Shirley's Travel Essentials

I turned 22 this past year and as a birthday present, I traveled to Europe for the first time with my friend. Something about me is that I have developed a relationship with last minute packing. It is not ideal, and I definitely do not pack enough. You may be impressed to hear I was able to fit everything in one bag, but I’m telling you —there are a few socks and maybe two days' worth of outfits missing. The most important part of my everyday ritual is my skincare routine, so while I was frantically scrambling to pack, I felt reassured working in a store stacked with travel size-friendly skincare. Thankfully, I was able to compile all I needed in one go. oo35mm is like the Target of skincare – you can spend hours browsing the products here and you will leave with a sizable amount of items, but at an outstanding value. My intention for this trip was to keep my skin hydrated and dewy while in flight and in Portugal – my final destination. Let me show you what I put together on short notice.

 

 

Cleanser | iUNIK Calendula Cleansing Oil

The iUNIK Cleansing Oil is one I find myself going back to constantly. I love how lightweight the texture is. It is also amazing for removing waterproof makeup, so I knew I had to include it in my travels. I also appreciate that the ingredient list is simple, just 6 types of plant oils. All skin types will love using this. The iUNIK mini is also available to be purchased. 

 

 

 

Foaming Cleanser | B-Lab Matcha Hydrating Foam

For my second step cleanser, as someone with dry skin, I lean towards hydrating foams. While my favorite cleanser is not available in travel size, I still squeeze some B-Lab Matcha Hydrating Foam into a travel size container. I love it for the green tea and how creamy the consistency is -- my skin will not be getting tired of this cleanser!

 

 

 

Gel Cleanser |  Cosrx Low-pH Cleanser 

Those with combo-oily skin types should take note that the Cosrx Low-pH Cleanser is super well loved at our store. It is a gel cleanser that contains BHA which is great for people experiencing pore concerns. For me, I can always put some extra care when it comes to treating enlarged, dull pores. The mini version of this cleanser [20ml (0.67 fl oz)] is a great option to bring with you when traveling as it will take care of blackheads and textured skin. A daily gentle exfoliating cleanser when traveling also ensures there won't be buildup on your skin, as we want to prevent clogged pores and breakouts on vacation.

 

 

Toner & Essence | Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water

I feel like I have mentioned this product in every article I have written but the Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water is my go to hydrating essence toner! I was relieved that we started carrying the mini version [40 ml (1.4 fl oz)]. Every day & night I made sure that my skin drinks up the goodness that this essence water provides. You can read more about why I love this essence toner here.

 

 

 

Serum | Mary&May Blackberry + Idebenone Serum

Since Portugal’s climate is often sunny and dry, I wanted my serums to be lightweight while providing me the glowiest of bases. My skin has been loving the Mary&May Blackberry and Idebenone Serum so much that I am currently on my fourth bottle. Not only is the black-on-black packaging visually appealing to me, I love the glow that it leaves on my skin afterwards. Blackberry contributes to well aging while idebenone is the star antioxidant. This is a lightweight yet hydrating antioxidant serum that feels similar to a vitamin C, but without the residual oiliness. 

 

 

Serum | Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum

Following the Beauty of Joseon Essence Water is their travel sized counterpart, the Glow Serum. Formulated with Propolis and Niacinamide, this serum gave me that dewy honey glow that I was looking for. All the serums from Beauty of Joseon are travel friendly, so definitely pick one(s) that suit your skincare concerns! And if you can’t choose? Why not get them all? We are stocked with the Beauty of Joseon Hanbang Serum Discovery Kit [each 10ml (0.33oz)] so you can bring all four of the serums with you to suit any skincare need.

