Many of us crave the rest and relaxation of a holiday, but long days of travel can also be a recipe for restlessness, fatigue, dry skin and bleary eyes – especially if you throw early wake-ups into the mix.
Skin feels the effects of travelling even if you’re not moving outside your time zone. As consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto says, long stints sitting in train carriages, ferries, cars or planes “expose skin to stressors, such as aircon or low cabin humidity, which can make it feel tight or dry, due to what’s known as transepidermal water loss.” She adds that “disrupted sleep patterns, dehydration from limited water intake, and poor diet choices” can lead to dullness, puffiness and inflammation.
Eyes are particularly affected by long trips, especially if you’re looking at a phone or other screen for long periods, or a contact lens wearer with naturally dry eyes like myself. “Screens cause us to blink less, while dry air and overall dehydration can leave eyes gritty, sore and tired,” says consultant ophthalmic surgeon Ali Mearza. However, a little pampering on the go, plus some smart tech, can help to mitigate the worst effects.
This year, I’ve taken train journeys across Italy, an overnight long-haul flight to Sri Lanka, and mini buses through the hairpin roads of the Alps. Along the way I’ve tried and tested plenty of products. These are the travel beauty saviours that have kept me feeling my best, many of which I wouldn’t go on a trip without.
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Beauty hacks for long journeys
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Keep hydrated
Larq bottle filtered flip top, 500ml
£49.50 at Larq £39.95 at Amazon
Dehydration can exacerbate skin dryness and dullness after travel, so keep on track by drinking the recommended six to eight cups of fluid a day. Larq’s sleek smart-tech water bottle has a filtration system that removes heavy metals, chlorine and other particulates to improve the taste of tap water on the go. It comes on a carabiner so you can pop it on a backpack when you need to be hands-free.
For more, read our guide to the best water bottles tried and tested
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Calm your nerves
Ross J Barr Calm patches
£15 for 10 at Selfridges £15 for 10 at Victoria Health
If, like me, travelling makes you feel a little antsy or fatigued, you may find these herb-infused aromatherapy patches help you feel more at ease. I pop them on the temples or wherever I’m seeking relief – they have a soothing effect and can be used for many things, from headaches to tension and even brain fog. Pat them on to skin for a couple of minutes to allow them to work. These include chuanxiong for a calming effect, safflower to reduce inflammation and asarum for aches and pains.
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Multitasking skin spray
Clinisoothe+ skin purifier, 100ml
£14.95 at Sephora £14.20 at Amazon
If you’ve not heard of hypochlorous acid, then it’s time to get familiar. Beauty insiders swear by its effectiveness at calming and cleansing skin. It has a skin-neutral pH, so it’s gentle on sensitive and acne-prone complexions. Clinisoothe is a multitasking skin spray with a high purity of hypochlorous – and for me, it’s a must-have when travelling. Spritz it on your face – keep your eyes closed – or body whenever skin feels tight, irritated, or in need of a cleanse. I also use it on surfaces in my vicinity when on a long-haul journey. Don’t let the word acid scare you: hypochlorous acid is naturally produced by the body as an antimicrobial with healing function.
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Hydration for the eyes
Peep Club instant relief eye spray, 17ml
£15 at Peep Club £15 at Amazon
If you suffer from dry eyes like me, Peep Club’s gentle spray provides instant relief for dry and itchy eyes. A single spray on closed lids hydrates and comforts not just the eyes, but the delicate eyelid and undereye area too. It contains colourless sea buckthorn oil to help soften skin and lock in moisture.
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A nice smell to escape any bad ones
Diem Quiet Riot eau de parfum
£25 for 10ml plus case at Diem
You can’t control the smells around you, especially on public transport, but you can control your own. I like to pack a mini perfume to transport myself somewhere sweeter-smelling at a moment’s notice. Diem’s reusable twist-to-release case and 10ml minis are ideal for travel, and are eau de parfums, so they’re longer lasting than diluted eau de toilettes. I love Quiet Riot: it has fresh matcha and basil leaf notes, and the magnolia and osmanthus are comforting and calming.
For more, read our guide to the best travel minis
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An app to help with jet lag
Timeshifter app
£9.99 per plan or £21.99 a year at Timeshifter
If you’re changing time zone on your trip, then several things can help minimise the jet lag: light exposure, altering your bedtime and wake-up alarm and controlling caffeine intake. This app has been a saviour for me on long-haul trips as it does all the hard work for you, suggesting new timings for your routine once you input your flight details.
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Lightweight glasses for long journeys
Jimmy Fairly Elvie frames
From £135 at Jimmy Fairly
For comfort and hygiene, contact lenses are best swapped for glasses during travel, especially in aeroplane cabins where low humidity can dry out eyes. Larger frames can feel cumbersome when worn for long periods, so I like Jimmy Fairly’s petite, Miu Miu-style Elvie ones as they’re lightweight and comfy.
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Drink greens on the go
WelleCo the Super Elixir mini
£2 at WelleCo
High-sodium travel snacks can leave you feeling sluggish, bloated and dehydrated – not helped by sitting still for hours. So, when packing fresh food isn’t an option, I pop a greens powder in my water bottle to add antioxidants and fibre to my fluid intake. Elle Macpherson’s WelleCo Super Elixir comes in sachets that are super-handy for travel, and I enjoy the taste much more than many similar products.
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Antioxidant capsules
Beauty Pie Superactive capsules
£27 at Beauty Pie
These Beauty Pie capsules are filled with serum for a dose of the antioxidants vitamin E and C, which help shield skin from light and pollution damage. Twist the neck of a capsule to release the serum and apply before moisturiser in advance of a long journey. I transfer a bunch to a reusable travel pot to use on the go.
