Reduced Waste Skin Care while Traveling
On our recent back-to-back trips to New Mexico and Oregon, I shared a few glimpses into my low waste, travel skincare products/routine. Upon request, I’m going into greater detail about it here on the blog. Much like my routine at home, it’s fairly simple and low on packaging:
Makeup Removal
I have a few refillable glass pots from ReContained, and I use one for a bit of coconut oil for makeup removal when traveling. (I simply siphon off a lump from my standard mason jar of coconut oil at home.) I’ve found that this type of oil is entirely effective at naturally removing both standard and waterproof makeup, without drying out the skin or wearing thin the sensitive skin beneath the eyes.
Wash
A combination charcoal + tea tree oil bar soap from Package Free Shop is my favorite new nearly-zero-waste addition/swap to my routine. When traveling, I don’t even have a dedicated container for it. I simply make sure that it’s completely dry, and then I pop it into a beeswax wrap and add it to my toiletries pouch.
Above: Wearing a coverall jumpsuit inspired and co-created by my friend Ellen Marie Bennett.
Exfoliate
This product isn’t zero waste (it comes in a petite plastic tub), but it is very long lasting, small enough to clear TSA, and was the final piece of the puzzle for me when it comes to attaining a clear complexion. The products I mention in the next category fully transformed my skin for the infinitely better, but this exfoliation component was something I was missing. Since using this product I’ve had zero cysts, and an even tone across all areas of my face (rather than having zones with differing qualities).
Moisturize & Repair
My 2 must-haves are a (newly released) travel bottle of Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum, plus their second product— Active Treatment Essence— dropped into a generic glass travel vial.
Spot Treat
I recently switched to a tea tree oil spot treatment (a more natural alternative to the one I’d been using) that comes in a slim, glass roll-on serum from the Package Free Shop. So far it has been music to my skin, and it’s easy to pop into a medicine cabinet, pocket, wallet or zipper pouch for local or long distance adventures.
Full Body Moisturizing
I use The Body Stone, a safe and effective moisturizing stone that comes in a refillable bamboo canister. After dozens of uses, the stones break down into smaller pieces, which are perfect for continued use and also conveniently smaller for travel. (You can even drop a bit or two into a tub for a relaxing body soak.)
Tone
I’ll sometimes bring my NuFace FIX if I’m attending work events or shoots while away. (View my post on this product line here.) I also toss a few washable face pads and makeup wipes into my toiletries pouch.
