My carry-on beauty routine
How I maintain a spa-level beauty routine on the road (without overpacking)
Today’s newsletter is in paid partnership with Dove.
My travel schedule this year has been…chaotic, to say the least. With how many new passport stamps I’ve accumulated, you’d probably wonder when I have time to sleep in my own bed (spoiler: not often). Between the long-haul flights and learning to live out of a carry-on, I’ve had to reevaluate my routines to create streamlined processes for more efficient travel. This includes, of course, my beauty routine.
When you spend hours marinating in cabin air as I do, your skin and hair can take as big of a hit as your nervous system. Throughout this year, I’ve built a routine that keeps me looking and feeling good no matter what time zone I wake up in.
Here’s every item that’s made the cut in my travel bag, from staying hydtrated to my ultimate post-flight shower ritual.
Systems & organization
Whether you’re living out of a carry-on or just want to make sure all your stuff stays neatly organized:
Leak-proof magnetic capsules that snap together in your bag, perfect for holding anything from creams to jewelry to supplements.
A modular organization system designed to keep everything together and visible.
Airless pump bottles engineered to handle liquids without leaking under drastic cabin pressure changes.
In-flight defense & rest
For those who want to land looking genuinely rested and protected as opposed to being completely drained by 30,000-foot cabin air:
Sunscreen to help protect against the strong UV rays I’m exposed to sitting in the window seat—this formula is my favorite ever and gives me heavy-duty protection.
A rich lip balm to create a protective cushion that lasts through entire long-haul legs.
Melatonin gummies to beat jet lag before it even starts (especially helpful when adjusting to new time zones and trying to sleep while the sun is still shining).
Post-flight shower ritual
Does anything feel as good as a luxurious shower straight off the plane? Especially if you bring products you know will truly elevate the experience. You know I’m a huge proponent of treating yourself, so why stop when you’re traveling?
Dove Serum+ Oil Body Wash with Almond Oil & Sandalwood is my favorite body wash to rinse away the fatigue of a long travel day. The scent is so good, it makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a 5-star spa instead of an unfamiliar hotel room bathroom. And the formula includes glycerin, which deeply attracts moisture to counteract high-altitude dehydration, preventing that itchy, tight skin feeling you might get post-flight. Treat yourself to the ultimate travel shower—shop it now on Amazon.
Hair, skin & makeup
When the time comes to head out to dinners or client meetings, my routine here centers on high-impact tools and formulas to give an effortless look:
This hair styler gives me a salon-level blowout in minutes, tucks away neatly in an organized travel pouch—and it’s dual-voltage.
These makeup brushes are ultra-soft (and I just love the way they look in my kit). I pair them with this blush for a fresh, lit-from-within flush that gives the perfect no-makeup-makeup look that I’ve been loving lately.
I haven’t let a towel touch my face in years. Not in my own home and certainly not in any hotel. I bring these along instead.
Oral care
For all the other lists I’ve seen similar to this one, no one ever mentions oral care, and I think that’s a huge miss. Keeping on top of as many of my routines as possible while traveling is so important to me, and this one is top of the list:
A sustainable, ultra-slim sonic toothbrush that has a case that not only keeps it clean but charged, too.
Elevated, mineral-rich toothpaste that protects enamel without harsh chemicals and looks as great sitting on your vanity as it makes your smile. The new (better) Marvis.
A textured, expandable (a must!!) dental floss that grabs up to 55% more plaque makes me feel like any floss I’ve ever used before this just wasn’t doing its job correctly.
Finishing touches
These are the personal, sensory details that bring everything together before I step out the door:
A warm, comforting fragrance with notes of black tea, fig, and cedar that I get compliments on literally every single day. My signature.
A long-wearing, high-shine polish that not only keeps my manicures looking fresh, but it sets touch-dry in just a couple of minutes.
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Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.
I always bring a fresh dove beauty bar on every trip I take 🩷 another great post!