Courtesy of Haw Par Healthcare Limited
Tiger Balm can relieve itching from mosquito bites.
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18 Must-Have Travel Toiletries, According to AFAR Staffers
By AFAR Editors
02.28.19
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Courtesy of Kiehl's
Use Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate for extra facial hydration.
Our well-traveled team reveals their favorite toiletries to take with them wherever they go.
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Toiletries can be a pain to pack. Unless you’ve mastered a bunch of life hacks—or love checking a ton of full-size toothpaste and shampoo into your luggage—it can be a hassle to find items that will keep you feeling fresh on the road. To make your next trip a little easier, AFAR staffers share the tried-and-true items that they always bring in their dopp kits.
First aid and health
“I do not travel without Tiger Balm. It is hands down the best product for mosquito bites. It relieves the itching and—I swear—makes them go away faster.” —Maggie Fuller, associate editor
Buy it: $10, amazon.com
“I’m very attached to Aesop’s Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Wash. It’s aromatic (citrus with some earthy notes) but not overwhelming and won’t dry you out like a lot of other hand sanitizers do. Plus, you can dab some on a paper towel to sanitize your armrests and tray.” —Aislyn Greene, senior editor
Buy it: $10, aesop.com
“Made in Australia, Lucas’ Papaw Ointment is a real workhorse of an ointment—it can soothe any travel ailment, from a rash to mosquito bites—packed into a small, smart-looking package.” —A.G.
Buy it: $8, amazon.com
Hair care
“Not Your Mother’s Dry Shampoo keeps you looking fresh without having to wash your hair every day while traveling—plus, you can get it travel-sized.” —Anique Halliday, product director
Buy it: $9, amazon.com
“I’m obsessed with the Hask Coconut dry shampoo. Great for travel when you don’t have the time or aren’t able to bring all of your favorite hair products with you. This one makes your hair look just washed and keeps you feeling fresh for an extra day or two. Love the scent, too—not overpowering.” —Yolande Heller, director of West Coast sales
Buy it: $19, amazon.com
“The Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil in the luxe travel size is one of my beauty travel essentials. It's perfect for your daily hair care routine, and I love to use a few drops on my locks before a long flight or to protect my hair before a beach day.” —Veronica Baesso, director of travel sales
Buy it: $45, us.gisou.com
“I love John Masters Organics argan oil for styling my frizzy hair. It’s not the sexiest item necessarily, but it’s one of the things that helps me feel a bit more ‘put together’ while traveling.” —Maria Stegner, senior UX designer
Buy it: $38, amazon.com
Skin care
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“The Sephora Collection eye masks ensure you emerge from your 16-hour flight looking better than you feel. I slap them on, moisturize, put in earplugs, and I’m down for the rest of the flight.” —A.H.
Buy it: $15, amazon.com
“I use Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate for moisture every night, and on long-haul flights after I’m done with my eye masks. By nature it’s carry-on friendly—only 1.7 ounces—and it just feels luscious. Three drops can give your face all the hydration it needs.” —A.H.
Buy it: $49, kiehls.com
“I use the bottled formula of Thayers witch hazel with aloe vera at home, but on the road, the pad format gives me one less thing to worry about in my baggie of liquids. I use them as toner after washing my face—strong enough to keep me breakout-free, gentle enough that my skin doesn’t dry out. They’re also good for bug bites and other skin irritations.”—Nicole Antonio, associate managing editor
Buy it: $8, amazon.com
“Aromatique hand balm is super-hydrating—the perfect thing to apply after using that moisture-sapping hand soap in airplane bathrooms.” —A.G.
Buy it: $41, amazon.com
“One of my favorite travel beauty toiletries is Evian facial spray. I might feel like a dried out twig when I get off the plane but at least I won’t look like one!” —Christine Corvalan, digital sales planner
Buy it: $18, amazon.com
Beauty
“I always have my Gucci Bloom fragrance roller; it’s the perfect pick-me-up when you don’t have time to freshen up after your travels.” —Laney Boland, manager, luxury sales
Buy it: $34, sephora.com
“Instead of packing a makeup brush and container of loose powder, I always have one of these Supergoop 2-in-1 setting powders in my toiletry kit. Takes up way less space and also includes SPF 45 for more protection.” —Lyndsey Matthews, destination news editor
Buy it: $30, sephora.com
Dental
“I’ve been traveling with my Quip toothbrush for the past two years and love that it’s both compact and easy on the eyes. It’s not as powerful as, say, a Sonicare, but it offers a timed brushing experience (buzzing for four intervals of 30 seconds), which keeps me from getting lazy on the road.” —A.G.
Buy it: $40, getquip.com
“I know spending more than $1 on travel-size toothpaste is ridiculous, but I stayed at a hotel once that included a 1.3-ounce tube of the Italian cult brand Marvis in their amenity kit. I took it home with me and it lasted through my next three trips. You can pick up a three pack on Amazon for $15 (and it makes for great gifts!).” —L.M.
Buy it: $15, amazon.com
Miscellaneous
“Mack’s soft foam ear plugs are ideal for sleeping through anything that may come my way.” —M.S.
Buy it: $11, amazon.com
“I have a Japanese tenugui cloth that is always in my toiletry case. I use one every day to keep my hair back while I’m washing my face, and when I’m traveling it’s a great backup to have on hand: It’s an impromptu shower cap, a washcloth, and I’ve even used it once as a towel in an emergency at a hostel. (They’re also beautiful gifts if you need souvenirs from Japan.)” —Chris Pacheco, data analytics manager
Buy it: $18, amazon.com
>>Next: 9 Essential Tips to Help You Get Better Sleep on a Plane
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