Summer Travel Essentials To Look Hot In The Heat.

I’m sitting on a balcony somewhere in Cancun, Mexico overlooking the water, sipping on my second cup of coffee, and getting off to a very slow morning. In fact, I suspect it’s no longer morning. The hubby, on the other hand, had his breakfast, worked out, had a post workout meal, got restless, and is probably out exploring – or drinking tequila and making friends on the beach. That’s how we roll; he’s the outie to my innie.

But you didn’t come here for my marriage dynamics, so let’s get to it.

If you follow me on Instagram (@sochickie) you may have seen my Chickie Travel Essentials I posted about on my stories. I got some questions about the specific things I take with me on vacation, so I thought I would share it today.

I don’t have much time, he’s gonna be here soon to drag me out of my shell and out to lunch (my breakfast) so I need to be fast.

So, these are the things I can’t travel without. And by that, I mean categories of things I can’t travel without. A lot of these products I’m trying out for the first time and I’m going to give you my honest opinion. Also, I am a tad excessive when it comes to packing my “essentials” and that I’m sure I don’t really need all this stuff. You don’t need all this stuff.

So here goes:

Skincare

♥ A few cleansers (a scrub, a balm or cleansing oil, a morning cleanser, and an extra cleanser for those extra Chickies like myself):

First, I need a scrub because I love a scrub and because I pile on layers upon layers of sunscreen during the day. At night, that sunscreen needs to be scrubbed away thoroughly. This time I brought the Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Face Polish. It’s not very harsh, and I like that they have a travel size.

Clinique Take the Day off Cleansing Balm: This one is for removing makeup. I have it in three different sizes which makes it perfect for travel.

Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash: And frothy it is. Wow. I got a 1-0z sample of this cleanser somewhere so it came with me for convenience. A little goes a long way and it is thorough. Perfect for a morning cleanse when you want your skin to feel really clean but not stripped.

This is a must for me for several reasons. I Fresh Vitamin Nectar Vitamin C glow Powder: These were introduced to me by my amazing soul-sister and IG (and now real life ) friend. I love them. I’ve tried the Clinique ones, but these are more effective, in my opinion. When I’m on a beach vacation I load up on vitamin C for its sun protective quality and for generalized skin brightening. These are ideal for traveling because it comes in individual packets.

♥ A vitamin C serum:

A must if you’re over 30. A must for every day. And absolutely a must for vacations when your skin will be exposed to the sun, I brought two with me (because I need extra protection).

Lumene Nordic Vitamin C Boost: this is the first product I’ve tried from this brand. To be honest, I haven’t used it long enough to measure any kind of concrete results. It’s called an essence but its a serum and it contains a different form of vitamin C than my regular vitamin C serum which has L-Ascorbic acid, so in my anti-aging brain, I concluded that getting protected from all forms of vitamin C is better than the protection from one. I don’t know if this is backed up by science, but I’m going with it.

Skinceuticals CE Ferulic: If you’ve been around here for a minute I don’t need to tell you how much I love this product. It’s still my desert island product. (It was a close race between this and my beloved Vintner’s Daughter oil, but if I’m to be stranded on an island I’d surely need skin protection more than skin nourishing. Don’t you think?). I’ve looked for and used and liked and wanted to love other vitamin C serums, but I always go back to this one, repeating the famous hair color slogan “you’re worth it, you’re worth it” to myself as I input my credit card info. It ain’t cheap, but repeat after me: “Neither are we!”

♥ A multi-purpose Serum…

Self-explanatory. The Ordinary Buffet is a good all-rounder for travel. It’s got Hyaluronic Acid and several peptides, so I’m covered.

♥ An acid:

I brought two with me (again because I’m extra) Dr. Dennis Gross Alph Beta Peel Pads: One of my favorite chemical exfoliating products and super convenient for traveling.

Biologique Recherche Lotion P50: This is one of those extra essentials that I didn’t need to pack because I brought the pads above. But I have the travel size so why not?

