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No one wants their vacation photos ruined by unexpected summer breakouts or humidity-induced hair problems. But traveling exposes your skin and body to a variety of stressors, from the dehydration of air travel to the sudden influx of alcoholic beverages and sugary treats. This is why beauty savvy people want to be prepared for their trip.
“I travel a lot for work, so I’ve become a pro in this field,” beauty expert and journalist Kayla Greaves writes in an email to Forbes.com. Whether it’s shooting campaigns, consulting, or writing, beauty editors’ travel frequency hasn’t changed in more than a decade. The result is an efficient selection of travel beauty products that she has personally vetted.
“[As a beauty editor]free products and everything is cool, but my real goal has always been to create stories that help people who look like me feel seen and understood. ” she explains her passion for comprehensive beauty reporting. “I didn’t grow up like that, so I know how influential that expression is.”
Take a peek inside beauty editor Kayla Greaves’ travel beauty kit of skincare, haircare, and bodycare essentials.
beauty expert and journalist Kayla Greaves;
Kayla Greaves
Travel beauty essentials: skin care
“I always want to make sure my skin is thoroughly cleansed without stripping, gently exfoliated, hydrated, soothed, and protected,” Greaves says of skin care when traveling. I’ll tell you. Her daytime picks include cleansers, antioxidant serums, hydration, sunscreen, and more. Her favorite is Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50 ($64), a mineral sunscreen.
“I love the Norie Kimchii Cleanser ($18). Not only does it thoroughly cleanse, it also balances my skin and reduces breakouts,” says Greaves, which is rich in probiotics that gently exfoliate. Let’s talk about cleansers. Like most daytime serums, her serum of choice is formulated with antioxidants like vitamin C to protect skin from free radical damage. “AlumierMD EverActive C&E Peptide Serum, $195, is a must-have for me. It comes in a pack of 3 so I can keep one in my travel bag.”
If you happen to have trouble sleeping on a plane, Greaves has a solution for you. “Fresh Black Tea Anti-Aging Eye Cream, $72, is great and so easy to pack,” she says of the anti-puffiness eye cream. “It’s gentle, makes the eyes look brighter (and) lasts quite a while.”
beauty expert and journalist Kayla Greaves;
Kayla Greaves
At night, she reaches for Shani Darden Lactic Acid Exfoliating Serum ($89) for gentle but effective exfoliation and whitening benefits. When her skin is “chapping” or in need of an extraction, she calls Rescue MD DNA Repair Complex ($88-$388) a “godsend” that soothes the skin and combats post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). It is called. Another travel-friendly way to reduce inflammation is to ice your face for two to three minutes at a time. Reusable Melissa Imperial ‘Cryo’ Facial Ice Popsicles ($32) make it easy to do on the go.
Greaves also prioritizes skin barrier care as the skin’s “first line of defense.” Air travel dehydration and climate change pose two additional travel-related challenges that can compromise the barrier and make the skin more susceptible to irritation. “I’m so excited to add Augustine Bader Skin Infusion ($430) to my travel capsule,” she says of the luxury brand’s new barrier-focused launch. “I’ve been testing it for a few weeks now and I’m seeing a huge difference in my skin’s texture and tone. (The bottle) is the perfect size for travel, too.”
Beauty expert and journalist Kayla Greaves is on vacation.
Kayla Greaves
Travel beauty essentials: hair and body care
Greaves’ travel hair care products vary depending on her hairstyle. “Right now I have my hair in a bob and heat style it, so I always have my Dyson Supersonic hair dryer ($429.00) and my go-to iron, which I’ve had for almost 10 years, with me,” she explains. Masu. “I try to wash my hair before I go out, but in case I need a styling product, Dove 7-in-1 Miracle Mist ($9.99) is a one-and-done product for me.”
She likes to keep her body care simple and easy. Sunscreen is non-negotiable, so she uses Coola Clear Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 ($28) or Vacation Classic Spray SPF 30 ($19) when she’s out and about. The non-aerosol spray is TSA-compliant and uses chemical (rather than mineral) UV blockers, so it blends invisibly into all skin types.
“I recently partnered with Brown Sugar Babe to launch a body oil and perfume oil called IT Girl for $55, so that’s definitely going to be in[my suitcase],” she added. . “When it comes to lotions, you can’t go wrong with Vaseline Intensive Care Nourishing Moisture ($3.99). It left my skin feeling super soft and smelling delicious.”
beauty expert and journalist Kayla Greaves;
Kayla Greaves
The importance of comprehensive beauty picks
Greaves reminds us that inclusive beauty messages in the media are important, while offering her expertise in curating beauty essentials for travel. Media bias affects us all, but it is especially harmful to underrepresented groups. This is precisely why Greaves strongly believes in inclusive storytelling, and recently wrote an article on braids, their cultural significance to the black community, and the impact of improper braiding on hair loss. Wrote for Vogue. “Beauty is personal. It’s emotional. We have a cultural connection,” she says. “Digging a little deeper is what makes a story memorable and makes a difference for the person reading or listening.”