As a working mom who likes to work out, I often leave my house at 7:30am with all the supplies I need for my 7:30pm gym class…I don’t have time to go home between work, kids and class. Because of this hustle, packing my gym bag with the proper products has become a crucial life skill. What do I ABSOLUTELY need? What’s extraneous? What’s a little bit of a luxury that will make a big difference to me at 9pm? All this and more is taken into consideration.

Vine Minus Ion Care Water Does. It. All.

Fixes post-gym crazy hair. Is a great antibacterial pre-workout skin prep and post-workout skin refresher. Due to its germ-killing abilities, you can even use it to wipe down your yoga mat after class. (Read more about the benefits of Care Water.)

Mio Skincare Clean Slate Swipes & Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes

I’ve gushed about both of these products so many times, I’m hoping you’re already packing them in your gym bag on the regular…both are spreading like a virus among my fellow gym members. They come individually wrapped, so they are super compact. I shove a few of each in my bag on Sunday night so they’re there when I need them. Each jumbo Mio Skincare Clean Slate Swipe is formulated with natural ingredients to help prevent blemishes and post-gym breakouts, as well as aloe vera and omega oils to exfoliate and moisturize skin. They efficiently & effectively remove makeup, sweat and oil. Their cucumber and mint infused scent makes me feel like I’m bathing in a huge glass of the cucumber water I sip while at the spa. Mio Swipes are suitable for both face and body, so I like to use one all over post-workout (it is THAT big). Pre-workout, when just my face needs a cleaning, I bring an Ursa Major Essential Wipe specifically for that task. These award-winning wipes also cleanse, exfoliate and hydrate skin to leave it (and you!) feeling refreshed and so clean, clean.

Yu-be Moisturizing Skin Cream

I love kickboxing for so many reasons. What it’s doing to my knuckles is not one of them. To prevent farmhand hands, I make sure to coat my knuckles in this ultra-protective, healing cream before I put my gloves on. If you’ve used Yu-be Moisturizing Skin Cream before, you know its myriad uses, from nose to toes. The one ounce tube is convenient enough to keep in my handbag, so I have it even on my rest days.

Mio Skincare Workout Wonder Invigorating Muscle Motivating Gel

My shoulders have been a tension center for years. Building muscle in that area has only exacerbated the situation. Well, this little bottle earns every word in its name. It is perfect for pre and post-workout, as it not only invigorates muscles, but also helps to soothe them. Extracts of Arnica, Horse Chestnut, Murumuru Butter, Spearmint and natural Magnesium increase circulation, ease aches and inflammation and help speed up recovery. This uplifting cocktail of herbs and extracts leaves my body feeling cooled, soothed and ache-free. Though it’s called a gel, Mio Skincare Workout Wonder is a cream…and a creamy cream at that—zero annoying stickiness. And like every single Mio Skincare products, it smells fantastic.

DERMAdoctor MED e TATE Antiperspirant Wipes

Believe the hype around these wipes! They really stop the schvitz without the gross, caked-on feeling of traditional antiperspirants. They are also so gentle. Trying to apply even natural deodorants right after shaving has often made my underarms feel like fire pits. MED e TATE Wipes are Hypoallergenic, non-irritating, non-comedogenic and oil, fragrance, dye, paraben, gluten and phthalate free.

Shower At The Gym? You Need These

Binchotan Facial Cleansing Mask – This 3-in-1 face wash is downright magical. It is simultaneously the gentlest yet deepest cleansing wash I’ve ever used. It also works in 30 seconds flat. And EVERYONE will tell you how amazing your skin looks. Trust me.

Alchimie Forever Dry Skin Balm – What no one told me about working out was how callused my heels would get. Slathering this balm on them straight out of the shower has really helped. Don’t stop there, though. If you shower in the gym, go ahead and apply this rich balm from the neck down.

