What I’m Bringing to Japan (Travel Skincare)

~ stashy

While I tend to pack light for my makeup, I don’t skim when it comes to skincare when I travel.  I am fastidious in my skincare regime and I still maintain separate products for day and night time.
travel_skincare_japan_1
This is why it’s important for me to hoard travel sizes of my favourite products when I find them! If not, I just decant them into travel size containers.

These are pretty much listed in the order in which I use the products.

Daytime:

travel_skincare_japan_2
• Shiseido Extra Creamy Cleansing Foam

• Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water – ugh, I’m forcing myself to use this. I decanted from the big bottle into this travel spray bottle. And I added about half a tablespoon of plain glycerin. I tested this concoction and it’s decent. Still don’t love it but I’ll use it up.

• Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum / Biotherm Vichy AquaSource Deep Serum – the trouble with these little gwp size is that they’re not large enough to last 2 weeks so I’m taking 2 just in case.

• Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

• MAC Fast Response eye cream
travel_skincare_japan_3
• Clarins UV Plus SPF 40 Day Screen Tint – I got this recently and I love it! It’s a mineral sunscreen – very lightweight and provides a nice foundation base.

• Consonant Skincare The Perfect Sunscreen SPF 30 – Since we’ll be spending more time than normal outdoors, I’d doubling / tripling up my sunscreen. I’ll keep this in my purse for emergency situations (my SO’s ears and back of neck are prone to getting burned!)

• ColoreScience Sunforgettable Mineral Sunscreen Brush SPF 50 – having a sunscreen in powder format is also super handy.

• Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 in Grapefruit – this isn’t my favourite but it’s slim pickings for lip balms containing decent SPF (if you have any recs, please share!)

Nighttime:

travel_skincare_japan_4
• MAC Cleanse Off Oil – I have this travel bottle that I reuse every time I travel – I decanted from my big bottle into it.

• Mary Kay Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover

• Yves Rocher Three Teas Micellar Water (decanted)

• Body Shop Vitamin E Hydrating Toner (decanted)
travel_skincare_japan_5
• Elizabeth Arden Flawless Future Eye Gel – not my favourite but I’m close to finishing this so hopefully I can be done with it on the trip

• Clarins HydraQuench Cream

• La Roche-Posay Effaclar K – my skin always breaks out when I travel so this is preemptive strike!

• C.O. Bigelow Supreme 2X Lip Shine in Spearmint – my favourite bedtime lip product (review here)

Misc / Hair care:

• 2 week’s supply of cotton pads: I’m taking my trusty Shiseido Facial Cotton, along with some of the Up+Up Exfoliating Cotton Rounds. Since I’m not bringing any chemical exfoliants with me, I’ll rely on gentle physical exfoliation to keep my skin clear.
travel_skincare_japan_6
• Consonant Skincare Intensive Organic Hand Cream – you’ll notice that I didn’t include any body wash / creams. When I travel, I just rely on whatever is available at the hotels – same with shampoos. But I decided to bring a travel sized hand cream to keep in my carry on – the flight is 13 hours! And I know my skin will get super dehydrated on the plane – in a pinch I’ll use this on my face too.

• Dove travel size antiperspirant – I tried to find a travel size deodorant since I’ve made the transition to deodorants, however, the cost of the travel size Lavanila was ridiculous! $13 for 25g vs $17 for 56g. I’ll be a monkey’s uncle if I’m going to pay that much for a travel deodorant! :/

• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer DryTouch SPF 110 – sunscreen for the body
travel_skincare_japan_7
• Curl Keeper (decanted)

• L’Oreal Studio Line Silk & Gloss Curling Spritz (decanted)

• Tresemme Tres Two hair spray

• Colab Extreme Volume Dry Shampoo in Tokyo – I just HAD to get the Tokyo scent so I can use it when I’m actually there! 😛

… and that’s about it, I think. :/ I always live in fear that I’ll forget some vital item from my skincare.  What are your must-have skincare for travelling?  Tomorrow’s post: my travel makeup! 🙂

53 thoughts on “What I’m Bringing to Japan (Travel Skincare)”

  1. Great post! I love biotherm and always pick up their travel packs during the holidays when they give them out as gifts with purchase- then I use it when I travel! You planning on picking up any skincare while in Japan?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I always forget about Biotherm! I’m using their body butter right now and I loooove that stuff!
      I’m not planning to get lots of skincare just because they’re heavier to haul back, I figured I could always order those online. We’ll see!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  2. Your trip is so soon!
    Great picks too. I tend to use decanters too but for some reason it feels nicer to use it in it original packaging…especially the more pricey stuff..weird right?
    I travel with pretty basic skin care. Day and night moisturiser/serum, face wipes, eye-makeup remover, cleanser, exfoliating buff from the Body Shop, and my fave sunscreen from Le Tan in coconut scent!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I agree, the original packaging is nicer than the travel containers! But I guess it’s part of price we pay for the pricey stuff! 😛
      I’ve tried to trim down on my routine when I travel but my skin always rebels! I’m thinking of bringing an AHA now… I worry about not being able to exfoliate!

