Q&A Vol. 11 – How to Look Effortlessly Put Together While Traveling

I receive numerous questions about how to look put together while traveling or simply in general. It’s a fair question, particularly as it pertains to travel. Irregular sleep schedules, red-eye flights, new environments, vigorous physical activity, dietary changes, a lack of routine, and more can all contribute to looking and feeling haggard. That’s why I want to share my best tips for looking and, more importantly, feeling your best while traveling.

Above: Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is supremely important for looking put together while traveling. Not only will prevent you from feeling sluggish, but it will also help your skin and body look their best. If you notice dry skin or lips or that you’re getting headaches or stomaches while traveling, you’re likely dehydrated. Pick up a packable water bottle (I like this one and this one) and keep it full. Aim to drink half your body weight (measured in pounds) in ounces daily to stay adequately hydrated.

Coffee, soda, sugary beverages, alcohol, and syrupy drinks do not count as hydration. In fact, for every coffee or alcoholic drink you consume, you should compensate with two cups of water. Does that sound excessive? That just goes to show how much those beverages can damage your skin and cause it to look dull, and dry, or even give you dark circles around your eyes. Green juice, unsweetened smoothies, and vegetable juices can also give you a great boost of vitamins and minerals. If you’re trying to beat jet lag, read my guide on how to do so here.

Above: Green Juice from Azur Café Paris

Keep Up On Your Skincare Routine to Look Put Together While Traveling

It’s easy to want to let yourself relax while on vacation, or sometimes it can be difficult to make time to keep up with a skincare routine while traveling. Despite these difficulties, do your best to ensure you keep your skin clean, moisturized, and protected with sunscreen. Bring pimple patches with you if you’re prone to breakouts, and ensure that your travel first aid kit contains things to treat skin irritation, minor injuries, and bug bites. This will keep you comfortable and looking your best.

Keep in mind TSA travel limitations for skin care, and check out my favorite travel-sized skincare products, here. These travel cases are perfectly suited for going through security. Want to know more about how I pack my cosmetics when I travel? Read this!

Bring Clear Polish with You

I take clear nail polish with me whenever I’m away for more than a day. It’s excellent for quick touch-ups, it gives the nails a gorgeous natural-looking sheen, and it has a plethora of other uses! In small amounts, it can be used almost like glue (I’ve used it to fix the nosepiece of my sunglasses in a pinch!), it can be used to stop clothing from unraveling short term, stop tights from laddering, it can stop button thread from unraveling, and so much more. This is my favorite non-toxic, clear nail polish.

Before traveling, I always make sure to get a manicure and a pedicure, then touch it up on my travels. I keep my cuticles soft, hydrated and protected with this luxurious oil or this multipurpose oil (I use it for my cuticles more so than my face!)

Above: How I Pack My Cosmetics When Traveling

Keep Your Clothing Neat

When traveling, I always bring a lint roller and a combo iron/steamer to keep my clothing clean and wrinkle-free. When packing your outfits, rolling clothing can help reduce wrinkles. I also ensure everything is completely clean and freshly laundered before packing. Check to ensure that nothing is stained, damaged, missing buttons, or ill-fitting before allowing it to accompany you on your travels. I like to use these packing cubes to stay organized and fit more into my suitcases (they’re made from recycled material!)

Above: My Favorite Luggage

Plan Outfits in Advance

Prevent overpacking, wasted time, and indecision by planning your outfits as you pack. This seems so obvious, but when I started planning my outfits while packing (and taking photos of them on my phone so I remember how they look!), I drastically cut down on overpacking, ensured I always had what I needed, and didn’t waste time wondering what to wear at my destination.

Above: My Summer Closet

Set Aside Time for Self Care

This goes hand in hand with the above, keeping up with a skincare routine. It’s so easy to constantly go, go, go when traveling, but even an extra 15 minutes a day set aside to do your hair in a cute style, apply some creme blush, or soak in a warm bath can make you feel better which will naturally be reflected in your confidence and the way you carry yourself. Don’t become so engrossed in exploring that you forget to take care of yourself. Even slowing down while sightseeing, drinking some water, applying lip balm, and stretching can help you look and feel better instantly.

Above: Tata Harper Custom Facial at The Woodstock Inn & Spa

Posture

I wrote an entire series on how to avoid travel scams or being targeted as a tourist, and one of my key takeaways was maintaining good posture. Even if you’re totally lost in an unfamiliar place, stand up straight, look confident, and pretend you know what you’re doing. This will really help you look more put together while traveling. Not only will people looking to take advantage of tourists be more likely to leave you alone, but you’ll look and feel calmer, more confident, and more put together instantly. So, chin up, shoulders back. Take a deep, slow breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. There. Isn’t that better?

Above: Hedge New York

I hope these tips and tricks help you look and feel put together while traveling. Have tips to share? Add them in the comments below!