Ever wonder what products make the cut for your dermatologist’s 1L liquids travel bag?
If you are like me and rarely check a suitcase, traveling forces you to reconsider your skin and hair care routines and whittle them down to the essentials. That little 1L bag doesn’t look like much but you can get a lot in there with a little thought. Let me share with you which products I can’t be without, what I can leave for a few days, and little tricks to help you get the most out of your 1L bag.
First: utilize solids wherever you can.
Dove Bar for Sensitive Skin: if you’ve spoken with me about skin care, you know this is my favourite cleanser. No less for travel- this is my all-in-one facial cleanser, body wash and shaving product. That’s two less liquids to worry about.
Secret Baby Powder Solid: my choice deodorant.
La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+ Stick: my best new travel find- a moisturizer in a stick! It looks like a little solid deodorant, but slides right onto your still moist post-shower skin as a moisturizer. No more making do with scented hotel moisturizer.
Now for the details: what actually goes in the bag? Here are my picks, item-by-item:
Shampoo: I found these adorable sample bottles from Kevin.Murphy, and they are key. These little cubes easily hold enough shampoo for a week, even if my hubby uses some, and they stack up easily in the bag. My current fave shampoo and conditioner is Moroccanoil, but these cubes can be refilled with whatever product you prefer.
Oribe Supershine Light moisturizing cream goes in a travel-size bottle (the purple one).
SkinCeuticals CE Ferrulic vitamin C serum: this comes in a small enough bottle that I bring it as is, though they do make even tinier sample bottles that could easily be refilled for travel.
SkinCeuticals Metacell B3: this is my favourite daily moisturizer, but it comes in a heavy glass bottle. So here’s the trick: when you are getting low, pull the pump out of the glass bottle- now you have a thin, light plastic pump- I save this one for travel and move on to a new one for use at home.
EltaMD UV Daily SPF40: you know how I feel about sunscreen, so it won’t surprise you the full product follows wherever I do.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Moisturizer: thin and light, this is one of my favourite nighttime moisturizers and the retail bottle is perfect for travel.
Latisse prescription eyelash growth product: this comes in such a small bottle that slipping it in the 1L bag is easy.
Retinoid: these tend to come in small tubes, so your product of choice is likely to fit in your 1L bag. Your dermatologist may also have small samples to help you out.
Toothpaste: I save the samples I get from the dentist for my travel bag.
So what stays at home?
Clarisonic MiaFit Cleansing Brush. As much as I love this device, it is a bit heavy and requires another liquid- a foaming face wash- so I do without it for a few days.
Shave gel: too bulky, and many hotels will provide this on request. If not, Dove Bar Sensitive works quite well if you really lather it up. Just remember to use the Lipikar AP+ Stick afterwards.
If you have a 1L bag travel tip I would love to hear it- please comment below! I wish you healthy skin and happy travels.