      Like

      Reply

    1. That’s weird they don’t have gift with purchases there? It’s so prevalent here. Yes, I realized a lot of the sample sizes aren’t big enough for a week, let alone 2 weeks. So that’s why I had to decant a lot of stuff.

      Like

      Reply

  7. I had to do a double take with that Neutrogena sunscreen. SPF 110?! I don’t think I’ve seen that anywhere over here. I always make sure to have sun protection, moisturizer and a good remover for my makeup. I was finally able to travel without having to check in my bag because I always had way too many liquids with me, even though they were all travel sized/TSA approved amounts. I’m slowly getting better at figuring out what’s actually essential.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. We are checking our bags so it’s no biggie with the limit, but yes, I hear you. I used to try to bring knitting with me onto the flight with plastic knitting needles that said TFSA approved but I’ve heard horror stores of people having their knitting project confiscated!!!
      And yes, we have SPF 110, it’s kind of crazy right? We’ve been using that kind for years and it works well and isn’t greasy.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  10. Awesome post! When you wrote you added a tablespoon of glycerin, my mind read it as nitroglycerin… for a moment I thought “she’s doing what?” 😀

    I’m always OK to go anywhere as long as I don’t forget… my Olay day moisturiser, my Max Factor Pan Stik, my hairdyer, clear nail polish, a nail buffer and my husband. 🙂 I usually have at least three dozens of products and lots of other stuff with me – but as long as I’ve got my basics, I’m OK. Everything else is replaceable at short notice – as long as there’s a drugstore nearby. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Haha nitroglycerin! Yes, I’m trying to really exfoliate my face! 😆
      Oh you bring nail polish and your hair dryer? See, those are thing I’d never bring because I figured the hotels have hair dryers. And I’ll be getting shellac polish applied tonight so I won’t have to worry about my nails for the next 2 weeks. Yes, I figured I can get just anything I need in Japan!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Yeah, you can get almost everything – even in a different country.

        I really do need my hairdryer. My hair is thick, curly and really long and I wash it every day. Those standard semi-powerful hotel hairdryers don’t do the job.

        And yes, I need clear polish with me at all times. I don’t know about you, but my nail accidents always happen when I don’t have any emergency nail supplies. But when I’ve got my nail stuff with me (= ready to do nail surgery on the spot), I don’t have any nail accidents. It really works!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

        1. Haha so it’s like if you carry an umbrella, it won’t rain, type of insurance? 😉
          Hmm I have wavy hair and I need to figure out how to create a makeshift diffuser from hotel room stuff…

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

  11. Great post! It’s nice that you were able to combine being prepared with a post… that’s a good strategy! I’m always such a procrastinator when it comes to packing these days…. I finally purchased curl keeper a few months ago but I got a travel size to try it out and I love it so far! I’ve been meaning to bring it up but I always forget!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Yes, it was a really good way to force myself to get ready for this post which in turn means I’m packed! 😀 (for my skincare and makeup anyway…)
      I’m so glad you’re liking the Curl Keeper! It’s a HG product for me – I just hate how quickly I go through it. I checked out the ingredients and it’s mostly water and glycol- I wonder if I could hack it?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  12. Although I don’t have a proper regime (yet), I use moisturiser & sunscreen only in the morning :D, still I wanted to ask this, isn’t eye cream supposed to go before moisturiser, or anything else in fact?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. No, it honestly doesn’t matter if you apply face moisturizer first or eye cream first. I do it interchangeably! 🙂 I hope you find a skincare regime that works for you!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  13. I love travel skincare posts 🙂 There is always something adorable and satisfying about lining up all the mini travel versions.
    Looks like you are well prepared and have everything covered 😀
    xo Anne – Doves & Roses

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. The Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion is a great no frills basic moisturizer! Some people call it overpriced for what it is, but I’ve found it to wear very well under any foundation and doesn’t break me out. I always return to it. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  15. Great that you’re able to maintain your skincare regime during vacation! I always try but come home with crappy skin because the travel-sized items I bring (usually gwps) aren’t always what I normally use.
    Also… so much sunscreen! 😉 do you bring the face sunscreens along with you to reapply during the day?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I made the mistake before of trying new products while on vacation (for the same reason as you, they were the samples I had on hand) but that resulted in disaster!
      Sunscreen is my #1 skincare! No, I don’t bring the liquid face sunscreen but I do bring the Shiseido powder compact as well as that mineral powder sunscreen SPF50. It’s really handy!

      Like

      Reply
  16. Pingback: Travel Makeup and Skincare: Cruising | stash matters

  17. I always take the Clinique Dramatically Different moisturizer when travelling (I have a great stash of minis from GWP). I have sensitive skin and it does not sting or irritate even after a day in the sun/wind.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion is a skin saviour – I’m using it right now for my troubled skin and it really helps!

      Like

      Reply
  18. Pingback: My Current Holy Grail Beauty Products | stash matters

Leave a Comment: