Be A Savvy Traveler

Multitasking beauty products are absolutely essential when traveling. The heaviest items in my luggage are often toiletries and I need the same products whether it’s a weekend or two months away! The restrictions on baggage for international flights are so strict now. It’s important to find the balance between having all the necessities without paying for excess luggage. Later this year we will be taking a family vacation to Europe and…

Multitasking beauty products are absolutely essential when traveling. The heaviest items in my luggage are often toiletries and I need the same products whether it’s a weekend or two months away!

The restrictions on baggage for international flights are so strict now. It’s important to find the balance between having all the necessities without paying for excess luggage.

Later this year we will be taking a family vacation to Europe and we will have to pack very wisely. I have two young children who can’t help us carry our suitcases and a husband who insists we take his road bike so he can cycle a stretch of the Tour de France!

I am always on the lookout for products that can be used in different ways and are safe for my family’s skin and health.

10 of My Favorite Multitasking Beauty Products

1. Clear Mascara

A clear mascara is great to define my lashes during the day and one of the best things is I don’t get panda eyes if I go swimming or to the beach! I also have quite strong brows, so a slick of clear mascara helps to define and tame them.

2. Tinted Moisturizer or CC/BB Cream with SPF

This has got to be at the top of my go-to multitasking beauty products. It is a foundation, moisturizer and sunscreen all in one. This is such a simple way of making sure my skin is hydrated but more importantly protected from the sun’s harsh rays. Melanoma (skin cancer) is one of most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society an estimated 87,000 cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in 2017 and 10,000 cases will be fatal. Those are really frightening statistics.

Sun damage is also a huge factor in skin aging.

3. Lip and Cheek Stain

Beauty and the Beast actress Emma Watson wears one everyday to add some warmth to her pale complexion. I don’t have her flawless skin, but a peachy pink color will keep my lips looking pretty and my cheeks fresh with a rosy hue all day.

4. Lip Balm with SPF

I always keep some lip balm handy to reapply during the day. It’s so easy to overlook your lips when applying sunscreen. In fact it is a really common place for skin cancers to form, particularly in men.

5. Neutral Eyeshadow Palette

An eyeshadow palette in a mix of matte and shimmer neutral colors will see you through any occasion. Celebrity makeup artist Nicole Bryl uses one to make up eyes, fill in brows and contour cheeks.

You can use a dampened angle brush for a soft eyeliner and a light shimmery shadow is the perfect highlighter.

6. Shampoo or Body and Hair Wash

I use a gentle shampoo or all-over body wash to cleanse saltwater or chlorine from my hair after a day on the beach or by the pool. Chlorine actually chemically bonds to hair and skin which will dehydrate and damage it, so it is important to make sure to wash all traces of it and its strong smell away.

I also use shampoo to clean my makeup brushes and to hand wash clothes.

Multitasking beauty products are not just for me in the bathroom. An all-in-one body wash and shampoo is also really handy to use with my kids. I wash their hair and use the suds to clean their bodies. My husband takes one to the hotel gym to use in the shower after his workout.

Even though most hotels provide toiletries, they tend to contain really harsh ingredients so I always prefer to bring my own.

7. Conditioner

My hair is super thick and is prone to frizziness. I always use a conditioner after shampooing for smooth and shiny hair.

I also use it in place of shaving cream for legs and underarms. The razor glides over the skin meaning no nicks or cuts. If I do accidentally draw some blood, I can use a bit of lip balm to help seal the cut.

8. Face and Body Moisturizer

My skin really needs a moisture boost after a lot of sun exposure. A gel moisturizer works well as a soothing treatment for minor sunburn.

For a simple face and body scrub, try adding a small amount of sugar, salt or coffee grounds to some lotion.

9. Deodorant Stick

Particularly in summer, deodorant is a must-have. I always make sure to choose one that doesn’t contain parabens or pore-blocking aluminum.

