Traveling is all fun and games until you start to wonder, How in the world am I going to upkeep my skin care routine? Whether you have a 10-step skin-care routine or stick with the basics, maintenance and consistency are key when it comes to maintaining your glow. That’s exactly why your skin will thank you for becoming familiar with the best travel skin-care kits.
Of course, what you put into your body is as important as what you put on your skin.
“First of all, I tell people who are traveling that they should hydrate and drink plenty of water, since the airplane dehydrates them,” says dermatologist Anna Guanche, MD, who owns Bella Skin Institute in Calabasas. According to Dr. Guanche, you also want to be mindful of how much caffeine and alcohol you drink on travel days because they can “exacerbate the dry, sallow look [people] can sometimes have after traveling.”
As far as skin care goes, Dr. Guanche adds, “a light hydrating hyaluronic acid serum that is fragrance-free is ideal… Some individuals who are very comfortable don’t mind wearing a hydrating mask about an hour before landing.” If you’re not quite comfortable looking like Jason from Friday the 13th around your airplane companions, you might also consider using eye masks, says Dr. Guanche. Either way, you want to be sure that you’re keeping up with your skin care regimen when you’re traveling.
Read on for 12 travel skin care kits that can help you keep your skin in tip-top shape while you’re traveling for the holidays—or, really, whenever.
The best skin-care kits to pack in your carry-on to keep your skin glowing
Murad Renewal At Home — $60.00
Originally $86, now $60
Even though “at home” is in the name, this is absolutely one of the best skin-care travel kits. It’s best for dry skin, but normal, combination, and oily skin can also use the products in this set. Since a lot of the products contain hyaluronic acid, it’s safe to say Dr. Guanche would recommend this kit to keep skin hydrated while on the go.
Tatcha Mini Treasure Set — $70.00
The Tatcha Mini Treasure Set is a great way to sample some of the Tatcha Greats. You get the one-step The Camellia Cleansing Oil as well as The Deep Cleanse, The Essence, The Water Cream, and The Dewy Skin Cream. All are formulated to infuse maximum hydration that truly does show (W+G editors can vouch for this). What more could one ask for from a travel skin care kit?
Beekman 1802 Clinically Kind Probiotic Skincare Set — $46.00
Originally $65, now $46
Normally $65, this kit is currently on sale for $45.50. The products include barrier-repairing goat milk and probiotics, which help fight free radicals that can cause premature aging. The set features a moisturizer, an exfoliating jelly cleanser, an eye serum, a clay mask, a retinol serum, a vitamin C serum, and a milk primer with SPF 35. If all that wasn’t enough to convince you, the kit also comes with a travel bag for easy storage.
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Clinique 3-Step Introduction Kit For Drier Skin (Type 2) — $21.00
A travel skin-care routine doesn’t have to feature 10 steps in order for it to be effective. This travel-friendly skin care kit by Clinique makes skin care simple by narrowing it down to a three-step routine and focusing on the basics (and when you’re traveling, sometimes basic is best). Formulated for dry skin, this kit comes with a gentle cleanser, a clarifying lotion, and a moisturizing lotion.
First Aid Beauty FAB Skin On the Horizon Gift Set — $34.00
If you scrolled past Murad Renewal At Home because it’s best for dry skin, you should definitely consider adding this First Aid Beauty travel skin care kit to your cart, since First Aid is known for its rich, hydrating formulas (in fact, we’ve raved about the Ultra Repair cream, which is a Sephora bestseller for good reason). It’s formulated for oily, combination, and normal skin, and its products have glycerin and coconut water to help keep your dermis hydrated.
Florence by Mills Avas Mini Essentials Kit — $32.00
Florence by Mills (created by Stranger Things actress Millie Bobby Brown) has a travel skin-care set, and it’s pretty excellent—and pretty affordable. It has five stars on Target, and comes with a facial cleanser, a moisturizer, a facial mask treatment, and some beauty products—like a lip gloss, mascara, and blush. What we really love about this set is the Dreamy Dew Moisturizer and Mind Glowing Peel Off Mask—both are rich in hydrating ingredients that’ll make your skin happy.
Nuria Travel the World Starter Set — $40.00
With this TSA-approved skin care kit, you’ll be able to exfoliate, tone, and hydrate your skin. It also comes with a night cream so that you can take care of your skin as you catch some Zzzs. Since this kit is made specifically for jet-setters, it also comes with a bag to store all your goodies in.
Origins Best-Sellers Set — $29.00
The five products in this skin care travel kit include a cleanser, mask, treatment lotion, serum, and a moisturizer. Some of the key ingredients in this kit are mint, which can reinvigorate your skin’s appearance; niacinamide, which reduces the appearance of pores; and caffeine from coffee, which is a natural way to recharge your skin.
Osea Bestsellers Set For Face + Body — $39.00
This is one of those skin-care travel kits that lets you treat yourself from head to toe. The Osea cleanser removes surface impurities while the hyaluronic sea serum keeps your skin hydrated by using hyaluronic acid. You also get protection cream, body oil, and a vegan leather bag.
Tula Clear Skin Starters Acne & Blemish-Fighting Discovery Kit — $58.00
If you’re looking for a travel skin-care kit that treats and prevents breakouts, look no further than this Tula set. It comes with four products: a foaming cleanser, an acne-fighting moisturizer, and a treatment mask. To boot, it comes with a matching travel bag that I kind of want to use as a clutch.
Fenty Skin Travel Size Start’r Set — $40.00
Rihanna is the queen of so many things, skin care notwithstanding. Featuring a travel-size mini makeup remover and cleanser, a toner-serum, and a sunscreen-moisturizer, this definitely counts as one of the travel skin-care kits that checks all the boxes. Plus, it now includes a sample of Fenty’s popular Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream (you’ll be thanking yourself you bought it if your hotel room doesn’t supply you with complementary body lotion).
Tarte Jet Set Wonders — $20.00
Originally $40, now $20
This set of seven comes with undereye patches, maracuja oil, a cleansing gel, and a setting mist to take care of your skin-care needs. It also has some make-up items, like Tarte’s four-in-one mascara, a lipstick, and a blush compact. Truly, this is one of those travel skin-care kits that has it all.
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