A How To Guide on Packing Light, Part II: The Beauty Edition

Have you ever wondered why is your luggage is always so heavy? A sure culprit is your beauty essentials. Those cremes, sprays, liquids, and powders not only take up all the extra room in your bag, but they add a lot of extra weight too! And hair dryers and straighteners?--forget about it! You're supposed to be vacationing, not bench pressing, right?

Well, my pretty pack-rats, the time has come to learn some new tricks. Yesterday, I shared my secrets on packing a week's worth of apparel and accessories by mixing and matching 12 essential wardrobe pieces. Today I bring you (drum roll please...) THE BEAUTY EDITION! After all, a pretty face and impeccable hair is all part of the fashionista package.

The mistake most travelers make is waiting until the last minute to pack, which means waiting until the last minute to realize all the little things you need to bring with you--like toiletries and beauty items. The result? Toting your Costco-sized shampoo and conditioner bottle with you on vacation, exceeding the airport's 3-ounces or less for all liquids rule, having to check your bag, having to wait to fetch your bag at the other end, blah blah blah. Make your life easier and BE PREPARED!

Clearly, there are some must-haves in your vacation beauty bag--and yes, you can keep it in one bag. Shocked? Read on. These days, most reputable cosmetics and toiletry companies have made it a point to help you help yourself. Translation: travel-sized.

Kiehl's, for instance, offers a wide range of their products in travel ready formulas, some in sizes as small as 2.5 ounces. Plus, with every purchase at kiehls.com, you will receive three complimentary samples, all in handy single-use pouches that are sized perfectly for travel.

It all comes down to the necessities, a concept you absolutely must bear in mind when packing light. As far as beauty is concerned, we can break it down as follows:
-shampoo/conditioner
-face wash
-deodorant
-sunscreen
-moisturizer
-fragrance
-shaving essentials
-lip balm/gloss/stick
-mascara
-eye liner/shadow
-bronzer

It's possible to travel-size all of the above, but there are some strategies and products that work better than others. For instance, fragrance is not something you want to mess with when you travel. A broken bottle of perfume can ruin everything (think overwhelming scent on every single item you packed--not good). One foolproof plan is Kiehl's (okay, yes, I adore everything Kiehl's, but who doesn't?) essence oils--packaged in a tiny amber glass cylinder with a roller ball applicator--in a variety of yummy scents, including summer-y fragrances like cucumber and grapefruit.

As far as hair care is concerned, I'm obsessed with Fekkai. Their products energize your hair, leaving your locks shiny and bouncy instead of weighing down your 'do like some brands. Conveniently, one of Fekkai's own travel faves is their signature Glossing Kit, which includes: Fekkai glossing shampoo, conditioner, styling cream, finishing hairspray, and a travel comb--all in a sleek yet sturdy travel bag. Haircare for the girl on the go, done and done.


Toiletries are one thing, but the tools are an entirely separate, space-occupying beast: hair dryers, flat irons, and curling irons...oh my! Thanks to the latest and greatest in hair care technology, you can save yourself the headache. In fact, Sephora's exclusive IV Mini Styler by ghd doubles as a straightener and curler, while also being sized specifically for travel. As an added bonus, if you're traveling internationally (take me with you!), the IV Mini Styler automatically adjusts to the change in voltage.

Another fabulous hair care tool From Sephora is the T3 PRO. Wet-or-Dry Iron, which "straightens and steam-dries in one step, so you can skip the blow dry. " Hallelujah! Not only will you have more room in your suitcase, but your daily prep time will be cut in half by avoiding blow drying altogether.

Ultimately, the key to packing light is packing smart. With a few strategic purchases and styling tools in your vacation arsenal, all you will need is a small pouch for your beauty essentials and a little nook for your styling tool of choice. It's important to remember that you want to have as much room left over as possible so that you can fit all of your vacation purchases comfortably (without having to sit on top of your suitcase and wrestle with that stubborn zipper) when it's time to come home. After all, isn't vacation shopping one of the perks of going on vacation?

So now, little grasshopper, you have all the knowledge you need to add "efficient packing" to your list of fashionista skills. The only thing left to do is actually take that vacation, so step away from your desk and get to it! Bon voyage, dahhling!

Products/tools, in order of appearance: (1) Assorted Kiehl's travel-sized products, image from Kiehl's (http://www.kiehls.com/); (2) Essence Oils with Rollerball Applicator $25, also from Kiehl's; (3) Glossing Kit by Fekkai $45 (http://www.fekkai.com/); (4) GHD IV Mini Styler $220, exclusively from Sephora (www.sephora.com).