A deodorant stick can also help stop shoes rubbing my feet. If I feel my shoes becoming a little uncomfortable I can swipe on a little deodorant onto my skin to reduce the friction and avoid a nasty blister. It can work the same way to avoid chafing on thighs and other areas prone to irritation from sweat and rubbing on fabric.

A little deodorant on an insect bite is also a great way to ease the itching.

10. Travel Wipes

It is so important to look after your skin and take care of basic hygiene en route. I always make sure to pack some multi-purpose travel wipes in my carry-on bags.

Savvy Traveler makes a great Jet Set Kit with a variety of single-use wipes. This means I don’t have to pack small bottles and containers to pass through the strict security checkpoints.

I’d love to know, what are your favorite multitasking beauty products and what are the different ways you use them? Leave a comment below and share with the Savvy community!

Makeup remover wipes are really nothing new as far as cleaning your face or removing stubborn makeup goes. What is different however is, what’s in and on the wipes that you use. Most women that have skin sensitivity prefer Vegan or Hypoallergenic wipes that tend to eliminated addition irritants that can make skin issues worse.

I can scarcely remember the last time I was at a checkout counter where I couldn’t buy a pouch of cleansing wipes. Last night I ran a last-minute errand at Dollar General to pick up school supplies for a specific class my son is taking. As I scan the rack filled with an impulse buy items that would neatly tuck in my purse or my son’s backpack, I noticed a 20 count pouch of makeup remover wipes. I’ll admit 20 wipes for $1 was pretty tempting. What kept me for spending a dollar on something I could readily use at almost anytime? I remembered the following 5 things that most people didn’t know about makeup remover pouch wipes.

1. CROSS CONTAMINATION

Opening and removing a single wipe from a top close or peel pack pouch can cross contaminate the entire pouch of wipes. Moreover, if you are removing makeup or dirt from your face or body and use a second wipe to “get all the dirt” you actually introduce microorganisms to the entire pouch. which can further irritate your skin or cause breakouts. Carrying pouches in your handbag with other items can further introduce bacteria into the pouch that does deal properly seal.

2. MOSTLY WATER

Most wipes, no matter what the brand is, contains about 98% water. The remaining 2% is what you should be aware of and what ingredients are included. This is what will make the difference in what is working and what is not. Luxury Beauty wipes tend to cost more because the ratio to water and active ingredient tends to be higher and more effective because they’re usually designed for the specific purpose of cleaning makeup or oil-based mascaras which tend to contain ingredients that water just can remover very well.

3. DRIES OUT QUICKLY

Just like that pack of cheese you shredded to put on your tacos, not to mention those tasty margaritas you had last Saturday night, opening and closing the package will allow air to get in and dry out much faster than a single packed wipe would. In the end, saving money on something you’ll buy more often isn’t really saving. More air in a pouch over time makes the wipes nearly bone dry and they won’t achieve the result you originally intended when the impulse to buy them in the first place overtook you at checkout.

4. BABY WIPES ARE NOT MEANT FOR YOUR FACE

I admit that I’ve been guilty of using baby wipes to clean my face or remove makeup. While they are gentle on your baby’s bottom, they are designed to clean urine and feces from your child’s skin. Think about that for a minute. A product designed to clean human waste will include ingredients and chemicals strong enough to reduce blossoming organicism and bacteria that can be introduced to the skin. Yes, there are organic and vegan baby wipes, but they tend to cost more because they do not contain these more aggressive chemicals ( just ask Jessica Alba). No, I don’t want to clean my face with poop cleanser thank you very much. Stick to products that are designed for the purpose you intend to use them for.

5. MADE IN CHINA

Nearly everything is made in China. There is nearly no way around it. There are a handful of US manufacturers that still produce wipe products. The FDA strongly regulates what ingredients and claims can be made of products that go on or in our bodies. While bulk buying is virtually a standard for the US. Convenience and the desire to get more for your money is prevalent in our culture, you get what you pay for. Regulations and quality not as important to you as saving a buck or two? Then bulk pouches are for you. Single pack wipes, while a bit more pricey when made in the USA but offers more convenience and sanitization.