Get Ready for Your Beach Vacation: A Complete Beauty Prep Checklist

Preparing for a vacation can become overwhelming since there are so many little things to figure out! Who’s going to drop you off at the airport, who will house sit, who will watch your pets, what will you pack, and so forth!  

Luckily, when it comes to your beauty prep, we’ve got you covered!

Here’s your complete beauty prep itinerary, laid out for you, in detail, so you can finally begin to decompress!

Beauty Prep Checklist: Before, On Arrival, and During Your Stay

Before Departing

1. Exfoliate
   Prior to departing for your adventure, it’s important you get your skin to its optimal state. You don’t want to have memories of your dull skin in those stunning photos!
   Choose a natural face scrub containing sugar for a gentle skin-softening exfoliating treatment.
2. Moisturize 
   A deep moisturizing treatment is in order prior to any vacation! Recirculated air on planes, air conditioners in hotel rooms, and climate changes can all contribute to making your skin extremely dry!
   Use a skin nourishing facial oil to ensure your skin seals in its moisture!
3. Wax
   If you’re planning on waxing unwanted hair, remember to do this a few days before you go! You want to allow time for your skin’s pores to close up to avoid any skin irritations or rashes while you’re on vacay.
4. Spray Tan
   A spray tan is the way to go if you want to get a skin-safe glow. Just remember to wait 24 hours after you wax before stepping foot into the tanning booth. You want to make sure your pores have closed up to avoid a patchy uneven tan.
5. Manicure
   A fresh manicure gives you that “polished” look (pun intended) when you’re travelling. Your nails can act as the accessory rather than having to pack a bunch of jewelry in your suitcase! Choose a color that is neutral or that goes with most of the outfits you’re planning to wear. It’s a fun way to pull your look together without the extra hassle!
6. Lash Lift
   Lash lifts do exactly that – lift your lashes! And when you’re spending your time out on the beach, the last thing you want to do is load up on mascara. A lash lift is an easy, low maintenance way to open up your eyes and make them appear bigger.
7. Pack Light
   You don’t need to wear a ton of makeup or skincare when you’re travelling.
   Pack the basics – Cleanser, Toner, Moisturizer, SPF Foundation, Lip Gloss, Sun Block.

   That’s really all you need! Let your beautiful skin steal the show. ?

When You Arrive

1. 1. Reduce Dark Puffy Under Eyes
      Sitting for long periods of time can cause water retention. To reduce any under eye darkness and puffiness, take some ice (from your hotel room’s ice box) and wrap it in a face cloth. Gently press against your under eye for a minute. The coolness should help reduce the swelling and contract the vessels under your skin.
   2. Cleanse
      Cleansing your skin as soon as you’ve checked in to your hotel is key. You’ve spent hours travelling and your skin has been exposed to numerous environmental elements. You need to remove all the dirt and oil that has settled on the surface of your skin.
   3. Moisturize
      Moisturizing is essential. You’ll want to stay on top of this during the entirety of your trip. Climate changes often wreak havoc on your skin, so it needs extra help to retain its moisture.
   4. Protect
      Being out in the sun for lengths of time means you’ll need to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays. Bring along a mineral based sun block to avoid getting burned.

During Your Stay

1. Drink Water
   When you’re travelling, it’s easy to get distracted and forget to drink (water). Bring a bottle of water wherever you go. You need to drink adequate amounts of water to ensure your skin stays hydrated!
2. Blot Oily Skin
   Hot weather causes you to sweat more (obviously)! With sweat comes sebum, and that means your skin might be more oily than usual. If you notice shiny spots, just use a blotting cloth to remove the excess oil.
3. Eat Hydrating Foods
   Your skin not only needs water to stay hydrated. Minerals found in fruits and vegetables help your skin retain that moisture. Load up on these hydrating foods as much as possible!
4. Wear Little Makeup
   Wearing too much makeup can clog your pores – especially if you’re hot and sweaty. Try and stay bare-faced as much as possible. Only wear makeup if you absolutely must.
5. Keep Hydrating Face Cream Sachets on Hand
   You never know when your skin might decide to act up. It’s quite handy to carry travel-size sachets* of day cream in your purse for those dry skin emergencies! 
   *Hot Tip: Create your own single use face cream sachets using small mylar foil bags you can purchase online for cheap.  Once the bags are filled with your favorite face cream, seal them using a heat sealer (or your hair straightener on the lowest setting) to create an airtight seal.