If you’ve been reading elsewhere on our blog, I have already said that I am not a minimalist when it comes to packing for trips. This causes the biggest issue in the bathroom. While a long-weekend trip doesn’t usually present a problem, multi-week trips are another story. Over the last year or so, I’ve also started taking steps to be more aware of the ingredients that we are using in these products, and have started replacing things as I finish them with more “natural” options. Ok, ok, I hear you; insert eye-roll here. Green, clean, natural, whatever you choose to call it, I have found that if I use products on my skin that contain less man-made fragrance and ingredients, the better it responds. So to me, it’s become something that is more of a priority than getting the best deal in a big-box store or a product that has been around for a long time. The content in this post is not in any way sponsored; I have personally used all of these products and still do today, so please reach out with any questions!
Shower gel, face wash & body lotion
This is one of my favorite origin stories for this group of products, since it involves one of our trips! While we were in Vietnam a few years back, Neil and I traveled through the city of Hue to the Vedana Lagoon Resort and Spa. We arrived under the dark of night and were greeted by the most beautiful outdoor shower in our room. Over the next two days, we thoroughly enjoyed the bathroom products provided by the resort so much, that Neil was prompted to ask upon our departure just what we had been using. The incredibly helpful concierge informed us that the products were made on the property at their spa from something called soapberries. We quickly looked up what a soapberry was and learned it was technically a nut that can be heated and then lathers into a totally natural soap. One of the coolest things about soapberries is they create a lather that matches the pH of our skin. Since we were short on time and the spa was closed, we weren’t able to purchase any products from the resort, but we made a mental note about these wonderful berries and continued on with our travels. Once we arrived back home, Neil was able to find a fantastic new, startup brand Tree to Tub which has shower and skincare products made from soapberries! We have gone through SO many bottles of shower gel, shampoo, face wash, and lotion since then. Their products are scented in lavender, peppermint, or unscented. I definitely notice a difference when using peppermint compared to lavender, so I tend to use the more invigorating peppermint products in the morning and the relaxing lavender in the evening. The body lotion is made from a shea butter base while the conditioner is formulated with argan oil. Neil loves their shampoo so much that we always keep an extra bottle around just in case so he’s never worried about being without!
Deodorant
After we had started to shift to more natural cleansers, I came across some compelling information regarding the contents of antiperspirants. Again, not one to get on a soapbox here, but for me, I feel there is enough research out there to make me question whether it is more important to have aluminum in my deodorant or to find a potentially less-harmful alternative. This product switch was not an easy one. If I’m being totally honest, I think the deodorant I’ve landed on was the 3rd natural version I attempted. Deodorant, unfortunately, depends on your body, so it might take a few tries to settle on one that works for you. Looking online for tips regarding how to make the switch, you’ll find that there is a detox period where you will not smell great and probably perspire more than you were anticipating. A good friend recommended that a swipe of apple cider vinegar under each arm after you shower (NOT after you’ve just shaved!) will provide a nice cleanser during that week-long transition period. I know it sounds weird, but it helps! All of that said, I have come to love the Soapwalla brand of deodorants. After trying a few other natural stick deodorants that were more coconut oil based, I gave this one a shot even though it comes in a pot and you use your fingers to apply it. I have learned I need to re-apply if I’m heading to a workout class or running group after work, but otherwise, I’m really happy with how this one works for me. One more tip: most natural deodorants will cause irritation to sensitive skin so it is best to wait about 15 minutes or so after you shave to apply to reduce the chance of any redness or bumps.
