**GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED**
I’m leaving for Miami later this week so I figured it’s a proper time for this post. Woop!
If you’ve followed along with this blog for a while now, you know that, for several years, I lived out of a suitcase traveling the country as a Road Warrior for my job. When I say traveling, I mean literally every Monday morning I boarded a flight to a far-off destination and returned ‘home’ Thursday night. That’s 50-ish weeks out of a year (removing some of the holiday weeks we didn’t need to travel). If you’re adding up the math in your head right now, you’re probably realizing that yes – I spent more nights in a hotel bed than my own.
Luckily, I escaped that lifestyle several years ago, and now have time to pursue personal interests, outside of work, such as crossfit and this-here blog. My extensive travel experience, however, left me as a self-proclaimed travel pro.
Throughout the years, I gathered a number of travel tips and secrets that I’m now sharing with you! Double woop!! Pack your suitcase folks, set up your out of office and let’s go jet-setting with these travel tips!!
<< immediately off the plane in Indy. no filter. >>
Tip #1 (The most important): Carry a beauty toolkit.
Let’s be real – traveling is gross. Long flights and crowded subway trains leave us feeling icky and germ phobic – regardless of our natural tendencies. To battle the feelings of yuck, I learned to carry an essential ‘beauty’ toolkit. To any men out there, you can modify the toolkit to your personal preferences, but the concepts are the same (Purel, Axe body spray and some mints, anyone?). To all the women, here’s what I recommend carrying — and what can normally be found in my travel bag!
- Yes to Cucumbers Travel Towelettes – Whether cleansing my face, removing makeup or quickly wiping off my hands, these towelettes are my go-to for any travel occasion. Hypoallergenic and paraben free, they make me feel clean and refreshed no matter if I’m jet-setting to the city streets of NYC or off on some country roads in South Carolina.
- Seventh Generation Skin Serum – My skin gets really dry when I’m on long flights or the subway so I always like to carry some sort of serum / lotion with me, especially for my face. This is the lightest and most natural skin serum I’ve come across to date! The serum is hypoallergenic and free of parabens, phthalates and synthetic fragrances so I feel moisturized, but not bogged down by unnatural products, which is an especially great feeling while traveling. (Note: You only need about 1-2 squirts to cover your entire face!) The serum contains jojoba oil, yet it feels so light on your skin. (Jojoba is actually one of the lighter natural oils and has been a part of my beauty routine for years.) Due to the acai and passion flower oils, it also smells amazing, which is so refreshing when I’m cramped up next to some peeps I don’t know in the middle seat on the plane. (Disclosure: I received a free sample of this product from Lucky and Seventh Generation for use in connection with this blog). All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
- Salon Grafix Invisible Dry Shampoo – Ladies. The travel gods answered with this one. When unfortunate travel situations (10+ hour flights, delays, cancellations, overnight bus trips?) leave us without running water, we need miracles. Dry shampoo is our miracle! A quick spray around my head removes visible oil and leaves a refreshing fragrance that empowers me to tackle any and all travel obstacles. Watch out TSA!
- Essential Oil (any brand, any smell) – I use Aura Cacia Lavender Essential Oil. When you’re traveling and smelling things that are just, plainly, unidentifiable, it is essential to carry essential oil. Get it 😉 A few quick dabs on your wrists or your neck offer a calming and soothing relief even if you’re in the middle of travel chaos.
Tip #2: Book your flight on a Tuesday.
(This tip is actually from my mother.) But, it works!! I saved $60 on my flight to Miami by just buying it on a Tuesday.
Tip #3: Most hotels will let you check in early.
When I took that crazy a$$ trip to Chicago a couple of weeks ago, I checked into my hotel at 6:30AM. 6:30AM!! It was awesome. Not only did I get to shower after an overnight bus ride and before the conference, but I also used my hotel room for a full 24-hours. I definitely got my money’s worth!
Even if hotels do not have rooms available, they will allow you to check your bag, which is very helpful when you get to your destination early and want to explore the sights and sounds.
**Did someone mention a Giveaway??!**
Ah yes, I did!
You can win your own version of My Essential, Awesome, and Can’t Live without It Travel Beauty Toolkit for free (courtesy of me)!!!
All you have to do is (1) comment on this post below with your favorite all-natural, travel beauty item OR your favorite travel tip.
AND
(2) You can win 5 EXTRA entries to the giveaway (quintuple your chances of winning!!) by tweeting your favorite all-natural travel beauty tip. Include me in your tweet (@crossroadsheart) and USE THE HASHTAG #AllNaturalStyleSecrets.
You must CC me and use the hashtag to be entered into the giveaway! Let’s get creative!
