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The work environment is not limited to traditional offices these days. Many choose to work anywhere with Wifi to create a better work-life balance. Others travel extensively for work, going from city to city with a few stops at home in between.
When traveling for work in any capacity, it’s handy to have a travel bag full of your favorite beauty essentials. It takes the guesswork out of packing and ensures you’re stocked up before you board your next flight.
Related: 5 Beauty Products Every Traveling Entrepreneur Needs in Their Suitcase
Here are ten beauty must-haves to keep you looking polished and professional wherever you are.
1. Facial cleansing wipes
A travel-sized pack of facial wipes can easily be slipped into carry-on luggage and used as a last resort. Get rid of dirt, grime and old make-up easily when a full facial cleansing is not an option. Find wipes with soothing ingredients like aloe or eucalyptus to invigorate the senses and soothe the skin.
Also, make sure they don’t contain alcohol so you don’t deprive your skin of the moisture it needs after a flight. Simple exfoliating facial wipes with aloe vera, provitamin B5 and vitamin E are gentle yet effective for all skin types. When you’re in a hurry but need to wipe the slate clean, so to speak, this will be your salvation.
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2. Eye mask and earplugs
Studies show that people sleep better in dark and quiet environments, making an eye mask and earplugs an important travel combination. It will help you sleep more comfortably on planes, trains and in your hotel room.
It’s easy to throw off your natural sleep cycle when you travel from time zone to time zone, which is the first thing that will affect how you look and feel. Protect your sleep schedule for the sake of not only your beauty routine, but more importantly, your overall health.
Related: How CEOs Optimize Their Sleep Schedules
3. Lipstick
It’s amazing what a swipe of lipstick or tinted lip balm can do to make you feel instantly put together. A bold color can feel empowering, while a neutral tone can add just enough pop to make you feel poised and ready for work. Remember to keep your lips hydrated by exfoliating dry, chapped skin and applying a lip treatment at night. Then slip a favorite shade into your bag and keep a spare at home so you’re always prepared. Get the pigmentation you want with the hydration you need to keep your lips flake-free.
4. Dry shampoo
Dry shampoo buys time between washes to keep hair looking and smelling fresh. Adding dry shampoo gives a boost to limp strands and helps with oily strands. Spray directly at the root and allow the product to absorb before styling. It’s a simple solution to bring your hair back to life when it’s time-stretched. It also prevents hair from drying out from too much washing.
A travel favorite is Act+Acre Plant-Based Dry Shampoo. Its clean, fragrance-free formula works when you’re heading straight from the plane to an important meeting or from the day at the office straight to a business dinner. Plus, the small travel-sized container can be discreetly tucked away and pulled out to use whenever needed.
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5. Moisturizing face cream
Climate changes can quickly dry out the skin, leaving behind a tired look. The lightweight moisturizer keeps skin healthy, supple and bright. Choose one with SPF for sun protection and a formula designed for your skin type. Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Face Lotion contains SPF 15 and alpha-hydroxy acid to improve skin tone.
Also, if you want to limit the use of heavy foundation, a tinted moisturizer works as a good substitute, like EltaMD UV Daily Tinted Broad-Spectum SPF 40. It provides light coverage without the sticky finish that foundation can often have if the skin is too dry.
6. Eye drops
Contact lens wearers already know the importance of eye drops when traveling. However, even if you don’t need glasses, eye drops soothe tired eyes after a long commute or hours of staring at a screen. There are several options for different brands, but generic eye drops work just as well to brighten the eyes and keep them from feeling as dry.
Related: 5 Ways to Use Eye Contact in a Business Meeting to Get What You Want
7. Spiral
Mascara is one of the most important beauty essentials that many refuse to leave home without. This is another product you should pack to make the eyes pop. Choose a smudge-proof formula like CoverGirl Smudge Proof Mascara that will stay with you through your travel day without smudging. Add a few layers, but avoid layering it too thick to keep the look natural and business-friendly.
8. Proofreader
The hydrating under-eye concealer helps camouflage dark circles and instantly brightens the face. The trick is to pat the product into place rather than scrubbing it back and forth with a beauty brush or sponge. CoverGirl Turblend Undercover Concealer is perfect for all-day wear, providing a matte finish. Use the third finger to pat it under the eye and smooth it gently. A concealer stick is essential when you’re traveling for work to keep your face looking fresh.
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9. Blush stick
A blush stick provides a two-in-one benefit when used as blush and eyeshadow and requires no brush to apply. Stick to a neutral shade like Charlotte Tilbury Moon Beach Blush, a peachy, rose gold shade, and use your fingertips clean to blend into the cheekbones for a natural-looking blush. Work situations don’t necessarily require a full face of makeup; by sticking to a few beauty essentials, you can look polished.
10. Dental floss
Although dental floss may not be considered true beauty, it is necessary to have it ready. There’s nothing worse than going through an entire meeting or dinner with a client with food stuck between your teeth. Never fall into this type of compromising position (and subsequent embarrassment) and be sure to add it to your bag.
Consider these ten beauty essentials part of your travel arsenal to prepare for wherever your work travels take you.