5 Must-Have Products To Help Banish Travel-Related Stress

5 Must-Have Products To Help Banish Travel-Related Stress

Traveling can be described as either life-changing or as a complete nightmare. No matter how much effort you put into planning the perfect vacation, you can’t account for flight delays (or cancelations), lost baggage, turbulence, theft, or any other hellish circumstance that makes you want to head back home so you can crawl into bed and pull the covers over your face. While many travel-related hiccups are beyond your control, you can try to get a hold of your stress and anxiety levels. With that in mind, here are five products to add to your packing list. They may not solve all your problems, but at least you’ll have a better mindset so you can make the most of your trip.

Asutra Dream the Night Away Melatonin Lotion ($31.99)

Photo courtesy of Asutra

Whether you’re staying in a budget bedroom or posh pad, it can be difficult to get decent shuteye in a new environment—especially if your jetlagged. Forget pillow spray. This product penetrates skin deep faster than you can count sheep. I first tried this lotion on an overnight flight from Chicago to Paris and I was impressed by how it helped me fall into a peaceful slumber despite being shoehorned in my coach seat. Bonus points for the lavender and lemongrass scent that eliminated the lingering aroma of the beef stroganoff that was served for dinner. But it’s not just the essential oils that induce sleep. This powerful lotion is packed with transdermal melatonin to aid sleep, magnesium to reduce pain/sore muscles, and a trademarked ingredient called OptiMSM to aid in magnesium absorption. It’s all topped off with hypoallergenic almond oil and shea butter to hydrate even the most sensitive of skin types. For best results, you’re going to want to apply the lotion (approximately 5 ml) 30 minutes before sleeping, two hours before if you have problems getting to bed early—or can’t turn off the in-flight entertainment.

Roques O’Neil Therapie Restore Aura Spray Travel Size ($13)

Photo courtesy of Roques O’Neil Therapie

Be it a ranting seatmate, your overly tired (read: crabby) kids, or the snooty waiter who won’t be bothered by your dietary restrictions, dealing with people (even those you love dearly) can be one of the most taxing aspects of a vacation. If you feel like you’re about to lose it, spritz a little Aura spray around yourself and take a long, deep breath. The combination of rosemary, fragonia, and rosewater will help you exchange negative energy, stress, exhaustion, tension, and sadness with clarity, balance, calm, and optimism. I don’t know about you, but I need this even when I’m not traveling—thank goodness it comes in a larger size.

Moon Juice Spirit Dust ($38)

Photo courtesy of Moon Juice

Drink your way into a stress-free vacation sans booze with this healthy concoction of reishi, ashwagandha, astragalus, mimosa bark, dan shen, longan berry, and goji. I know what you’re thinking: A margarita sounds so much more appealing, but trust me when I say this “dust” tastes better than it sounds—especially considering you’re only mixing 1 teaspoon into your coffee, milk, smoothie, or other favorite beverage. Note this product has progressive results, so start scooping the powder into your drinks five days before traveling in an effort to feel calm, balanced, and upbeat. I love this product, but if that doesn’t mean anything, so does Gwyneth Paltrow.

Sunday Scaries CBD Gummie Bears ($39)

Photo courtesy of Sunday Scaries

CBD is all the rage right now, so I admit I was a bit skeptical about these cute little bears—especially after tasting how delicious they were! All of that skepticism went out the window 20-minutes later when the mood-enhancing benefits kicked in. While the name suggests this product will help you get rid of Sunday night anxiety before a new work week commences, I found that these gummies (legal and natural CBD anxiety relief with no THC) are perfect for helping me relax during a flight—especially an overnight jaunt—or if I get anxious about making a connecting flight. Honestly, they are likely to do the trick in any circumstance, but keep in mind that you’ll feel a bit sleepy, so heed my warning: Don’t chase these suckers down with one too many libations. The chews are also available in a vegan formula for those with dietary restrictions.

Mio Liquid Yoga Restorative Bath Soak ($32)

Photo courtesy of Mio Skincare

I admit that it was the name that encouraged me to purchase this product (I don’t even take baths at home!), however, I appreciate a good soak when I’m traveling because I’m more apt to relax and take my time. Not to mention, I love a good hotel room tub when available. This particular product is great if you’ve been on your feet sightseeing all day as the Epson salts, arnica, and Mio essential oil blend help relax both your muscles and your psyche at the same time. While it’s always a good idea to apply lotion, cream, or body butter after a soak, the addition of andiroba oil and murumuru butter will leave your smooth versus parched long after you’ve drained the water.

This Is What 125 Euros Worth of In-Flight Duty Free Beauty Products Looks Like

This Is What 125 Euros Worth of In-Flight Duty Free Beauty Products Looks Like

Truth: I get pretty excited about the beverage service cart on an airplane — even the food cart despite the fact that I actually rarely eat the meal (I am big into packing healthy goodies and not-so into overly cooked pasta and mystery meat.) But one rolling in-flight feature I could never get on board with is the duty free boutique. I think I can count on one hand the times I actually saw someone purchase something. Seriously, who buys that stuff? Well, on my Aer Lingus flight from Paris to Dublin, I was the sucker who raised my hand when the stewardesses quietly repeated “gifts, cosmetics, fragrance…”

Even worse, I strategically planned what I was going to purchase before they even made it halfway down the aisle. The good news is that I got a lot of loot for a little under 130 euros. The bad news is that not everything was on-point—my decision-making must have been influenced by my Bloody Mary. Whether you have a weak shopping moment in the friendly skies, the department store, or online, here are the products that I think are worth the splurge (and which you should skip.) Editor’s note: the prices listed are what I paid Duty Free and the exact same kits may not be available online or in stores.