♥ An eye cream:

Youth to The People Eye Cream is the one I’m currently using and loving. Super hydrating and contains peptides.

♥ An overnight mask:

I love overnight masks, especially for vacations. Especially for vacations when I may dehydrate my skin with tequila. I use a serum first, then this mask, and I’m done. This is the first time I tied the Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask and I’m not really impressed. It just feels like a regular moisturizer to me. It’s ok but doesn’t wow me. I prefer my Laniege overnight mask.

♥ Eye mask:

Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Masks. I stick these in the mini fridge as soon as I arrive so they will be ready to depuff the too much salt, too much alcohol, too much sleeping eye scenario.

♥ Face masks:

Nugg Hydrating Face Mask: One of the many face masks I bring with me on vacation. Small, convenient, effective and inexpensive. I also bring sheet masks because their easy to pack and don’t take up much room. I’m currently loving the Ulta Dry Sheet Masks.

♥ A refreshing hydrating mist:

Caudalie Beauty Elixir is always in my purse. It’s refreshing, hydrating, and smells amazing. I use it after being out in the sun, before bed, and always several times during a flight which really annoys my husband and fellow passengers. Sorry, not sorry.  Airplane air makes me feel gross and I take skin hydration very seriously.

♥ Tools (not those kinds of tools, dirty Chickie. Although — 😉

These babies are definitely essentials for traveling. I use it in the morning to give my face a good lymphatic drainage massage or to wake my skin up if it’s feeling or looking tired, or if I had too many spicy Margaritas.

Sun Care

♥ Sunscreen…

La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 60: still my go-to face sunscreen.

PCA Skin SPF 45: a super lightweight formula that is great for under makeup.

Volition Prismatic Luminzing Shield SPF 50: A new purchase. Not good for under makeup but it does give the skin a little sheen which I like.

Super Goop: Love this! It’s genius. It’s a cream shimmer eyeshadow with 30 SPF. Easy to apply with your fingers and comes in 3 shades. I got it in Sunset which is a beautiful bronze color. Why had no one thought about this before? We need to protect our beautiful youthful eyes from the sun. Highly, highly recommend this product. You need it.

Hair Essentials

♥ Shampoo: This is the shampoo I’m using lately. I love that it comes in a travel size so I don’t have to bother decanting my full size one. It’s sulfur-free, and you can achieve a good lather which you can’t do with a lot of sulfur-free shampoos.

♥ A hair mask: I don’t bring a regular conditioner with me when I travel, I just use a hair mask instead. Two birds one stone. This one by Briogeo is not that great though. This one I’m afraid is not getting a return ticket.

♥ A hair serum or oil: I’m a sucker for a good smelling hair product, and this Bliphica Seaberry hair Serum doesn’t disappoint. it’s all da serum but feels like an oil. I’ve been using this hair serum for a while and its still one of my favorite hair products.

♥ A texturizing spray: For sexy beachy waves I’m using Ouay Wave Spray Ondulation.

♥ A dry shampoo. In my opinion, Klorane Dry Shampoo the best dry shampoo out there. That’s just my opinion, but I’m sticking to it.

♥ A root cover-up: Unfortunately, this is an essential. Just in case a little gray starts to peak through I brought L’Oreal Root Cover Up. My hair grows super fast because of all the Biotin I take, so I’m always prepared. And you should be too.

Body Essentials

♥ A body oil: Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse is amazing. I love this for summer nights out when you want your skin to look glowy and sunkissed. It gives you just a hint of color and a lot of youthful glow.

♥ I forgot my loofah: Sometimes, not always, I bring some kind of exfoliator. Either a loofa or a brush. Luckily here in Cancun, I found a great exfoliator. It’s called Mother’s Nature’s Natural Exfoliator. They have a huge supply and it’s free. Some of you may know it by the generic name: sand. It works, and don’t worry when you get strange looks from fellow tourists; you’ll never see them again.

Now you: What are your go-to summer travel essentials? Are you a minimalist when it comes to packing your beauty products or are you the more is more type? Share the youth!

xoxo