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Remove your makeup
Bioderma Sensibio H2O micellar water cleanser for sensitive skin, 100ml
£6.49 at Superdrug £6.50 at Look Fantastic
Makeup can quickly make skin feel tight on planes and trains and is likely to clog pores in such occlusive conditions. I whip it off as soon as I can with micellar water. Bioderma’s is a lovely toning formula that removes every trace when used with a reusable pad, and feels nice and refreshing. It also means you don’t have to splash any water from a sketchy onboard sink on your face.
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Soothe tired eyes
Summer Fridays Jet Lag undereye patches
£25 for six at Space NK £25 for six at Sephora
Summer Fridays’ cult patches are the perfect in-flight treat for tired eyes. They’re filled with ingredients to soothe the delicate eye area, from hydrating glycerine to calming panthenol and niacinamide, as well as caffeine to reduce puffiness. I wear them for about 20 minutes on clean skin, then follow up with moisturiser and SPF so I’m ready for arrival.
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A handbag-sized moisturiser
Alpha-H High Tide water cream, 15ml
£15.99 at Cosmetify £15.99 at Face the Future
Pack a light, quenching moisturiser such as this water cream in your handbag to apply before and during your long journey. My skin drinks up Alpha-H’s water cream easily, and it leaves it looking healthy and dewy.
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Wear a broad-spectrum SPF
Ultra Violette Future Fluid SPF50+ superlight mineral skinscreen, 50ml
£38 at Boots £38 at Cult Beauty
UVB rays can’t penetrate through windows, but UVA rays – which contribute to skin ageing and damage – can. So a broad-spectrum SPF is a must, even if you’re inside. Ultra Violette’s new formula is light and won’t clog pores, plus it feels smooth to apply.
For more, read Sali Hughes’s guide to the best sunscreens
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Skin barrier protection
Sunsolve MD Detox + Shield SPF50, 48ml
£77 at Liberty
Sunsolve MD’s Detox + Shield SPF50 is designed to protect the skin from environmental stressors, with a mineral formula (meaning it creates a physical barrier on the skin) that still feels lightweight. It also promises to strengthen the skin’s protective barrier over time, so if you have sensitive skin and are hopping between cities, it could be worth the hefty price.
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Block out stressful noise
Loop earplugs Quiet 2
£19.95 at Loop Earplugs £19.95 at Amazon
I’m sensitive to noise and swear by Loop’s reusable silicone earplugs to keep me feeling calm in loud spaces, or to help me switch off when it’s time to sleep. They’re easy to clean and come in a travel case.
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A lip mask for long journeys
Drunk Elephant Plump-C tripeptide lippe mask, 15ml
£26 at Sephora £26 at Cult Beauty
The sensitive skin on lips can feel particularly parched while travelling, so patting on a lip mask during a long journey, or the night after, can help keep them juicy. This new Drunk Elephant launch is a treatment version of its popular balm, restoring hydration and softness with marula oil and shea butter. It also has a plumping effect, if that’s your bag.
For more, read our guide to the best lip balms tried and tested
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A luxury travel pillow
Slip Jet Setter striped silk travel pillow
£120 at Selfridges £120 at Sephora
Spending hours lying on a synthetic pillow can leave skin feeling itchy or aggravated – especially when you’re in close, occlusive conditions. Slip’s silk travel pillow feels like the ultimate luxury, and is much more comfy than plane handouts.
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Treat your skin
Beauty of Joseon centella asiatica calming mask
£5 each at Superdrug £6 for three at Look Fantastic
Applying a sheet mask is a great way to treat skin during transit, even if you get a few funny looks. K-beauty favourite Beauty of Joseon’s soothing centella asiatica mask is made with three types of hyaluronic acid for intense hydration and won’t stress sensitive skin. Apply on a cleansed face or on top of a serum, wear for about 20 minutes and massage the remaining product into the face and neck.
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Massage your face
FaceGym Face Coach Q10 face oil, 30ml
£56 at Look Fantastic £56 at Selfridges
FaceGym multi-sculpt high-performance contouring tool
£50 at Cult Beauty £53 at Look Fantastic
If you’re prone to puffiness when travelling, try massaging your face with (clean!) knuckles gently from the neck up, using a serum or oil. I like FaceGym’s Face Coach oil for this – and even better, use the brand’s gua sha for the massage to aid lymphatic drainage. It’s stainless steel, so it will also cool and calm skin.
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A toothbrush great for travel
Suri electric toothbrush
From £63.75 at Suri £63.75 at Healf
For overnight journeys and travel in general, this is hands down my favourite electric toothbrush. Made from sleek aluminium, it’s much lighter than other models and can be bought with a UV light charging case that neutralises bacteria. The battery lasts for up to 40 days, too.
For more, read our guide to the best electric toothbrushes tried and tested
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Moisture for frazzled hair
Sam McKnight Happy Endings nourishing balm mini, 30ml
£22 at Sam McKnight £22 at Cult Beauty
The low humidity on trains and planes can dry out hair as well as skin. So, for when ends start to feel frazzled, or if you want to give locks a zhoosh before you land, pack Sam McKnight’s multitasking Happy Endings balm. It’s one of my hair care ride or dies: it instantly nourishes and smoothes, and can also be used to define layers, but it’s not heavy or greasy.
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A post-travel breath freshener
Selahatin Blue Forever eau d’extrait oral, 18.5ml
£36 at Niche Beauty
If you need a quick breath freshen-up, this Selahatin spray looks and tastes luxurious. It contains liquorice, which has antibacterial benefits, as well as refreshing citrus and peppermint.
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Hayley Spencer is a journalist and editor with 15 years’ experience of writing on topics spanning style, beauty and wellness
