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You read it right: this beauty enthusiast is off backpacking! This is everything (I think...) beauty-wise that I'll be bringing with me for a month of travelling Southeast Asia. I thought I'd give you a bit of an overview of what's coming with me and why...
In terms of cleansers, I've kept it very simple with one product to remove makeup and sunscreen and one to use after that and in the morning. I chose this duo because they're products I loved enough to empty last year and I like that they come in travel-friendly tubes. Jordan Samuel Skin's the After Show Treatment Cleanser | £24 | full review | is a kind of melting jelly-to-oil cleanser that breaks down makeup and sunscreen. It emulsifies on contact with water and I like to remove the milk away with a damp cloth. I'm planning on packing some Face Halos* £7.50 each | to do the job whilst I'm travelling and I'll throw them in with my laundry when I get it done. As my morning and second cleanse, I'll be reaching for Monday Muse's the Cleanser | £28 | full review. This is a kind of milky, creamy gel; it's moisturising and non-stripping but has a more water-based feel to it, which I love!
When it comes to toners and exfoliants, I have two options. My go-to for when I just want a quick little hydration-boost will be the Laneige Cream Skin Mist | £19 | full review. This is an ultra-fine milky cream toner that's fragrance-free and full of soothing, hydrating ingredients. It's not sticky and it works really nicely to lock in hydration. I exfoliate a couple of times a week at most, so I'm packing a range of the Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads* | £21 (for 5 treatments) | full review | in different strengths depending on what my skin needs. And I'm sure my boyfriend will want to nab one at some point! This two-step peel system is so much easier than packing a bottle of exfoliating toner and a bunch of cotton pads and since they're single-use, once applied they're no longer taking up space in my bag. These pads are really effective with a blend of actives and chemical exfoliants to smooth and brighten the skin.
I've then packed a mini serum and a mini oil, just for if I need them. The Zelens Power B Vitamin B Concentrate* | £41 (10ml) | full review | is a gel-based serum packed full of hydration that features niacinamide, which is great for discolouration and boosting up the skin barrier. It's gentle and it works alongside the all-in-one moisturisers I've packed for when I just want a little more hydration and to strengthen my skin barrier. The oil I have is the Zelens Power D Vitamin D Concentrate* | £47 (10ml) | full review. This is a super-lightweight, oil-based cocktail of skin-softening and barrier-supporting ingredients.
Then, obviously there's a ton of sunscreen in my bag! In terms of facial formulas, I'm packing two products; the La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMUNE 400 Invisible Fluid SPF 50+* | £19.90 | full review. This is a product I've been buying for years because it's perfect for summer holidays with its lightweight, easy-to-apply and reapply milky-fluid texture. It also has an impressive level of sweat and sand resistance and offers a high level of protection, which has recently been updated to improve the UVA protection with new technology. As more of an 'everyday when wearing makeup' or evening option, I have a supersized bottle of the Ultra Violette Supreme Screen Hydrating Facial Skinscreen SPF 50+ | £48 (125ml) | full review. This is a wonderfully-moisturising lotion sunscreen that leaves my skin soft and glowing and works perfectly as a makeup primer. In addition, this Aussie-made formula contains a very high level of broad-spectrum protection and visible light protection. Lastly, I've packed my Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Lip Balm in Juicy Watermelon* | £4.95 | it's cheap, you get plenty of product for reapplication, it offers a high level of protection, it's clear when applied and it doesn't get in my mouth and taste vile!
Next, let's talk body and hair care. I've decanted some of my absolute favourite haircare into some travel bottles I got from Amazon: my Monpure Shampoo & Conditioner | £72 (for both) | full review | which keep my scalp happy, the Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother | £28 | full review | which is styling cream / serum to smooth out flyaways (as well as helping to rebuild damaged bonds in the hair) and the Inkey List's Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment | £14.99 | full review | to keep flakiness at bay.
Then we have a few minis that I've actually not used before but I thought would be good for styling my hair in humid temperatures and when I'm spending time on the beach: the JVN Complete Air Dry Cream | £23 (for full size) | which is meant to smooth curls and provide gentle hold (so you apply it whilst your hair is wet and let it dry naturally) and the Pattern Styling Cream | £9 (8.7ml) | which I thought would be good for a slicked-back ponytail, and it's billed as a 'wash n go' product. I'll definitely update you on how I get on with these two.
I also have minis of some products I know and trust, mainly ones I've got via Gift with Purchases that are finally getting used! In terms of hair, we have my beloved nourishing Charlotte Mensah Manketti Hair Oil | £17 (15ml) | full review | plus the Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector Treatment | £28 (full size) | which is a bond-restoring pre-wash treatment and the Dry Bar Hot Toddy Heat Protectant Mist | £14 | which I love because it's ultra-fine and doesn't leave any residue in my hair. For the body, we have a mini CeraVe Moisturising Cream | £5 | full review | which can be used on the hands, face and body to heal and soften dry skin and this will be living in my handbag. I'm also packing the FFS Shave Cream | £6 | full review | as it gives a smooth shave whilst also being very moisturising, plus the Jo Loves Mango Thai Lime Fragrance Paintbrush* | £40. This innovative product makes fragrance as compact and travel-friendly as possible; it comes in this little pen and you click the base to release the concentrated fragrance gel, which can then be brushed onto your wrists and neck. I love this juicy, fruity scent for summer.