Clinique All About Moisture Kit (32)

Photo courtesy of Clinique

I wasn’t one of those teens who learned the importance of a skin care routine via Clinique’s famed three-step system. In fact, I think the only time I purchased anything was when it was Bonus Week back in my high school years (Black Honey lipstick forever!). As an avid traveler, I’m constantly battling a dehydrated complexion, so I am naturally drawn to any product that promises a serious moisture surge. For €32, I thought the box would be comprised of all travel sizes, but much to my surprise, there was a generously sized (75 ml) Moisture Surge and 15 ml All About Eyes Serum. The Moisture Surge Spray came in at 30 ml. It’s convenient for in-flight misting and the active aloe in the formula kept my skin from feeling tight. The moisturizer promises 72 hours of continuous hydration and while that’s really difficult to judge because I religiously slather on product morning and night, I can say that it instantaneously gave my skin a wonderful dewy glow—yet I was still able to wear makeup without it sliding off. I particularly enjoyed the cooling sensation upon contact (especially in-flight) and the addition of caffeine helped fade signs of fatigue associated with jet-lag. Verdict: I’d definitely repurchase any of the products in this kit, if not the entire kit itself amidst another weak in-flight moment.

Nip + Fab Lip Contour Kit (24)

Photo courtesy of Nip + Fab

I really wanted to love this one, but the “universally flattering shades” (nude, petal pink, and mauve) made me look more tired than I actually was, so I prefer to stick with my go-to red lippie. I even tried their suggestion for layering…nope. This is not to say these hues wouldn’t look great on someone with a different skin tone or hair color—the formula is really nice; non-sticky and long-lasting. I DID love the espresso lip liner because it was easy to create great definition and it helped my own lipstick stay put for hours. Verdict: As someone who handles copy for top beauty brands, I give this brand props for the product description as it reeled me in hook, line, and sinker. However, it’s not a repurchase for me as the hues made me look like I had the blues.

Alpha-H Liquid Gold (€25)

Photo courtesy of Alpha-H

Mechanical exfoliants (scrubs) and gommages rarely remove all of my dead skin cells, so I like something with more of a punch. I was under the impression that this product was going to be more of a viscous consistency because it’s described as an “acid toner, exfoliator, serum, and moisturizer in one.” Well, it’s a straight-up liquid comprised of 5 percent glycolic acid, licorice extract, and silk proteins. I tried the product on its own by found it too drying—anything but moisturizing—so I followed up with a serum and moisturizer as suggested. It did, however, dissolve the dead skin cells on my forehead after just one use. This is definitely a product that requires a patch test before starting as it’s quite strong and could potentially overly stimulate sensitive skin. With long-term use, the product promises to reduce wrinkle depth and skin roughness while boosting moisture levels. I am only using it about two times a week for now until my skin gets used to the level of acid. Verdict: I had to pull back on this one because I went through an uncomfortable bout of eczema, but I’ll give it another try as it’s recognized as a “cult favorite” and beauty award winner.

Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops (€26)

Photo courtesy of Tan-Luxe

I am not a sun bunny and while that’s helped me hold onto somewhat of a smooth and even complexion (the sun breaks down the collagen in the skin) at 40 years of age, there are periods throughout the year where my skin looks downright pasty. I used to spritz on an aerosol self-tanner, but along with color, I would gain dryness and occasionally, breakouts. These self-tan drops alleviate all of those concerns because the product hydrates while delivering a natural looking tanned face and neck. Simply mix 2-12 drops with your serum or moisturizer (depending on how deep of a tan you want to achieve) and apply as usual. The color gradually fades evenly, just like a summer tan. Verdict: I will 100 percent repurchase this product. It’s without a doubt the best face self-tanner I’ve ever tried. The results are natural and my skin is left soft and supple. What’s not to like?

Instant Effects Instant Eye Lift (2 for €40 — with below)

Photo courtesy of Instant Effects

I was lured into this product (and its pout plumping sister) due to the fact that it touted a “Best Beauty” honor. That and the fact that flying, a good French Bordeaux, and erratic sleeping patterns aren’t doing my peepers any favors. This product says it’s been “proven” to reduce under eye circles and puffiness within 15 minutes of application. I can’t say I noticed any real dramatic change. Perhaps for me, the results will be more progressive—clinical trials have shown an improvement in skin elasticity and a reduction of fine wrinkles after six weeks. Verdict: This one is a pass for me. I’ve seen more instantaneous results with Obagi’s ELASTIderm Eye Cream.

Instant Effects 3D Lip Plumping Treatment (2 for €40 — with above)

Photo courtesy of Instant Effects

While I did achieve an immediate plumping effect and improved hydration level, the effects definitely didn’t last four days. It’s a nice little pucker pick-me-up, however. Verdict: I will most likely not repurchase this product as plumpers of any kind tend to dry out my lips, thus eventually leading to a counterproductive result.

Did you ever purchase in-flight beauty products? Which ones did you love?