Philip Kingsley Try Me Kit – This trio will take up hardly any real estate in your gym bag. Pick the shampoo and conditioner that best suits your hair type; all kits come with the award-winning Elasticizer pre-shampoo treatment. Ready for the best trick EVER? Apply Elasticizer pre-workout, then throw your hair up in a ponytail. Elasticizer will help keep your hair in check and the increased body heat will help the product work better. BOOM. Easiest multitasking you’ll ever do.

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram

The Perfect Beauty Gift? It’s in the Bag

Even the most devout procrastinators are starting to think about holiday gifts. Everyone has that one person…who’s impossible to buy for. Who seems to simultaneously be super-selective, yet have everything!

Travel Beauty has officially solved this problem. We’ve gathered some of the most unique—and most effective—beauty finds from around the globe (five different countries, to be exact) to assemble a one of a kind, ultra-luxe exclusive beauty bag, complete with skin care, hair care and body care cult favorites. Even an extra special little something that just might make your smile brighter. You will not find a collection of beauty like this anywhere else!

So what do we have in our bag? Just ALL THIS:

From France

Cosmetics 27 Huile 27: 100% natural multi-tasking face oil can be used on face, body, lips, hair and cuticles. Nourishes, softens, regenerates and protects skin. Provides essential nutrients to restructure the epidermal tissue and help rebalance skin functions.

Institut Esthederm Cellular Water Spray: A multi-tasking miracle spray that energizes the skin and boosts the effectiveness of subsequently applied skin care. Can be used as a toner prior to applying serum/moisturizer, or to set makeup. Also perfect for a quick refresh at home and on the go.

From Israel

Lavido Alert Eye Cream: Revives, hydrates and protects the delicate skin of the eye area. Lightweight formula contains plant-based hyaluronic acid, cold-pressed avocado oil, organic pomegranate seed oil and citrus extracts to brighten, moisturize and relieve puffiness.

From Japan

Binchotan Toothbrush: The Binchotan charcoal blended into each bristle of this chic toothbrush prevents bad breath and helps removes plaque. Activated charcoal also gives off negative ions to prevent harmful bacteria from growing within the brush.

From The UK

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm: This multiple-award winning balm is the most pampering facial cleanser you’ll ever use! Thoroughly cleanses and purifies, helps minimize the appearance of pores, plumps, softens and revitalizes skin while also calming the senses.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer: Originally created for Audrey Hepburn, this intensive moisturizing hair treatment delivers elasticity, bounce and shine to all hair types.

Philip Kingsley Moisture Balancing Shampoo and Conditioner: This duo strengthens and protects hair, leaving it shiny, manageable and lustrous.

From The US

Mio Skincare Double Buff Dual Action Enzyme Exfoliator: A non-abrasive, omega-rich body scrub containing spherical particles of pumice, lava and bamboo to slough away dead skin cells and reveal soft, supple skin with increased clarity and radiance.

Sapelo Skin Care Seaweed Enzyme Mask: Exfoliates and renews radiance with natural plant-based papaya, pumpkin and yeast enzymes. Increases circulation, rehydrates skin and improves mild acne. Leave on for 15–20 minutes, once a week.

Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes: Made with bamboo fiber and infused with Ursa Major’s 4-in-1 Essential Face Tonic, these wonder wipes cleanse, exfoliate, soothe and hydrate.

Travel Beauty Travel Bag: Our signature bag is sleek with luxe touches. You’ll be shocked at how much beauty it can bear!

This is very limited edition, so grab yours now.

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram

After having kids, I wondered how I ever lived my life without a supply of baby wipes on me at all times. It was nothing short of a revelation for me: A stack of quality baby wipes could literally solve 95% of my problems. You can imagine my joy, then, as I’ve watched the number and variety of “beauty wipes” explode in recent years. No longer limited to wipes made for a baby’s bum, I can now choose from big ones, small ones, body wipes, face wipes, hair wipes…big hair/body/face wipes…every type of wipe I could ever hope for! I’ve found a few favorites along the way, so here they are, why I love them and a quick how-to on making the most of them.

Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes

The most deeply cleansing wipes I’ve ever used. Some wipes leave my face with a not-so-fresh feeling. Not these. Ursa Major’s individually wrapped 100% bamboo fiber face wipes infused with a generous dose of 4-in-1 Face Tonic – Ursa’s answer to the common toner. You get all the same benefits as you would from Ursa’s Face Tonic in pocket-sized, spill-proof packets.

What are the 4 benefits in this one wipe?

• They cleanse: Removes oil and grime without stripping skin of its moisture or throwing off pH balance.
• They exfoliate: Dissolves dead skin cells and clears clogged pores (3% natural AHA/BHA complex).
• They help heal: Soothes irritation and inflammation and accelerates healing
• They hydrate: Hydrates and firms skin (without leaving any residue).

I love the aroma, too: A refreshing medicinal brew spiked with orange, fir and lavender. The super natural ingredient list for these wipes reads like a farmer’s market shopping list. They are packed with aloe to soothe, hydrate and promote healthy tissue regeneration, witch hazel to tighten/shrink pores, willow bark extract for its exfoliating and acne fighting abilities (it’s a natural source of beta hydroxy acid “BHA”), antioxidant, anti-inflammatory & anti-microbial rosemary, as well as apple, green tea, birch sap and radish root to boot! Due to their size, I mainly use these on my face. If you’re looking to give yourself a post-workout wipe down – face and body – you’ll need more than one.

All Ursa Major’s products are made with the highest-grade natural ingredients (99.9% natural, 53% organic), sourced wherever possible from family-owned, sustainable growers. There are never any petrochemicals, sulfates, parabens, synthetic fragrance or color, glycols, silicones or PEGs.

Heaven Skincare EllaJane Wipes

Heaven Skincare’s EllaJane Celebrity Skin Wipes are so big, soft and strong that a recent first-time user excitedly exclaimed “you can do an entire whore’s bath with one”! (Not that we know what that is…but it sure sounds impressive.) Though these wipes were designed for use on the face, they are certainly big enough to cover more ground than that. These durable skin wipes are made from 100% organic cotton. They not only cleanse, but also tone and moisturize, covering three skin care steps in a few fell swipes. These wonder wipes have also become the official skin wipe of Travel Beauty expert Dara Liotta M.D.’s practice.

Did you know you can also CLEAN YOUR TEETH WITH THEM? Yup, these organic wipes can be used to wipe down your chompers anytime, anywhere. They are super soft and taste very mild. Infused with taste bud-friendly honey, peppermint and apple pectin, they are almost good enough to eat (but don’t eat them, please.) Just take a wipe and gently wipe along the outside and inside surfaces of your teeth, focusing on the gum line to attack that plaque, and viola! Your mouth and breath will feel totally refreshed in seconds flat.

If using a skin wipe on your teeth is too odd for you, don’t fret. These wipes perform traditional skin wipe duties with aplomb as well:

• Apple pectin works to exfoliate and deeply cleanse skin
• Honey heals and moisturizes skin
• The peppermint base works to balance skin’s oil levels
• Peppermint oil helps keep blemishes at bay
• Made with only the highest quality natural and organic ingredients, these wipes are so pure you can even wash your teeth with them

New to Travel Beauty: Mio Skincare Clean Slate Workout Swipes

You know that amazing cucumber-infused water that you can sip in most spa lounges? That is exactly what these jumbo face and body wipes smell like. Softly scented with a hint of fresh cucumber and mint, they are the ultimate shower-free way to cleanse, refresh and revitalize your face and body before and after a workout, when traveling, or any other time you’re feeling the funk.

Each jumbo (they are huge) Clean Slate Swipe is specially formulated with natural ingredients – like exfoliating lactic acid – to effectively remove makeup, pore-clogging bacteria, sweat and oil. They help prevent blemishes and post-gym breakouts (they’re naturally antibacterial), whilst aloe vera and omega oils exfoliate and moisturize leaving skin feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, without stripping essential oils. Your entire body feels soft and smooth, never irritated.