 

 

Moisturizer | Stratia Liquid Gold

I love the Stratia Liquid Gold [60 ml (2 fl oz)] for being travel friendly and for how this moisturizer applies. The texture is super lightweight and spreadable that a few pumps is all I need. Formulated with sea buckthorn oil, Liquid Gold dispenses in a coppery gold color that melts away upon contact with your skin. Those with more fair skinned complexions may need a few minutes before the gold color dissipates, but this moisturizer overall does not stain or leave your skin with a yellow undertone. While New York has been a chilly cluster of harsh winds, Portugal was bright, sunny, and dry. Liquid Gold gave me the right amount of hydration and dewiness. In addition to sea buckthorn oil, Stratia’s Liquid Gold also contains ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids, all aiding in strengthening my skin’s moisture barrier.

If you are looking for something smaller than the 2 oz bottle, we are currently have Stratia’s moisturizer, Interface, in the mini version [5 ml (0.17 fl oz)] as well. Compared to Liquid Gold, Interface is packed with peptides which will aid in targeting fine lines and aging concerns. For a more in depth breakdown, Stratia’s founder, Alli Reed, writes about these two moisturizers and explains the ‘Skincare Egg’ method in our blog collaboration. 

Oil | Stratia Fortify

My flight to Portugal was a total of 17 hours with a 5 hour layover in Paris. Keeping this in mind, I knew I needed to bring facial oil with me for the trip. Being in-flight with a mask for an extended period of time exposes your skin to dehydration. Around this time the corners of my nose had started getting really red, flaky, and irritated – a symptom of wearing face masks alongside the cold weather at the time. The Stratia facial oil [30ml (1 fl oz)] became a lifesaver to my dry and dehydrated skin. While in flight, I would go in with micellar water, Ginseng Essence Water, and then the Fortify oil and my skin was sealed and content. Stratia’s Fortify oil is formulated with one of my favorite ingredients, squalane, along with tamanu oil which is great for its collagen producing and anti-inflammatory properties (fun fact: the Glow Serum also contains tamanu oil).  When I landed in Paris, it was an icy, rainy cold morning with harsh winds. Adding a few drops of this oil to my face as I was perusing around the epicenter of Paris was key in preventing my skin from feeling tight and irritated.

 

 

Sunscreen | Verdio UV Moisture Gel SPF 50+ PA++++

The Verdio sunscreen [80 g (2.8 fl oz)] has been my go to, so thankfully it is travel sized friendly. This sunscreen has no alcohol or fragrance, which feels like a rarity for Japanese sunscreens. I love how this sunscreen melts into my face, leaving my skin with the perfect amount of dewiness. Formulated with skin-loving ingredients such as centella and coix seed extracts, I knew this sunscreen would be the perfect one to have with me overseas. Unfortunately, the day I left my AirBnb in Northern Portugal to Lisbon, I left the sunscreen behind. It was a disaster afterwards. I was using the bits of sunscreen samples that I accumulated and the Western sunscreen that my friend had with her. Incomparable, as you may assume, and I definitely did not care to remember the brand name for future use. I spent the remainder of my time in Lisbon Verdio-less, trying to stay out of the sun as best as I could. When I got back to the States, I made sure the Verdio sunscreen was one of the first things I picked up. The lesson here is: double and triple check you have everything, especially your sunscreen, before vacating your vacation stay. 

 

 

Sheet Masks | Mediheal, Pyunkang Yul & JM Solution

I love to have sheet masks with me when traveling as there is no harm in adding more moisture to my skin. The ones that I brought for my friend and I to try out were the Mediheal Calming Mask, Pyunkang Yul Moisture Mask, and JM Solution Lacto Saccharomyces Golden Rice Mask. My favorite out of the three is the Pyunkang Yul mask because it left my skin the most radiant and soft. Sheet masks are a relaxing addition that allows your skin to absorb the concentrated serum ingredients for optimal hydration!

Final Thoughts

While we are still experiencing polarities in weather changes here in New York City, I want us to maintain that glowy, magnetizing, dream girl version of ourselves all throughout. It is really easy for your skin to lose moisture once in flight. Keeping your skin supple and hydrated especially, while flying at high altitudes is a great way to optimize and improve your skin's condition.

 

Like what you see? Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for more related content! Join our skincare community on our Discord server!