michael and i have done a LOT of traveling over the past few months and i try and pair down my skincare & beauty products to JUST the essentials when we’re going on a trip. y’all know how much i LOVE and value my skincare routine so i still want to take great care of my skin when traveling…but in a way that won’t take up a ton of room in my suitcase or take a ton of time each day haha. so today i’m going to share with y’all the essential skincare products i bring with me on EVERY trip. this is basically my everyday skincare routine but just slightly condensed to contain only the essentials.
if you’ve been following me for a while, most of these products will not come as a surprise to you because you’ve seen me use them for years and heard me talk about them countless times! which means…you KNOW they’re good!
my skincare travel essentials
you can click any product in the collage below to shop!
been using this revision face wash for years now and rarely venture out from it. i love this face wash because it does more than just clean your face. it's exfoliating and brightening as well, without drying your skin out! tbh most cleansers don't do much for your skin but this one actually cleans your face, helps to even out skin tone, and brightens your skin all at the same time!
shop now
my favorite hyaluronic acid product ever. this is especially an essential for me when traveling because it is SO hydrating and keeps my skin looking plump and fresh! i use this morning and night.
shop now
i personally don't apply self tanner mousse to my face, and when i lay out i almost always wear a hat and SPF 50+ on my face haha so my face is much paler than the rest of my body. these bronzing drops help my face to still have a bronzed glow while also giving me a boost of hydration! you can mix these into your moisturizer or i personally like to apply several drops onto a makeup brush and just apply directly to my skin! these drops give your face that 'just got off the beach' sun kissed glow!
shop now
i was SO excited when lux unfiltered launched their self tanner + lotion in travel sizes! these two products will keep your skin looking hydrated, bronzed, and glowy throughout your trip! i like to apply the self tanner lotion probably every other day for a natural glow (or to extend the life of your spray tan), and their body lotion is just a great everyday hydrating lotion to use whenever!
shop now
if i could only use ONE eye cream for the rest of my life...this would probably be it! it's the only eye cream i've found that is uniquely formulated and clinically-proven to address eyelid hooding and droopiness in addition to the total eye area ! it's also clinically-proven to reduce the visible signs of aging around the total eye area including eyelid drooping, under-eye crepiness, fine lines in the crow’s feet area and elasticity. i also love the size of it because it's perfect for travel!
shop now
i feel like a broken record at this point with barefaced liquid gold haha but i have tried countless vitamin c serums and this is the one i ALWAYS go back to! i use this every single morning and couldn't travel without it. it's basically like a multivitamin for your skin - providing antioxidant protection from UV damage, defending against premature aging of skin, while encouraging collagen production and boosting effectiveness of SPF!
shop now
this is another serum i use in my everyday routine and REALLY love it for traveling because it kills so many birds with one stone. here are the 5 benefits of overachiever: visibly reduces redness + puffiness, targets fine lines + encourages collagen production (a pregnancy-safe retinoid alternative or retinoid booster), calms + soothes the skin, minimizing irritation + helping skin retain moistureminimizes the appearance of pores + improves skin firmness, and stimulates cellular turnover !! if you are a minimalist with your skincare routine, definitely buy this serum because it is SO effective!
shop now
i use these resurfacing pads morning and night after cleansing. i specifically love these for travel because most toning pads come in a huge jar but elemis makes these in travel size which is perfect! these help to even out your skin texture, clear and precent breakouts, and balance your skin overall! i personally use these morning and night after cleansing!
shop now
another one of those 'if i could only have one' type of products...this would be my moisturizer. it's called THE CREAM for a reason because it does SO many amazing things for your skin - it's great for anti-aging, it's so hydrating, and not thick or greasy. i've been using this for years and keep coming back to it.
shop now
i bought the travel size jet lag mask in sephora a few months ago and have been LOVING it on trips. i usually use this as my nighttime moisturizer (i alternate between this and the cream i mentioned above depending on how my skin is feeling). when i travel my skin tends to get really dry or stressed out and this jet lag mask helps to calm and sooth my skin and give it so much hydration! this mask (which i use as a moisturizer) nourishes, hydrates, and calms your skin with niacinamide, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants.
shop now
my go-to SPF for everyday whether i am home or traveling! this is the last step of my skincare routine every morning (i use this as my spf AND moisturizer because it's also very hydrating). the sheer defense has just a slight tint + glow to it so it's perfect for no makeup days but also can double as a makeup primer & lays really well under makeup!
shop now
my nighttime skincare routine is never complete without a lip mask and this is one of my faves i keep in my travel bag! i love that it has hyaluronic acid in it which draws moisture into the skin for lasting hydration. this doesn't make my lips sticky at all and leaves them feeling so plump and hydrated!
shop now
so to recap…. here is my routine in the morning (when i travel):
and here is my skincare routine at night:
follow along @laurenkaysims
thanks for reading! hope you guys all have the best weekend!
xo Lauren
