When you’re travelling the world, you might find that the state of your appearance sinks to the bottom of your priority list. Exciting adventures combined with sleepless nights and humid temperatures all mean that, although you may have had visions of yourself as a bronzed and beachy goddess, you wind up looking more like a sunburnt and sweaty mess. So if you want to learn how to look good on the go, follow our top tips and you’ll be back on track in no time – minimum effort required!
Face
Wear Sunscreen: Baz Luhrmann was right when he told us to wear sunscreen – the number one tip for looking after your skin when you’re travelling is to slather your face in a moisturiser that provides SPF protection. This isn’t as thick or greasy as a regular sunscreen but all importantly, it still protects your skin from sunburn and all that related sun damage – a red tomato face isn’t a good look for anyone!
Drink Water: Drinking water should be a big part of your daily routine wherever you are in the world, but it’s especially important when you’re faced with long days and hot temperatures. It’s easy to get dehydrated out on the road and making sure that you drink plenty of bottled water is the easiest way to hydrate your body and brain, not to mention replenish your skin.
Wash Your Face: No matter how tired out (or drunk) you are at the end of a busy day or night, be sure to wash your face before you crash out in bed. You probably won’t even realise how much dirt you pick up along the way – until you see it washing down the sink. If this sounds like too much of an effort, carrying a pack of baby wipes on you at all times will be your lazy saviour.
Consider Vitamin Supplements: If you’re doing a lot of flying or overnight buses on your travels, the air conditioning can play havoc with your skin. Try dosing up on a daily measure of Vitamin E or Cod Liver Oil tablets and you should soon see the benefits in your newly glowing and radiant skin.
Makeup
Less Is More: Generally when you’re travelling, the ‘less is more’ rule will be the one that you live by with regards to your makeup. In hot, sticky temperatures, makeup will soon begin to melt and slide off your face – not a good look for anyone. Stick to a few key products and don’t worry, once you’ve got that carefree beach traveller vibe, you’ll be better off without it.
Mascara: For a simple approach, try a waterproof mascara to prevent smudging, sliding or accidents in the swimming pool. To really take away the hassle, consider having your eyelashes tinted at a salon at home before you set off.
Lip Balm: An SPF lip balm will be a lifesaver to prevent the delicate skin on your lips from burning, flaking or drying out in the sun. It can also double up to tame unruly eyebrows or soothe any blisters on your feet after a long day’s sightseeing.
Razors: Depending where you are in the world, razors may be tricky to come across or just a bother to use every day on your legs. You could stockpile a whole collection to take in your luggage but a simple answer might just be to face the pain and get your legs waxed before you go – it’ll last ten times as long!
Don’t Melt: Don’t forget that if makeup melts from your face, it can also melt wherever you leave it. So if you do want to take your makeup collection with you, be sure to keep it stored out of the sun. Whether in the shade, in the storage compartment in your room or even in the fridge of your hostel, it’s worth considering your options before your belongings turn into a sticky mess.
Hair
Dry Shampoo: Whether you’re out exploring in the wilderness or you’ve spent a sleepless night holed up on a train, dry shampoo can be your best friend on the road back to looking fresh. Invest in a mini can for your bag and use sparingly to put life back into your locks at the end of a long and dehydrating day.
Hats/Bandanas/Hairbands: Donning a hat or bandana is an easy way to protect your head from the sun, not to mention a great cover up for unruly hair days. If you don’t have one to hand or if you get too hot, have a supply of hairbands and grips to pin up all your hair away from your face.
Hair Sunscreen: Hats are great at protecting your scalp from burning but your hair can still get a little frazzled from all that heat. Invest in a sunscreen spray designed especially for your hair and apply it as religiously as you do sunscreen to your skin – especially on your ends.
Solid Shampoo: I’m surprised that these aren’t more popular, but a solid shampoo (like a bar of soap) is a great alternative to lugging a bottle of regular shampoo around with you. What’s more, they take up less room in your bag, they won’t spill all over your stuff and they last for ages. Find them in the likes of Lush or Boots, or if you’re not a fan, just stick to travel sizes of your standard shampoo.
Follow these tips and you’ll be on the road to backpacker beauty in no time at all. Just remember: you’re travelling to see the world, not for the world to see you – so when you need to catch up on your beauty sleep, HotelClub have some great places to rest your head!
Sohaib is a coffee lover and travel addict who puts the environment above everything else. At the same time, he jumps at an opportunity every time he senses adventure calling. He is currently in London trying to see as much of Europe as he can.
