When the weather turns cold, a beauty routine on the road has to work harder. Between dry cabin air, wind on the street and heated hotel rooms, skin and lips feel it fast. My travel beauty routine for fall and winter is built around two goals: keep everything comfortable and make my makeup last through very long days.
Here is what I reach for, plus the general tips I follow for dry air. A quick note: the skincare advice below is general guidance, not medical advice, so check with your own dermatologist if you have sensitive skin.
1. Start With Skin That Is Ready for Dry Air
Airplane cabins are drier than most people realize. According to the World Health Organization, cabin humidity is typically below 20 percent. That is why skin can feel tight by the time you land.
General tips dermatologists commonly suggest:
- Moisturize before you board. A richer cream than you use at home helps.
- Pack a travel-size moisturizer. Keep it under 3.4 ounces so it can stay in your carry-on.
- Wear sunscreen on the plane. UV light comes through the window, especially on daytime flights.
- Drink water. It sounds basic, but it makes a difference on long flights.
- Keep your usual routine. Switching products right before a trip can cause irritation.
For me, the plane is not the moment to try anything new. Simple and familiar always wins.
2. Lips Come First in Cold Weather
Cold air and wind are hard on lips, so lip products do a lot of work in my travel beauty routine. I like a soft, comfortable finish that still looks polished.
One I have been loving is the Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Mousse. It is a whipped lip mousse with a soft matte finish, so you get color without that dry, flat look.
For days when I want shine, I reach for my YSL plumping lip gloss. On its own it gives a fuller-looking lip, and it is a nice way to keep lips from looking dry.
My tips for lips in the cold:
- Prep first. A balm before color keeps things smooth.
- Blot and reapply rather than piling on layers.
- Pack one matte and one gloss. That covers both daytime and dinner.
3. Makeup That Has to Last All Day
When I travel, a single day can include a shoot, an event and a dinner. My makeup has to keep up with that, and the best example I have is a look by makeup artist Roxy Glam Studio. That glam lasted through more than ten things, and the L’Oréal Paris Infallible setting spray is what I used to keep it in place for shoots, events and dinners.
If you want makeup to hold on a long travel day, a few general rules help:
- Thin layers. Less product means less to slide around.
- Set it. A good setting spray at the end makes a real difference.
- Carry a small touch-up kit. Blotting papers, your lip color and a mini powder are enough.
4. Adjust for Heated Hotel Rooms
Hotel rooms in cold weather are often warm and dry, which can undo all the work you did on the plane. A few things I would do:
- Ask for a humidifier. Many luxury hotels keep them on hand if you ask.
- Turn the heat down at night. You will sleep better and so will your skin.
- Use a heavier night cream than you would at home in summer.
- Do a sheet mask after a long-haul flight if you have one with you.
5. Pack Your Travel Beauty Routine Small and Smart
A good travel beauty routine is also about packing well. My rule is that everything should do double duty if possible, and nothing should be in my bag just in case.
What I would pack in a cold-weather kit:
- Cleanser and a rich moisturizer
- Sunscreen
- A lip balm, one matte lip and one gloss
- A setting spray in travel size
- A small brush or sponge
- Hand cream, because cold air and hand washing are not kind to skin
Keep liquids in a clear bag for security, and put anything that could leak in its own pouch.
6. Let a Professional Help Before Big Days
If you have an important event on a trip, a professional makeup artist is worth it. The glam I mentioned above is a good example of how much longer makeup lasts when it is done well. Many luxury hotels can recommend a local artist, so it is worth asking the concierge when you book.
More Beauty Reading
If you want more ideas for your bag, listen to my podcast episode on travel beauty tips. For gifting, my guide to holiday gifts for skincare lovers and my Shiseido gift guide are both good places to start.
And if you are planning what to wear on the same trip, my Europe packing list for October pairs well with this one.
Shop the Edit
- La Mer Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream, 1 oz, Sephora
- Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen Stick SPF 40, Supergoop
- Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Mousse Soft Blur Lip Cream, Sephora
- Yves Saint Laurent Loveshine Plumping Lip Oil Gloss, Sephora
- L’Oréal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Spray, Ulta
- Laneige Lip Glowy Balm, Sephora
- L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream, 1 oz, Nordstrom
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