Holiday Beauty Essentials for Travel You Need to Pack

Good news! You can finally ditch your travel-sized minis if you’re flying out of London’s City Airport, following the announcement that it is scrapping liquid restrictions for passengers. The 100ml limit on all liquids, pastes and gels packed being carried as hand luggage on a flight has been in place since 2006, forcing us to edit our beauty essentials down to the bare minimum, and fit the whole lot into a clear, sealed plastic bag.

Travelling might be good for the soul but sadly it isn’t always as good for your skin or hair. In fact, neglecting your usual beauty routine and spending time in different climates can very quickly undo all the hard work and time you spend looking after yourself at home.

Thankfully, that’s all set to change thanks to upgraded baggage screening systems now in use at the Docklands airport (and soon to be rolled out at others across the UK), which use computed tomography to provide 3D images of the contents of a passenger’s bag. Which means you can now travel with products in containers of up to two litres in your ludicrously capricious handbag. No more being shamed by the security guard when they find a rogue bottle of perfume at the bottom of your bag, as you swear you’ve never seen it before in your life. No more being told off when you try and sneak two ziplock bags filled with 100ml bottles into your tray at security. Come on, you know the rules.

To celebrate the good news, I have rounded up the best full-sized holiday beauty essentials to throw into your hand luggage as we prepare to bid farewell to liquid restrictions for good.

Not sure where to start? Luckily, after numerous backpacking, budget and luxury trips, I’ve got you covered with my tried-and-tested selection of beauty essentials for travel.

That’s why, whether you’re travelling near or far, it’s well worth leaving out that extra pair of shoes to ensure there’s plenty of space in your bag for the real necessities.

Not sure where to start? Luckily, after numerous backpacking, budget and luxury trips, I’ve got you covered with my tried-and-tested selection of beauty essentials for travel.

Basically, if you don’t take anything else — take these.

1. Cleanser

First things first, what better place to start than with the holy grail of travel skincare essentials: cleanser.

Whether you’re new to the cleanser scene or just not sure which type is best to take away on holiday, I recommend opting for something gentle and hydrating. Let’s be honest, your skin will have enough to contend with between the different time zones, central heating systems and tiredness from long days of exploring.

For a great all-rounder that can also lift and remove makeup easily, you can’t go wrong with

2. Moisturiser

Next up, moisturiser. While a lightweight gel or cream may be enough for warm climates, I suggest choosing a heavier formula if you’re anticipating a chillier break.

For example, summer holidays will love The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors* with 11 amino acids. But this CeraVe Moisturising Cream* with five-star reviews would be better suited to the keen summer.

3. Face Serum or Oil

If you don’t already use a face serum or oil as part of your daily skincare routine, you really are missing a trick. Designed to lock in hydration and keep your skin feeling lovely and soft, this beauty essential will leave you will a healthy-looking glow even before you get in the sun.

Stop your skin from becoming dehydrated by using a face serum with hyaluronic acid during the day and a nourishing facial oil to sleep in overnight.

As far as I’m concerned, look no further than The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid* and Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Oil* for all your skin hydration needs.

4. Body Soap or Wash

It sounds basic, but a good body soap or wash is seriously one of the most underrated beauty essentials for travel.

Don’t believe me? Well, considering your hands come into contact with millions of germs every single day, it’s probably a good idea to just pack some anyway.

For a bar that doesn’t irritate skin, regardless of your skin type, I love Simple’s fragrance-free soap*.

5. Body Lotion

It isn’t just the skin on your face that can become dehydrated when you travel. That’s why it’s important to use a nourishing body lotion every time you step out of the bath or shower.

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