When it comes to a long flight or a full day of exploring a new city, there are a few items that will forever have a spot in our bags. Our essentials have to address three key areas: dryness, cleanliness and comfort.
Naturalizing our beauty and travel routines with ethical, organic products is, of course, an ongoing process. It’s encouraging that there seems to be a flood of options that ace all of these needs, but it still can feel like a big hurdle to know which “natural” products are effective or even which ones to start with. Let us help you out.
Here are our picks for quality natural items for every leg of a trip:
For when you’re on your way.
Coco Rose Lip Conditioner
Herbivore’s Coco Rose Lip Conditioner (pictured above) is made with a base of Virgin Coconut Oil and sweet Rose Absolute, and it’s our pick for how lightweight it feels. It’s hydrating and smoothing, and we love that Herbivore products are made with all-natural ingredients focusing on ones that are plant-based, organic and food-grade. This is great as a base for blending a light stain of lip crayon into for just a bit of breezy color. Ask Herbivore and they’ll recommend their Lip Tint to try.
Breathe Easier Roll-On Oil
At under 1 ounce, the Breathe Easier Roll-On oil from Edens Garden is a great way to avoid bringing your whole collection of oils with you on a trip, or a great way to try them out if you’re an essential oil novice. This scent has a blend of warming and cooling lemon, peppermint, eucalyptus and rosemary for a nice restoration of calm.
Deodorant Wipes
A nice, flat item to stick in a pouch or backpack pocket is Pacifica’s Underarm Deodorant Wipes pack. They combine essential oils and coconut milk to wipe away excess sweat and neutralize odors without aluminum.
Natural Mint Gum
Someone always needs gum… Made with just six ingredients and Non-GMO Project verified, Simply Gum is the one we like to have on hand.
Fortify Antitussive (Cough Suppressant) Oil Blend Rub
It happens to the best of us. We dread that tiny itch that gets caught in your throat right before you’re about to head out. This oil blend by Saje calms the cough a minor cold brings, and is great aromatherapy to keep while going in and out of recycled air on planes and every other way you’ll get from A to Z.
For when you’re out exploring.
S’well Traveler
You might already be toting around one of these for everyday, so you know your cold drinks stay cold in the S’well Traveler for 24 hours and hot ones are kept cozy for up to 12 hours. But another great reason it’s perfect for throwing in your bag or keeping in a side pocket is that it’s leak-proof and isn’t about to get any condensation on the rest of your things.
Lil’ Deodorant Cream
If you’re nervous about whether a natural deodorant will work for you, Fat and the Moon has just the right one to try in a travel-size tin. Lil’ Deodorant Cream is a mini-version of their Deodorant Cream, which is made with a coconut oil and aluminum-free, baking soda base with arrowroot and essential oils. Olfactory memory is an amazingly strong thing, and sometimes we try anything we can to keep the feeling of travel lingering. Black pepper, bergamot, citrus and clary sage make a lovely scent you might toss into your purse for everyday use once you return from vacation.
PS. Don’t miss their dry shampoo, either!
Essential Oil Towelettes
Perfect to keep in a front zip pocket, these germ-killing towelettes by Herban Essentials are so refreshing. All products by the Santa Barbara-based company are made in the U.S. without animal testing and with constant effort to use organic, wild-grown oils from American farmers.
hint sunscreen
Hint’s spray sunscreen is a water-resistant, non-greasy SPF 30 mist that goes on clear, and is totally free of oxybenzone and parabens. Scented with delicious fruit essences, there’s really no excuse to forget protecting your skin.
KIND Snacks
In the economy of packing, we like to know exactly what we’ve got on our back or over our shoulder, and the same goes for what we put into our bodies. KIND Snacks have always been a favorite of ours, as a company and as a treat to always keep tucked in the side of a purse or ready for certain rescue from…hunger-induced rapid mood drop.
For when it’s time to relax.
Highline Leggings
If you start your day with a workout in these soft, sweat-wicking leggings, you might not decide to change your outfit later.We may still be waiting for all of our jeans to have standard pockets big enough to hold our phones without risk of falling out, but these leggings by Coed have sleek side pockets at the sides so there’s no movement or pose that will shift a phone or credit card at your hip!
OSEA Organic Skincare
We travel to relax, and we travel to challenge ourselves, but sometimes we forget what a toll hopping on and off public transportation or rushing has on our skin. OSEA Malibu offers amazing facials but has also made a gentle, nourishing line of non-toxic products that are all vegan and cruelty-free.
Everything is formulated for different skin types and concerns and can be mixed for gentler or more targeted treatment. Even if a trip isn’t yet around the corner, their travel sized products are a great vacation to give your skin!
Yarrow Buttercream
Fig + Yarrow’s soothing Yarrow Buttercream is great for both your face and hands. In this small travel size it’s easy to take along during the day, but its sweet chamomile scent is especially nice for relaxing.
Cross Throw Blanket
Ah yes, finally. This blanket by Newly Blankets is so soft and stylish, it’s exactly what we can’t wait to pull around us at the end of a full adventure day and a good bath. Made of 100% recycled materials, it saves 12 plastic bottles from adding to landfill.
What natural products are your must-haves whenever you embark on a trip?
Images via Valerie Pauley