Mio Skincare adheres to a strict no nasties policy with all of its amazing products. That means the products are free from parabens, petrolatum, synthetic fragrance and colorants, xenoestrogens, PEGs, glycols and phthalates.

Dr. Dennis Gross Extra Strength Peel Pads

These wipes are the winner of New Beauty’s Beauty Choice Award for Best At-Home Chemical Peel. And personally, I’ll never NOT use them.

This peel is an extra-strength version of Dr. Dennis Gross’ patented #1-selling Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel on presoaked cotton towelettes. Higher concentrations of alpha beta acids plus newly added anti-aging boosters, including mandelic acid and willow bark extract, deliver a stronger peel without risk of irritation or recovery time.

Why I can’t live without them:

• They diminish the appearance of lines and wrinkles
• Visibly reduce pores and treat breakouts
• Target dark spots while improving skin tone and texture

Which wipes do you swear by and why? Let us know in the comments!

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram: @clairemcmack

The Travel Beauty team hopes you have some exciting summer travel plans in the works. Cross country road trip…destination wedding…Minorca…Don’t let your summer escape infringe upon your summer aesthetics! Take the products you know you need and nothing less. Here are our tried and true product packing tips.

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When you travel with as many expensive toiletries as we do, you learn – rather quickly – which packing strategies work and which leave you with a toiletry travel kit coated in night cream. Here are our trial and error tested methods for arriving at your destination with your products – and your beauty regimen – fully in tact.

It’s What’s Outside That Counts

First and foremost, choose your toiletry bag wisely. We designed our Travel Beauty Travel Bag to be slightly padded, zipper enclosed and plastic-lined. The padding protects products from breakage, but if the unfortunate happens, the plastic lining and zipper stops it from getting unfortunate all over your vacation wardrobe! Many of our favorite brands, like Cosmetics 27, Emma Hardie and Phylia de M. have all made their own complete travel sets that come in chic little dopp kits as well.

Dust Off Your Dust Bags

More and more beauty products come in eco-friendlier glass bottles every day. And though they be beautiful on our vanity, they are but perilous in our carry-on. Enter all those small dust bags you’ve likely amassed. You know, the ones that come with large jewelry pieces (hello, Alexis Bittar bangle) and small leather goods. These are your beauty products’ best friends. Put each glass product in its own bag (the thicker the bag, the better) to protect them from banging and then breaking in transit.

Know Your Products’ M.O.

What spills easily and what doesn’t? For example, there’s an oil we love, but it seeps out of its bottle very easily. We learned (the hard way) that this has to stay home. (We are not fans of transferring containers, especially oils. Too much gets lost!) Also, pump bottles – the types you have to press down to lock – are all-around bad travel buddies. The pump almost always opens and then the darn thing is pumping product out the entire trip, unbeknownst to you! As much as possible, go with tubes that have tightly-closing flip tops. We also love non-liquid formulas for travel, like Juvena Pure Lifting Peeling Powder, and Heaven Skincare Ella Jane Celebrity Skin Wipes. The less liquids to worry about, the better.

Pack Products That Pack A Triple Punch (Or More)

Most of the products we really love do many different things…and do them all well. A quality multi-purpose oil, like Cosmetics 27 Huile 27 can be used from scalp to soles, and works fabulously wherever you apply it. When thinking of which products multi-task, don’t forget about those that are unisex! Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes are traditionally a men’s product. But these wipes are so cleansing and refreshing we love them just as much as our husbands do. Emma Hardie’s Moringa Cleansing Balm is face cleanser and mask that doubles as a deep conditioning treatment for hair. Pack a moisturizer with SPF. Institut Esthederm Bronz Repair Age Control Face Cream SPF 20 is an ideal anti-aging moisturizer that offers strong protection against the sun and can be used as a day cream. Then there’s Vine Minus Ion Care Water, which is so high tech and multi-talented it could probably fly the plane if need be. It is a great refresher/primer for hair and face, moisturizes and has antibacterial properties. You can even brush your teeth with it! And we do…

Always Pack A Dream Cream

Bring one product you can keep right with you (in your purse) and that can go anywhere on you. Heaven Skincare Black Label Vanilla Pod Hand & Nail Cream is made with such high quality organic ingredients you can use it not only on your hands and nails (and arms and legs and feet) but also on your face. Plus, the luscious scent has the aromatherapeutic benefits of being calming, comforting and stress reducing! ‘Cause, you know, travel can be a bit stressful sometimes…

Bon Voyage!

