When you travel a lot, it can be difficult to maintain your toxin-free lifestyle. Recently, I have been bouncing around quite a bit! Between making trips to our toxin-free brands’ headquarters to attending product expos to accompanying my husband on work trips, I feel like my environment is constantly changing and very often out of my control. In the midst of the constant change, I have found that packing just a few essentials can make all the difference in reducing my exposure to toxins and maintaining a healthy balance while on the road.
I want to introduce you all to a few of my must-have travel essentials that are currently in my bag. Having them with me makes me feel right at home, wherever I am in the world!
Essential Oxygen Brushing Rinse: Have you ever tried to brush your teeth in an airport bathroom or, heaven forbid, an airplane lavatory?! It’s kind of the worst. Do yourself a favor and skip the headache, embarrassment, & hazard of accidentally dropping your toothbrush in the germ-filled public restroom sink by using this Brushing Rinse instead. A quick swish around with this rinse and my mouth feels just as clean as actually brushing my teeth! No joke. Essential Oxygen has even made a 3 oz. TSA-friendly size to throw in your carry-on. Give your mouth a little swish mid-flight & your seat neighbor will thank you.
Kosmatology Hand Sanitizer: In all honesty, I won’t even walk out of the house without this one! This hand sanitizer is the perfect on-the-go size and will save you from having to use those nasty, chemical-filled hand soaps that are in most public restrooms. I mean, what do they do to that stuff to get it that neon pink?! The thought of having those toxic parabens & phthalates seep into my body through my palms makes me cringe. Luckily, with Kosmatology hand sanitizer in my bag, I can wash up and not be stuck with the lingering smell of synthetic fragrance. I even use this product to sanitize my phone, hotel room countertops, & anything else that seems a little too grimy for my taste while I’m on the road.
Herbivore Botanicals Blue Tansy Mask: It is no secret that I am in love with this mask. A month ago when my skin was being particularly challenging (read: dry, peeling spots & budding acne on my cheeks & forehead), I tried this mask for the first time. After one use, there was a noticeable difference with all of these issues. After 3 nights in a row of using it, my skin was back to its normal self! Now anytime my skin is feeling out of balance, which it does every time I step on a plane or change to a different climate, I use this mask. It eliminates any brooding breakouts & resurfaces my skin with such pure, therapeutic, high-quality ingredients. It is also one of the easiest masks I’ve ever used. Just apply a thin layer (it goes on clear) and by the time you're done flipping through your Instagram feed & reading The Skimm for today, it's time to rinse the mask off… so simple!
Molly’s Suds Laundry Detergent: This is not something that you would typically think of packing along with your toothbrush and underwear when you are leaving town but it is at the top of the must-pack list for me! I think there is nothing worse than having to stay in a place where the sheets have been washed with a synthetically fragranced detergent. The toxic smell fills the room and makes me feel physically ill. Cue my little handy travel pack of Molly’s Suds (tip: make your own by putting some of the powder in a zip bag)! It works best if you’re staying in a home (thank you, Airbnb!) with a washing machine where you can run a load so that you can have toxin-free sheets and towels during your stay. Doing a load of laundry while on vacation could mean avoiding symptoms like itchy, irritated skin, headache, sneezing, stuffy or running nose, nausea, and/or insomnia. Pretty easy trade off!
Cocokind Lip Balm: Dry, chapped travel lips be gone! Traveling always makes my skin (lips especially) drier than normal. Drinking more water than usual helps my whole body fight the travel dehydration but for when chapped lips strike, I always have this lip balm in my bag to keep my lips from cracking or peeling. Unlike many lip balms that are formulated with toxic ingredients (like petrochemicals that actually cause your lips to be more chapped with each application), this nourishing lip balm by Cocokind uses organic ingredients that improve skin health and moisturizes lips in a deep, lasting way.
What are your must-have travel items? Whether you’re a jet setter or an occasional voyager, it is always good to keep an extra set of your essentials in a travel pack. This way, everything you need will be ready to grab at a moment’s notice & you will be sure not to forget anything in the mad packing scramble.
Happy travels!