I will choose one winner, right here on my blog, on Monday August 26th at 8:00AM. You have, until then, to enter! I will accept only one entry via comment below. I will accept as many tweets as you want to tweet! (5 entries for each tweet! Just remember to include me (@crossroadsheart) and use the hashtag #AllNaturalStyleSecrets!)
I would love to check in at 6:30am!!!! That’s awesome! I’ve never heard of such! Lol
I love the Yes to Cucumber Towelettes. Plus they are so convenient. 🙂
they’re the best! xoxo
Oops and my favorite travel tip is pack a few extra items…bc what if a flight is delayed or cancelled…you’ll appreciate that extra pair of undies and a clean tshirt! 🙂
absolutely girl! always a panic when you realize you don’t have enough haha
I’ve had a fair amount of experience traveling through tons of airports throughout the country. Something that I’ve learned is to choose what you put in your “purse” carry-on wisely.
Usually, I would always carry an oversized purse (which is okay) and stuff it to the point where it can barely shut (not okay).
This would mean I’m on the plane and am struggling to find one item in my overstuffed purse and ticking off the person sitting next to me with all my fidgeting. Lesson learned. Pick the top 6-7 items that you’ll be needing and only put those in your purse. Everything else? Put it in the carry-on suitcase and stow it away.
love this idea! thanks for the tip!
My favorite travel tip is to make sure to take facial wipes and moisturizer with you on the plane (along with a mist bottle of water) Wipe off all of your makeup as soon as you’re on the plane, add some moisturizer, and throughout the ride (especially long ones) mist your face as planes will suck all the moisture from your face 🙂
that’s great! moisturizer is key!! 🙂
And a link to my tweet 🙂
https://twitter.com/SoutheastMidwes/status/370378217963532288
My favorite travel item is the Caudalier Beauty Elixir! It’s a wonderful, natural spray!
that sounds lovely! i’ll have to check it out! xoxo
I love all of your tips! I just recently got into essential oils and I never thought to travel with them so that’ll definitely be my new “go to” travel tip. My favorite travel item has to be hand sanitizer. I love the scented varieties from Bath & Body Works. Thanks for hosting!
love hand sanitizers! definite necessity 🙂 essential oils help to have a nice smell quickly at your fingertips when you don’t know what to expect, haha!
I also love the Yes To Cucumbers Face Wipes and swear by those. I used to travel 50 weeks a year, too! My tip always bring healthy snacks. I have been reviewing a ton of awesome whole food bars on my blog lately for this reason! Also stay hydrated. Don’t drink caffeine or alcohol on flights. (Great idea on the essential oils – love that tip!)
great tips erica! drinking sparkling water and blogging midflight as we speak 😉 ..also, i love Larabars!
My tip is to bring a sweater with you everywhere! We went to Mexico last summer and I didn’t… and I nearly froze to death on the plane. Not a happy flight!
ugh.. had to go shopping in boston when i was visiting one summer bc i didn’t realize it can get so cold there! great tip!
Travel tip: always have CASH handy!
And seriously, I just got some of those wipes, I LOVE THEM!! They go with me EVERY WHERE now!
Amber.. i should have read this twice before i left for miami. i have no cash and no debit card!! UGH! thank god im meeting up with girlfriends who will probably just laugh at me! xoxo
I’m getting on a plane tomorrow morning and thought about doing my own version of this post! You’ve got some really great tips/tricks. My go-to is an eye roller-ball and some eye drops. I put the roller stuff on before the flight and again after to keep my eyes from looking and gross, and the drops I usually put in after landing.
great idea gayle! i layer on foundation underneath my eyes :I haha .. probably not the most natural approach! would love to see your own version of the post sometime!
Honestly, my go-to is water, plain and simple. Staying hydrated is the most important part of traveling (and easily neglected).
Ally – so true! thank you for the reminder!
Great post!! My tips – learn to pack a carry-on correctly and you’ll never need to pack a checked bag for a 5 – 6 day trip!! There are lots of helpful videos on YouTube, but my mom is a packing genius and I like to think I inherited the gene, too!! My other tips: don’t forget the lip gloss!! There’s nothing worse than dry, chapped lips! My current favorite is Kiss & Tell tingling lip gloss by Pure Romance. And…I don’t know of its just me, but I love traveling in professional/business clothing, there was once a time when this was the norm! I feel better when I look good and I think people are nicer and more helpful if you are dressed more sharply. The complements from other passengers and the flight crew don’t hurt either!! 😉
dang girl.. you are motivated. business casual dress?!! i throw on some leggings, a black shirt and a necklace and call it a day, haha. good for you!! 🙂
Hahahaha I’m usually heading to the airport from work, but like I said, flying in those clothes makes all the difference! Give it a try!! 🙂
I never fly without a packet of Colgate Wisps to refresh my breath and my teeth, and I always carry Mary Kay mineral highlighting powder (I like the it in pink stardust) to refresh my face without adding too much makeup. I find I don’t like to put too much back on until I get to a hotel and shower, but I look like death after a dry, long flight. These help me put my best face forward!
absolutely!! great tips!! 🙂
I always make sure that I am signed up for the free points for whichever hotel I am staying in, even if its not one I normally frequent. This way I can have extra points to use on other things based on their rewards program.
great idea, Valbona! i don’t take advantage of this enough anymore!
