country & Stream Honey UV.
Those are the absolute must-haves, but I always carry my other stuff – serums, moisturizers, eye cream, a morning cleanser, and my entire makeup routine – and my clear bag is always at the limit.
I used to travel so much I had duplicates of every toiletry and makeup product so I was packed for travel at all times, but that stuff went bad during 2020-2021, so now I just pack as I do my evening and morning routine at home – everything I used goes into the travel bag. That way I don’t forget anything.
What balm cleanser do you use?
I’m currently using the Plantastic balm from Beauty Pie, which is a membership thing. Closest non membership one that I like is the Glow Recipe Papaya balm cleanser, which was my HG until I joined BP.
My issue is that my vit C and some of my other serums are in glass bottles with droppers and I am afraid to pack them. Any tips?
What cleansing balm do you all recommend?
There is a Cerave vitamin C gel that comes in a squeeze tube.
I stopped using The Ordinary products because I dropped so many of those glass bottles, it was infuriating.
I have traveled with serums in glass bottles and haven’t had any problems with them spilling or breaking. If you’re concerned about spilling, you could wrap the bottle in some plastic wrap before putting it in your makeup bag.
For cleansing balm, I use Farmacy’s Green Clean balm. I’ve also tried Inkey List and Versed’s cleansing balms, which I didn’t love. I’ve heard good things about Then I Met You’s cleansing balm.
I’m a drugstore girl and I like the e.l.f. Holy Hydration balm. Inexpensive and doesn’t break me out (red, sensitive, acne-prone skin).
My favorite cleansing balm is Clinique Take the Day off.
I put all my drops and serums together in one bottle for a trip of a week or less. I do pack one glass bottle for this. It’s never been a problem.
I use the Naturium cleansing balm and really like it. It lasts forever and doesn’t irritate my eyes.
Any suggestions for a primer on skincare?
When I read comments about skincare here, I have no idea what most of the products referenced are. For example, I do not know what a “balm cleanser” is. I may be using one, but it would be because it randomly caught my eye at the store and I bought it and liked it. But for this site, I would have no idea there are chemical and mineral sunscreens, and I still don’t actually know what either is or which category the ones I use (rarely) fit in (but would guess chemical). I am at an age where I am starting to see changes around my eyes and I think I need to start caring about some of these things.
A balm cleanser is a cleanser that’s sort of like a paste or lotion that you rub onto dry skin, then wet and remove with a cloth. It takes all of your makeup off. Some balm cleansers leave a slightly oily residue behind (which has never been a problem for me, I like it) so it’s often recommended to double cleanse, meaning follow the balm cleanse with a liquid cleanser, like one labeled a foaming cleanser or a gel cleanser. These cleansers are usually applied to wet skin and splashed off.
I like the r/skincare subre d d it, but there are lots of brands that will suggest a skincare routine for you if you want to go that route.
At the very least, you need a cleanser, a moisturizer, and a sunscreen.
A cleansing balm is typically an oil-based solid or lotion that “melts” into your skin to remove makeup and sunscreen. I use it bc I wear a pretty hefty sunscreen and eye makeup every day. I follow it with a gentle, non-oil liquid cleanser.
Depending on your specific concerns, you can add a “treatment” in between your cleanser and moisturizer steps. For acne and aging, a retinoid is probably the way to go (usually thru a derm). For dull skin, vitamin C.
Here’s a link with some ideas to get started: https://www.npr.org/2021/10/27/1049607370/build-a-basic-skincare-routine-in-three-steps
Sali Hughes book on beauty is great for this.
Bottom line:
AM: clean + sunscreen
PM: clean + treat
-I buy the $1 Target squeeze bottles for bringing shampoo, conditioner, and – if it’s a short enough trip that I won’t need a full bottle – sunscreen. Plastic wrap between the bottle and lid keeps the just-ok-quality snap-close strength from disaster.
-I have lost count of how many times I’ve refilled the same Clinique eye makeup remover mini bottle that I got as a gift with purchase like 10 years ago
-Contact solution – the mini bottle heads can be popped off to refill and replaced
Minis I find worth purchasing are the Fresh soy cleanser, toothpaste, moisturizer, and shaving cream.
My must-haves:
Cerave Foaming cleanser
Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water
Retin-A 0.05% as anti-acne & anti-aging
Benton UV SPF50 AirFit sunscreen
Aquaphor vaseline in tube – which I use to prevent and heal my extremely sensitive, chapped lips
Paula’s Choice 10% AHA serum – hands down best exfoliator which doesn’t irritate even my hypersensitive skin
Pharmaceria Emotopic Eczema cream for face – probably only available in Poland but it’s gold. I always buy 5 pieces when I am there to use for dry, eczema or just irritated skin. I love it as a base before applying tretinoin.
I have been testing Cerave Retinol serum for a few weeks and it has potential.
Now that Pharmaca is gone, where can I get my skin care items? I’d buy shampoo and conditioner, foot tools, lotions and potions. I do not want to give money to Ama*on. I managed to get a lot of stuff in the final days of Pharmaca clearing out their stock rooms, but I’ll have to buy more eventually.