Tinted sunscreen
This next one is for those who like to wear makeup but are worried about the sun. While I was blessed with rather fair skin that can fade into a freckled tan, as I’ve gotten older, I am trying to take better care of it, especially on my face! When I travel to a tropical or beach destination, protection from the sun is a priority if I want to help keep wrinkles at bay and hopefully avoid skin cancer. There any several tinted moisturizers that provide some SPF and I have tried a few out over the last few years. I’m currently using Suntegrity “5-in-1Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen,” which has SPF 30 from zinc-oxide. This is a tinted BB cream that I apply directly to clean skin. I have road tested this product a few different ways and can confidently say it performs beautifully as light foundation during the day. I will apply all my other products as normal on top of the Suntegrity and then head out for a run after a full work day. When I get to my car after a nice 3-mile run, my face is slightly flushed, but the BB cream still looks great. Since I’m limited on what I can take for multi-week trips, I intend to bring the Suntegrity as my only foundation since it already has sunscreen and my current go-to foundation is in a glass bottle- the pump tube style will travel much better.
Shampoo & conditioner
I have had colored hair for nearly two decades, so I’ve learned a lot about what does and does not work for me. For reference, I have very fine hair, but a lot of it, and I have decent natural volume. Over the years, I’ve found that my normal to oily hair can actually be less oily if I wash it less; I’m actually down to about only two washes a week now! I’ve gotten pretty great at using dry shampoo on days between washes, though I’m still on the lookout for one that will travel well and is a bit cleaner. That said, I’m thrilled to share a shampoo and conditioner set from Rahua—their Color Full Shampoo and Conditioner. Battling brassiness is one of the more challenging tasks when it comes to my blonde-dyed hair, and I only learned of purple shampoos a few years ago. Having used these products from Rahua, I really feel they work better than the other brands I had tried before! The Amazonian lilac clay really works incredibly to cut the brassiness while hydrating and the gardenia flower makes them smell floral while not overpowering. I also love that the brand is giving jobs to over 500 families while cultivating the rainforests of the Amazon. Rahua also makes other formulations, but this is the one I’ve found to work for my color-treated hair.
Eyeshadow
When looking for a good travel eyeshadow palette, I have a few requirements. I prefer a mix of mattes and sparkly or shimmery shades, giving me versatility to create multiple kinds of looks; I am looking for a variety of neutral and pops of color, again allowing me to have both subtle and dramatic options; I don’t care so much about brushes or a mirror, since I always have those with me in travel-size. I browsed several websites to see what cleaner options are available today and was drawn again to The Detox Market. There is not an overwhelming variety of eyeshadow palettes, so only one brand really met my requirements. I had never heard of Aether Beauty, because the company is quite new, but I am very impressed with what I’ve learned so far. I settled on the Rose Quartz Crystal Gemstone palette, which appeared to have more matte options than its cousin the Crystal Grid Gemstone palette. The shadows are formulated with shea butter, coconut and rosehip oils, and even rose quartz to provide a stunning shimmer. There are 4 matte shades, 2 shimmer shades, 2 metallic shades, and 4 duo-chrome shades. I have used this with and without a primer and it exceeded my expectations for full-day wear in both conditions. I also love that the entire palette is recyclable after you’re finished using it- since there is no mirror or plastic! I do know this one is a bit pricey, but it really is worth it to me to have the variety of shades in the one palette with formulas that really are worthy of makeup-artists.
Lipgloss
This last item is a bit of a splurge, but it is truly worth it for the difference you see in your lips! All my life I’ve been a lip balm user, having only recently started dabbling in more color for my lips. With so many options that feel so drying, I tend to end up with a gloss to compliment my look. After a friend mentioned how great the Fitglow lip color serum was, I decided to try it out for myself by choosing a subtle pink color, Go. The product is not sticky or too slippery and it provides a nice, gentle tingle upon application. Go turned out to be a very light pink that essentially matched my lips, so I have recently branched out to a few other more pigmented shades. I recently ordered Nudie, a more pigmented nude shade, and Beach Glow, a sheer red-orange lightly shimmered shade, and love both of these as well. The three shades have become all I put on my lips- and I have no more dryness or cracked lips on days I don’t wear them- I really believe these serums have improved my lips. I will have a hard time deciding which shades to bring on our next trip, so I’ll probably end up with all three!
I hope these products are ones you check out as cleaner beauty travel options.
