10 beauty hacks that will change the way you travel

Between jet lag, flight delays, a limited wardrobe and inevitably terrible bathroom lighting, it isn’t always easy to look fresh on the road.

Luckily, there are some super-simple tricks that will have you ready for a day of adventure at a moment’s notice. Here are 10 beauty hacks that are sure to change the way you travel.

1) Secure jewelry with a toilet paper roll

Ain’t no one got time to untangle jewelry when they should be lounging on the beach, so pack your necklaces properly.

Simply thread one end of each necklace or bracelet through a cardboard toilet paper roll, then clasp it on the other end to minimize those pesky tangles.

2) Perfect a ponytail

I’ve never been one of those people who can effortlessly throw their hair in a messy-chic bun or who emerges out of the ocean with perfect waves. It’s actually quite frightening how my hair behaves the second it’s exposed it to humidity—think less Bae and more beehive.

That’s why I’m pretty darn proud of myself for perfecting a ponytail that stays put all day, looks profesh, and gives me a few extra days between washes which is a huge time saver on the road. Here’s how to do it:

• Refresh hair with dry shampoo and comb through
• Backcomb the hair around the crown of your head for volume with a resin teasing brush like this one from BeautySense.ca
• Pull it into a half up-do, twist the end underneath itself once, then secure with 2-3 bobby pins
• Gather the rest of your hair into a high ponytail and secure with a tie
• Grab a small piece of hair from your ponytail and wrap it around the hair tie to cover it, then secure with a bobby pin
• Dab a bit of pomade (or just water!) on the sides of your ‘do to keep stray hairs in place, then spritz with hairspray to finish

Another trick is to either get a curly blowout at the salon, or use a Dyson Airwrap/Shark Flexstyle right before leaving for a trip. This way your tresses look on point for at least a few days, and after that you only need to use dry shampoo (I’m partial to Living Proof Perfect Hair Day) and re-curl the ends to keep your ‘do going.

Of course great hair starts with using the right products at home, and Canadian beauty site BeautySense.ca carries all of my favourite brands.

They offer free shipping on orders $35+, always include some fun surprise samples in each box, and carry makeup, haircare, wellness and bath products, styling tools and skincare. There’s also a special ‘Made in Canada’ section.

My shower caddy always has Olapex products: I use the No. 4/No.5 Bond Maintenance Shampoo and Conditioner which leaves your locks feeling strong and hydrated, and the No. 3 Hair Perfector when my tresses need extra TLC.

During my recent BeautySense.ca haul I snagged the Oribe Supershine Hydrating Conditioner, since I’m already a huge fan of their Gold Lust line which smells incredible and leaves hair feeling silky smooth.

3) Condense your makeup bag

With all the selfies you inevitably plan to take on holiday, you’ll want to look your best. Fortunately, it’s easy to track down travel-size products, which means you can still bring your makeup must-haves along while saving space in your bag.

Every year around Christmas, I load up on gift sets from my favourite brands which usually include an assortment of tiny mascaras, lipsticks or eyeliner. Not only are they an ideal size for travel, but you’ll also get to sample premium brands without committing to the high price tag.

BeautySense.ca has a whole section called ‘Kits and Sets’ which offer full-size products at a discount: I scooped up this Purology: Hydrate Kit for about $86, which has a value of $115 if you bought each item separately for automatic savings.

For travel-size products, check out their Vichy sets like the Mineral 89 Booster Kit or Liftactiv 16% Pure Vitamin C Serum Kit. I use the full lineup of Vichy products both morning and night (their innovative Collagen Specialist 16 bonding serum is a standout, which is formulated to stimulate the skin’s own collagen production), and these kits get you one full size product plus four travel-size ones which are perfect to take on vacation.

4) Pack non-liquids

Even though liquid restrictions on planes have been in place forever, even the most seasoned travellers can sometimes find themselves at security with more than they’re allowed to carry on. Oops.

An easy way to avoid a Sophie’s Choice situation as you decide between abandoning your luxe lotion or bougie primer is to pack products that aren’t actually liquids. For example, I often bring Aveda Dry Shampoo since it’s a powder, and Lush solid shampoo bars have developed a cult following among backpackers.

Along with not counting towards your liquid allotment there’s another perk—you’ll never have to worry about them exploding all over your bag.

5) Ziploc bags are your friend

Speaking of exploding liquids, even the most tightly screwed-on lids seem to have a miraculous way of popping open mid-flight, leaving you with a goopy mess to clean up upon arrival.

That’s why I always put toiletries in Ziploc bags before tossing them in my tote, which also helps keep them organized. Another trick is to pop off the lid on each bottle and wrap a small piece of saran wrap on the opening before twisting the cap back on. This way, if air pressure forces the cap to open mid-flight the liquid inside won’t spill everywhere.

6) Use a hanging toiletry bag

I still can’t wrap my head around how many hotels skimp on counter space in the bathroom. I get around this by using a hanging toiletry bag, which holds everything I need and can be suspended from a towel rack or robe hook to save space. It’s also clutch for camping, because eww have you seen how dirty those surfaces can get?

7) Buy products with SPF

Keep your toiletry bag lean and save a few steps in the morning by using tinted BB or CC cream, which is essentially lotion, foundation and sunscreen in one. It’s moisturizing, gives your skin a dewy glow and even has SPF to keep away those damaging sun rays.

Of course with sun protection being so important, you won’t want to rely solely on makeup. I use the Vichy Capital Soleil UV+Age FPS 60 daily since it glides on smoothly and doesn’t have any sort of greasy feel. It comes in a compact bottle that I can easily throw in my purse, and doesn’t mess up your makeup when you reapply it (pro tip: use a beauty blender to reapply).

8) #TreatYoSelf to a fab mani that sticks

If you’re anything like me, the only time you shell out for a mani-pedi is when you’re heading out of town. The issue with that is that when your nails inevitably chip or break, you’re stuck with an awkward-looking manicure until you return home for some SOS.

That’s why I skip the classic polish and go straight for shellac or gel nails which look fab, go on thick to prevent breakage, and last for about three weeks.

9) Buy refillable perfume bottles

Glass bottles with fragrant contents are pretty much the worst thing you can put in a suitcase—I mean, have you ever watched baggage handlers unload luggage?!

If you still want to bring your favourite spritz, pour some directly from the bottle into a leak-proof atomizer. Along with being teeny-tiny and shatter-proof, they hold enough liquid for more than 60 sprays.

10) Protect your hats

A big floppy hat not only protects your skin from harmful rays, but it’s also a great way to cover up a bad hair day and looks fabulous in photos! Only issue is…they’re a huge pain to pack.

I have two methods for this: the first is to stack them together, then place them upside down in a suitcase and arrange my clothes around them to help keep the shape intact.

However, if you’re a carry-on only girlie sometimes they simply won’t fit in your bag. In that case, I fasten my trusty hat clip around my personal item so they can hang off the bag instead (another plus: this won’t count against your carry on allotment!).

This post is presented in collaboration with BeautySense.ca. As always, tips and opinions are my own.

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY:

• Globe Guide’s tried and tested, all-time favourite travel accessories
• The ultimate list of little-known travel hacks
• What’s in my wallet? The best credit cards for travel hacking
• A fashionista’s guide to what to pack for winter in Europe

SHARE THE PINSPIRATION! CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO PIN: