How do people stay fresh and smell nice despite hours and hours of travel. Hitchiking, riding a bus or plane ... all forms of travel have their challenges. A couple of days ago I embarked on an international trip to visit my home town. The voyage included all of the above methods or travel and even a train ride too!
Dressing for a long trip is key, a few different clothing options on hand can be a huge help. And bringing plenty of snacks and a water bottle are basic necessities. The following are a few suggestions for your make up bag to keep looking (and more importantly, feeling) fresh and clean despite the long hours stuck in a seat.
~ Ear Protection ~
Alright, this first suggestion has little to do with make up and probably won't fit in a make up bag anyway. None the less I feel protecting your sanity is just as important as smelling nice. I am a highly sensitive person who is easily overwhelmed by loud noises. I usually wear ear plugs as well as over-the-ear headphones to keep out loud mechanical noises and the chaos of humanity.
~ Florida Water ~
This is probably the newest addition to my travel tools as it is so multi-functional. You might have heard of florida water (or agua florida) as a ritual tool, often associated with santeria. But, this spray was actually used as a beauty product long before its association with spirituality.
Many people believe that the metaphysical properties of the herbs included in florida water can help clear a space of negative energy. As for the physical properties the uplifting scent of citrus, rosemary, mint, and lavender are amazing for eliminating odors and keeping me feeling clean (even when I haven't had a shower in days!). All I do is spray a bit under each armpit and on my (washed) face and wrists.
~ Toothpaste Tablets ~
These days seeing someone brushing their teeth in the a bus station bathroom is totally normal. Well, at least in the ladies room it is. Before any red-eye flight or 6 hour bus ride I want to set myself up for the most relaxing experience possible and brushing my teeth before hand helps so much with that!
~ Mineral Sunscreen ~
Not everyone needs to wear sunscreen and for most of my youth I didn't. But when I am on the road I want to protect myself from the intensity of the sun and keep my skin moisturized. Luckily mineral sunscreen is great for locking in the moisture. I rub a small amount on my face, neck, and hands and feel great!!
~ Roll-on Perfume ~
Aroma therapy is so important to me! The few essential oils that I own are very precious to me. The best way to use them is by dropping a few drops into a carrier oil, like almond or even olive oil. These kinds of roller bottles can be found online (like Etsy) or in some groceries stores. I simply add a bit of DRIED herb to the bottle, fill it to nearly the top with my chosen carrier oil (in this case almond), then drop in about 7 drops of the desired essential oil.
To me the most relaxing scents are rose, rosemary, or lavender. I really appreciate citrus-y scents like citronella or lemon grass, especially when traveling through areas with lots of mosquitoes.