Self-care Is Not Selfish
We can pack light and take good care of ourselves! A skincare ritual or routine can be a wonderful way to unwind and de-stress. Self-care can be many things that honor our well-being and mental health and includes allowing ourselves the time to spend on skincare, as well as larger things such as adopting healthier lifestyle habits. When it comes to packing, many of us still struggle to pare down our products and fit them all into one toiletry bag. We went down a bit of a rabbit hole to see what our digital nomad sisters on the road had to share, and uncovered some great tips.
Ultimately, in terms of a skincare regimen, there is no one size that fits all, and it takes some time and experimentation to figure out what works for us personally. However, we loved what digital nomad Tara Minshull shared about her routine while staying “ecologically conscious, minimal and cost-efficient”, and some of her overarching ideas can be easily implemented.
A Simple Skincare Routine
As we are aware, the same organic plants, herbs and flowers that we put in our food also works wonders on our skin. For centuries women all over the world have used native plants straight from the garden to add to their oils, creams, tonics and cleansers. Also going multipurpose is our new best friend, and here are two examples from Tara. There are sure to be many other variations folks have come up with, and we'd love to hear about it here! (Although don’t forget to patch test any new products before trying!!)
Tara's Facial Oil Cleanser
Olive or coconut oil (need a carrier oil to dilute concentrated essential oils)
A few drops of essential oils such as cedar wood oil (acne prone), rose (dry), tea tree (oily) or lavender (sensitive). Make sure they are of good quality.
An organic cotton washcloth
"Warm your washcloth and massage your face to open the pores. Rub a peasize drop of oil all over your face with love and kindness. You can leave it on for a few minutes while you brush your teeth, then gently wipe away the residue with your freshly warmed washcloth. This also serves as a luxurious face moisturizer after washing!"
Tara's Body Lotion/Oil
The cleanser above multitasks as a facial wash, moisturizer and body lotion!
Tara's Hair and Face Tonic
Rosemary and Sage infused in filtered water (Two herbs from the garden that work beautifully for face and hair)
"Get a small glass spray bottle and pack in a sprig of each herb, fill with water and let it infuse for a few days (the longer the better). Both herbs help in stimulating blood circulation, opening up facial pores and hydrating damaged hair".
Other Packing Tips
Other tips for a minimalist beauty kit include:
- Have a dedicated toiletry travel kit
- Get multipurpose products
- Collect and ask for samples (and as Ashley Friemel recommends, use the product and/or dispose it, and keep the sample size packaging which is smaller than a travel size bottle of 3.4 oz or 96 grams)
- Stick to travel size/minis to save space
- Simplify your routine and stick to the basics - facial cleanser, treatments (if needed), moisturizer, and sunscreen. Many countries also have amazing local brands that you can buy in your destination.
- Think about do you really have to bring that? (But sunscreen is a MUST!)
Share your skincare tips here while on the road!
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