I LOVE bringing dry shampoo so that I don’t have to wash my hair as much (heck, I use it even when I’m not traveling!) I also have gotten a lot better about bringing ONLY what I need, not extra outfits. I bring a trash bag to put all my dirty stuff in (or use the one the hotel provides) as it becomes dirty so that the room stays cleaner and I’m not mixing dirty and clean clothes. If you need help with room, pack everything in large ziploc bags (you can sit or hug them to remove the air). I also like using shower caps for my shoes!
jessica.. you are a genius!! all of these tips are amazing!
Fabulous giveaway! Thank you so much!
I tweeted about the giveaway at 7:36 am 8/25
Aloe Vera is a safe and natural product that’s good for moisturizing, healing acne, soothing burns, and in a pinch, can be used as a shave gel.
i love this idea, melissa!
My favorite travel tip is to carry an empty water bottle with you. Go through security, and then fill it up! Staying hydrated will keep you healthier, prevent jet lag, and save you a fortune in bought beverages. @crossroadsheart #AllNaturalStyleSecrets
yes.. i am definitely in need of hydration today after my trip!
I tweeted!
https://twitter.com/kc98765/status/371653630790606848
sorry, should I have put this with my primary entry?
you’re all set!
I love cucumber towelettes!
love love love!! 🙂
If its a short trip I try to only do a carryon. You can save time and no lost luggage.
absolutely! i go carry on most times i travel!
Favorite natural beauty item: Simple facial wipes! You are spot-on and I’ve traveled with some kind of facial wipe in my bag for years! If my face feels grimy, I feel grimy!
hstorm799{at}gmail{dot}com
definitely holly!! glad to know i’m not alone! 😉
I’m a guy, and have dry skin but hate moisturizers, would like to try Seventh Generation Skin Serum
it’s a great product, david!
my fave all natural travel item is mineral foundation. it’s not liquid so they don’t confiscate it on the plane, and i prefer it to liquids anyways
oh yes i have some of that! it’s amazing.. didn’t think about traveling with it as opposed to liquid foundation.. thanks girl!
My travel tip is to bring a couple bottles of completely frozen water with you. It’s a great destresser to have a nice COLD drink of water
great idea ashley. definitely nice for road trips!
Yes to Cucumbers Travel Towelettes sounds like a Yes to me, Can’t have to many refreshes while on the road
sibabe64 at ptd dot net
Lisa – it smells amazing! i say yes every time! 😉
my favorite travel tip is to thread your necklaces through drinking straws to prevent them from getting tangled !!
wow!! i haven’t heard that one before. thanks for sharing, kelly!!
always pack spare quart bags!
claire – i couldn’t agree more! from spills to holes, you never know what to expect with those things!!
Towelettes with moisturizer are a must. I keep a couple in my purse all the time.
janis – thank you for help bringing me out of the towelette dark ages. i am revived! wish i would have known about them sooner 😉
My travel tip (since I am a mom) is to bring little snacks for myself and the kids. No one looks great when the sugar level bottoms out and you are craving a chocolate bar!
great tip, brigette!
My travel tip is to save all the samples you get for traveling that way you don’t need to buy so much.
mariah – you read my mind, girl! i used a sample face lotion this weekend that i got at a hotel a couple weeks ago. it was really light and fragrant, but i think the best part is that it was free! 😉
My travel tip is to always have a little bottle of face spritzer and face towels. Also travel with a breath spray and hand sanitizer.
i love the breath spray idea, samantha!
One of the best travel items I have is a little neck pillow that lets you catch some z’s without leaning on the person next to you! Seriously though, a power nap helps keep you fresh!
omg… i’m obsessed with those little neck pillows. heaven!
I ALWAYS PACK A COOLER WITH FOOD FROM HOME AND WITH BOTTLED WATER
TWEETED https://twitter.com/lilmonkey1959/status/371805869396070400
never forget your cold compress 🙂 helps with the stress headaches 😉
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I need to bring hand sanitizer when I travel, and definitely makeup removers.
thanks great giveaway
I wanted to thank you for submitting this to suchfuntogive.blogspot.com and sincerely wanted to appologize that I was not able to get this posted this week. It was a crazy week getting my kids ready for school and the time just slipped. I hope you’ll still try again if you have another low entry giveaway.
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Great resource. These travel tips helps the travelers to make a stress free travel.