March 20, 2025 Beauty Travel Tips

Pre-Travel Beauty Prep: A Routine That Makes Looking Good on Vacation Effortless

Get vacation-ready with this ultimate pre-travel beauty checklist. From scheduling the right treatments before you leave to prepping your skin, hair, and nails, everything you need to look and feel flawless and save tons of time getting ready on holiday.


1. Low-Maintenance Hair That Travels Well

Heatless overnight curls for easy mornings.


If your pre-trip plan involves packing multiple hot tools, you might be doing it wrong. Here’s the thing: even the best blowout won’t survive humidity, hard water, or beach days, and sleek hair doesn't stand a chance against beach winds. And if you are traveling internationally, many tools will not work with the voltage in most countries (Taking a Dyson AirWrap internationally voids its warranty, tragically)  Instead, set yourself up for hair that can handle some chaos without needing constant upkeep.

Start by working on mastering overnight styling tricks and which method works best for your hair. Overnight blowouts and heatless curls have been a game-changer – Everyone's hair is different, but start with a sleepy-tie overnight blowout scrunchie and a heatless curler set,  the two most popular and easiest methods. By morning, you’ll wake up with voluminous, effortlessly tousled waves – no heat, no hassle. If you’re going for curls, heatless curling rods or silk curling ribbons create soft, bouncy waves while you sleep. It’s the laziest, most effective beauty hack you’ll ever use. This has been a game changer for me and now a regular part of my evening routine. Overnight curling methods not only cut down on the amount of heat you use on your hair, they protect your hair from damage while you sleep. For more protection and smoother hair, wear a silk bonnet over.

For travel days and beyond, think intentionally undone styles – messy updos, loose braids, and beachy waves that actually look better as they loosen throughout the day. And don’t underestimate the power of hair wraps and scarves. They’re not just chic – they’re lifesavers for humidity or frizz disasters. Plus, they double as stylish accessories when you’re short on outfit options. Trust me, a cute silk scarf will rescue you from many bad hair days on the road.


The best overnight hair methods:

2. Press-On Nails: Salon-Perfect Hands Without the Cost and Maintenance

For every trip and shoot, press-on nails always. 


I live and die by press-on nails, they have come to be one of the life upgrades that I can never shut up about - they save time, same money, and give you flexibility and assurance your nails will last an entire trip. Skip the pre-trip salon appointment for gel or $100 acrylic sets. Press-on nails have come a long way – they’re stronger, sleeker, and actually last. The new generation looks like a professional set, holds up for over a week, and costs a fraction of the price.

Here’s the move: Pack a set of high-quality press-ons, a small bottle of nail glue and if any break, come loose, or pop off, just add a little bit of the glue or a new nail as needed - something you cannot do with salon acrylic nails. Brands like Static Nails, KISS Nails, and Olive & June have some of my favorite style and are made to last. My go to style are KISS Nails Bare But Better in both long and short styles, everyone is always shocked to hear that they are press ons they look so natural.

+ Click here for my TikTok tutorial on how I make my press-on nails last a full two weeks + 


Shop Press-On Nails:

3. Sweat-Proof Your Life


Most travel destinations involve heat, humidity, or way more walking than your daily routine, and if you are concerned about feeling (and looking) like a sweaty mess, you can Sweat-proof yourself before you even leave.

First, stock up on travel-friendly sweat fighters. Antiperspirant wipes are a game-changer for touch-ups on the go. Body powders or anti-chafe balms keep sticky skin at bay, and sweat-resistant skincare – like mattifying primers or oil-sweat powder – helps your makeup stay put, even in tropical temps.

But if you’re prone to serious sweating, pre-trip Botox is the ultimate hack. What is botox? It’s not just for smoothing wrinkles – it blocks the nerve signals that trigger sweat glands, keeping you dry for months. And yes, it works on more than just your face. Underarms, hands, feet, and even your hairline can be treated. No more pit stains in every travel photo. No more worrying about sweaty handshakes or swampy feet on long walking days. Just you, looking cool and collected – no matter how hot it gets.


Get Sweat-proof:

4. Get a Pre-Trip Glow That Lasts


Maybe because I grew up on the beach in California, I haven't been able to shake it, but a tan always makes me feel more alive, better in bikinis and skimpier vacation clothes, and more confident in my body. So many of us still feel the need to get "a base tan" by any means necessary before heading to a sunny destination. Instead, for bronzed, glowy skin opt for a spray tan a couple of days before your flight, or perfect your use of constantly improving self tanners. Not only will you look sun-kissed on arrival, but using the self-tanner contour method also minimizes your makeup needs. When your skin looks radiant, you can get away with less foundation and fewer touch-ups.

And don’t forget a from-the-inside glow and loading up on fruits, vegetables, and really focusing on drinking extra water for a week or two pre-trip. The extra hydration and antioxidants will leave your skin plumper and brighter, giving you a natural glow before you even hit the beach.


The highest-rated self-tanners:

5. Switch to Waterproof, Sweat-Proof Makeup

This Lipstick could outlast running a marathon.


It's hard to keep ay make up on your face in humidity and heat, and even harder when you're swimming or in and out of the water. While I lov eto wear less make up when I'm traveling, I've found the best fix is switching to minimalist routine of waterproof, sweat-proof formulas that actually hold up (and obviously lots of long lasting face sunscreen)

Before your trip, stock up on waterproof and indestructible essentials: 


For the best products that actually survive tropical weather, check out my full list of tested and approved waterproof makeup here. Trust me, you’ll want these in your bag.


Shop the Waterproof GOATs:

6. Dry Brush for Smoother, Glowing Skin


If you want to step off the plane looking fresh, radiant, and well-rested—even after a red-eye—start dry brushing a week or two before your trip. This centuries-old technique does way more than just exfoliate. It boosts circulation, stimulates lymphatic drainage, and sloughs off dead skin, leaving you with that fresh-from-the-spa glow. Plus, it helps prevent the dull, tired look that travel dehydration and recycled cabin air love to serve.

Here’s the science: dry brushing increases blood flow to the skin’s surface, delivering more oxygen and nutrients, which gives you that lit-from-within look. It also encourages lymphatic drainage, helping your body flush out toxins and reduce puffiness. Bonus—by sloughing off dead skin cells, it makes your skincare products work better, giving you maximum glow with minimum effort.

To get the most out of it, brush before showering on dry skin using firm, upward strokes toward your heart. Start with your feet and work your way up. Use gentle pressure—enough to stimulate circulation, but not so hard that you irritate your skin. Follow with a rich moisturizer or body oil to lock in hydration.

🔥 Best-Rated Dry Brushes for Pre-Trip Glow:

Commit to just five minutes a day (perfect for a long TikTok you've saved to watch) and by the time you board your flight, your skin will be smoother, softer, and photo-ready—no filter required.

xx

Explore further