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram: @clairemcmack

We hope you thoroughly spoiled mom with lots of lavish gifts on Mother’s Day. Now it’s time to turn our attention to the men in our lives. Put down those ties and boxers and get dad something he really wants and needs.

Though beards have become a bit of a thing in the past few years, shaving will never go out of style…and therefore neither will quality shaving products. Finding the perfect combination of shaving essentials that best suits a specific skin type can be tricky, and many men can’t be bothered with tricky skin care issues. Travel Beauty is here to “shave the day” by building a soup-to-nuts skin care and shaving supply kit, perfect for gifting. Spoil your favorite man (or yourself!) with our top-notch tools and smoothing, soothing products. He’ll never suffer through a scathing shave again.

A Great Shave Starts With a Clean Slate

Men’s skin produces more oil and sweat than women’s, so proper cleansing is important. The gentle yet effective B. Kamins Laboratories Vegetable Cleanser is the perfect pre-shave skin care step to start your shave with a totally clean slate. For a more robust cleaning, Lavido Purifying Facial Cleanser is a great all-natural choice. Follow the wash with Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes. These travel-friendly, use anytime/anywhere cleansing and toning wipes are saturated with Ursa Major’s 4-in-1 Essential Face Tonic. 4-in-1 Essential Face Tonic is a potent skin care cure-all that removes oil and grime, dissolves dead skin, clears blocked pores, and combats blemishes, razor bumps and ingrown hairs. These wipes can also be used post shave – a matter of preference! Use them regularly and they will deliver clearer, brighter, calmer skin.

Shaving Kit Essential: A Dream Cream

Your skin is now prepped and ready to be shaved. Even if your skin is not particularly sensitive, shaving can be harsh. Even those with sturdy skin can never go wrong with a shaving cream formulated for sensitive skin. Taylor of Old Bond Street Jermyn Street Collection Shaving Cream for Sensitive Skin is a Travel Beauty favorite. It contains no parabens or allergens, making it especially suitable for even the most sensitive skin. A small amount easily works into a creamy lather that gives great glide and moisture; making a smooth shave a cinch every time.

Tools of the Trade: A Luxe Shaving Brush

Nothing upgrades your shave like a luxury handmade shaving brush. Using a shaving brush generates more lather, lifts the hair on your face, opens up your pores and naturally exfoliates your skin. All this leads to a closer shave with less irritation, razor burn, and ingrown hairs. Taylor Of Old Bond Street Pure Badger Shaving Brush in Imitation Ivory Travel Case is handmade with the finest quality hair. Its convenient travel case makes it easy to take with you anywhere you go.

Post-shave Skin Soothers

After shaving, pores need closing and skin needs soothing. Given their soothing and hydrating properties, you can follow your shave with Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes. They will also help close up your pores. Lavido Hydrating Facial Toner and Vine Care Water are great fixes for nics.

Last, slather on some Taylor of Old Bond Street Mr. Taylors Luxury Aftershave Balm or Ursa Major Fortifying Face Balm. These high-performance moisturizers, both paraben free, are the perfect solutions for sensitivity, irritation, dryness and blemishes (including ingrown hairs). The powerful formulas contain active natural ingredients like witch hazel, frankincense and lavender to instantly soothe any problem areas and leave skin comfortable, hydrated…not to mention, handsome.

The Cherry on His Sunday

But don’t stop there! Dad may not admit it, but he’s dying for an effective nose hair trimmer but doesn’t know where to find one. Travel Beauty to the rescue! Our favorite is Taylor of Old Bond Street Ear and Nose Hair Trimmer. This baby is neat and discreet and gets the job done.