Then there are full-sized product I just know will be used enough to justify the size of them, including more sunscreen, of course. There's my Mitchum Unscented Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant | £3.20 | because they don't seem to make a mini of this solid formula and it's the one that works best for me. Given I'm expecting to be in 30 degree heat for most of the trip, it's worth packing even if it's a little bulky! I also have a large tube of the CeraVe Moisturising Cream | £10 (177ml) | just to use as a body cream and hand cream every day - I kind of wish there was an in-between size, because from experience I know the 50ml won't be enough for a month, but it is what it is!
I've packed three hair styling tools, which will accompany my trusty Denman D3 Styling Brush | £11. I'm taking a mini WetBrush | £6.99 | to use at the beach. My Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener* | £399 | full review | is coming with me because I know from experience that when travelling, it can be a real pain if there's not a plug near your mirror so the battery function will make life a little easier. I'm also travelling with my Mermade Hair Blowdry Brush* | £69 | (with the smaller attachment). This is a pretty budget-friendly option when it comes to blow-drying brushes but I've been really impressed with how well it works! It saves me having to pack my bulkier hairdryer and a separate barrel brush and it blow-dries my hair to an impressively-sleek finish in about 20 minutes. Perfect for when you're busy and travelling and it never leaves my hair frizzy or frazzled!
In terms of 'utility' products, I have my mini Tweezerman Point Tweezers | £23 | if my brows need tidying up during the time I'm away. I have my Face Halos and then I also picked up this LastSwab | £10 | which is a reusable not-cotton bud. I've never used this before, but hopefully it works and is easy to clean because I felt it just wasn't worth me packing a bunch of cotton buds for 'just in case'.
Moving onto makeup - I'm taking a bunch of my 'tried and true' complexion products. The Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser (St. Moritz) | £37 | full review | has been my hero base for many years now; it's a long-wearing 'your skin but better' formula and I'll be wearing it whenever I'm wearing makeup. I also have my Bobbi Brown Corrector (Peach) | £25 | full review | to neutralise dark circles and the Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer (Ginger) | £26 | which is great for spot concealing or even under the eyes on a natural makeup day - it can be applied easily and quickly with the fingers. For evening wear when I want a bit more of a flawless coverage, I'll be using the Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer (250W) | £21 | full review | which is hydrating, gives a medium-full coverage and is pretty crease-resistant. Then I have a mini of the Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder | £21 | full review | which is a finely-milled, pretty-much-traceless setting powder that's luminous and non-drying but takes down surface shine and prevents creasing.
I'm all about the cream cheek products so I have two of the Nudestix Nudies Matte / Matte Lux Sticks | £30 each | full review and swatches | because they're quick and easy to apply and wear really well on my skin. Sunkissed in a rosy-bronze nude and Terracotta Tan is a medium warming bronzing colour. I also have the Made by Mitchell Blursh in Toasted Terracotta | £14 | full review and swatch | liquid blusher to go with more warm orange-brown makeup looks | and for my highlighter, Charlotte Tilbury's Beauty Light Wand in Goldgasm | £30 | full review and swatch. This is a liquid highlight with a spongey applicator in a soft, pearly light warm gold.
For eyes, I'm taking a mini Urban Decay Original Eye Primer Potion | £15 | to ensure my eyeshadow lasts as long as possible and is always crease-proof. I also have a mini travel palette with a mirror that has a really cohesive colour story that makes it easy to quickly create any warm brown / gold / copper eye look: the Huda Beauty Toffee Brown Obsessions Palette | £27 | full review and swatches. I also love how much the colours pop and how easy they are to blend. I also have a cream shadow for when I want something on the eyes but don't have much time: the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Copper | £26 | full review and swatch. It's opaque in one swipe, it sets down and stays in place and this medium warm gold metallic is a perfect 'one colour' option for me.
I also have the Huda Beauty Creamy Kohl Eye Pencil in Very Brown* | £19 | just to tightline. It's a warm brown, which I find less harsh than black, and it doesn't smudge or transfer throughout the day once it's set down. I'm taking the Refy Brow Collection (Medium) | £40 | full review | in full. Indulgent? Yes! But I feel like whilst my tint is still going strong, I can just use the gel from this 3-piece collection, as it starts to fade I can fill things in a little with the pencil and once it’s mostly gone, there’s also the pomade.
In terms of lip products, obviously I have the Nudestix which can also be used on the lips but I’m also packing two glossier options and a ‘proper’ evening lip option. The Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Cream Colour Lip Drip in Cookie Jar | £18 | swatch | is an opaque formula with a dimensional gloss that works with my go-to warm toned looks either on its own or over the top of something like the Vieve Modern Matte Lipstick in Power Suit | £21 | swatch. This is a creamy, non-drying low-maintenance matte lipstick in a warm brown nude colour that works with my go-to makeup looks. Finally, I have the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Vanilla Beige | £23 | swatch. This is a nourishing lip balm with a wash of rosy nude colour that’s such a quick and easy way of getting something on your lips when you’re travelling and don’t have a lot of time for beauty routines.
What would you pack beauty-wise for a month in an 85L backpack?
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