I travel regularly and Expaters, I’m sure you do to.
I like to keep a suitcase under the bed ready to go, just in case. After all, Paris is always a good idea.
After travelling a fair amount for my last job and even more as an expat, I now keep a couple of travel beauty sets for last minute trips.
Whether you’re looking for a Christmas gift for your jet-setter best friend or a reason to spoil yourself (like we need it?), here’s a round up of my favourite beauty kits.
1. Best for in flight. Susanne Kaufmann Flight Kit, 80€ (approx £71). With everything you need to stay hydrated, refreshed and clean on even the most grueling of flights, this set includes a moisturizing facial spray and mask, a skin smoothing serum packed with nutrients and a lovely refreshing leg spray to stimulate circulation. It also comes with a really useful hand sanitiser which contains silk proteins and doesn’t dry the skin out like others. I’ve tried a lot of beauty sets and this is the one I like most for a flight.
2. Best for beauty pros. QMS Jet-Set Beauty Case £86. I’ve written before about how much I love this brand. Developed by a doctor specializing in cosmetic trauma and treating burns victims, QMS products are wonderfully gentle and yet incredibly effective. The cream cleanser manages to clean deep down without stripping my eczema prone skin and the collagen makes my skin feel wonderfully plumped. The star product, a nutrient rich tinted moisturiser called Sport Active Cream, is great for on the beach, when exercising or when you don’t feel like wearing make up but your face could do with a little perk up. You’ll need to add in a moisturiser to this set, however – I’d recommend their Moisturising Balance – as the name suggests, it hydrates without feeling greasy or bulky.
3. Best for a beautiful scent. Kai Travel Set, $49, approx £38. Once upon a time a free spirit decided to capture her holiday memories in scent. Having spent her summers within the lush nature of Hawaii, she set out to create a more natural take on the exotic white flowers of her carefree youth. It was while wearing her new fragrance, Kai, on the streets of Manhatten, that a beauty editor stopped her to ask about this new gentle, yet exotic scent. Word soon got out and today Kai enjoys a long list of Hollywood A list devotees. Free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, phosphates and microbeads, and also vegan and cruelty free, all products within the Kai travel set smell utterly divine. I particularly like the shampoo and conditioner which contain moisturizing argan oil and strengthening glycolic acid.
4. Best for holidays in the sun. Kopari Beauty Bag $118 (approx £90). Whether you’re off for a little winter sunshine or based in the tropics 24/7, then the Kopari beauty bag comes in very handy. The all natural, organic coconut based products include a lightweight oil which multitasks as a makeup remover, hair serum and nail conditioner, as well as a rich body balm for sun parched skin and a fabulous all over body moisturiser with a gentle sheen for a natural sun kissed look. With this set, Kopari has your beach body in the bag, so to speak.
5. Best for city trips. Codage On The Road Again, £71.89 (currently on special offer). French apothecary brand Codage is known for its personalised, targeted approach to skincare, and this set is prescribed with the urban traveller in mind. Full of anti pollution, vitamin rich, hydrating and energising products, including a day and night cream, two serums and a micellar water, this is a great kit for city slickers on the go. In case you’re new to micellar waters, they’re great for dissolving make up and daily grime, without stripping the skin. The Codage version is one of my favourites and contains Persian silk tree extract, a powerful antioxidant for repairing tired, lack lustre skin.
