Pro beauty tips for easy travel

Shelley Rozenwald, chief beauty adventurer at the Bay

Rozenwald, head of beauty at the Bay, and who spends 50 percent of her time away on business, has come up with a clever way to address the carry-on conundrum: “I cherish trial sizes and samples of my favourites.” These include Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Youth Creme and Re-Nutriv Revitalizing Comfort Creme.

Rozenwald recommends accumulating trial sample bottles and jars during stores’ gift-with-purchase and other promotions. “And when they’re empty, you can refill them from a full-size jar. You just have to be careful not to use your fingers in the transfer process.” To avoid bacterial growth, Rozenwald advises using a fresh cotton swab or a spoon sterilized in boiling water.

Simone Otis, professional makeup artist

When Toronto-based Otis travels to far-flung location shoots, her checked luggage often includes two suitcases full of the shadows, lipsticks and foundations that are the tools of her trade. Personally, though, she’s a minimalist.

Otis finds the atmos­phere in planes oddly soporific, and “can’t stand to fall asleep with makeup on,” she says. “So when I’m flying, I’m just wearing moisturizer.” When she is awake, her secret weapon is Yon-Ka Lotion, a botanical-infused mist that she decants into a carry-on, regulation-size (100 mL or less) refillable spray bottle. “It’s hydrating and refreshing and smells good. Other than that, I just try to drink lots of water.”

Moya Greene, president and CEO of Canada Post

Greene’s job often requires weekly travel from her Ottawa office. “I don’t check luggage-ever!” she says. That eliminates the stress of waiting at the baggage carousel and the potential nightmare of lost luggage. “Nor do I transfer products into those little plastic bottles; it’s too much trouble.”  Instead, she keeps her key travel grooming items at the ready in a regulation one-litre capacity resealable, transparent plastic bag. To make sure she’s presentable for a business meeting on arrival at her destination, this “survival kit” includes a travel-size toothbrush and toothpaste, a 50-mL Clarins HydraQuench Lotion moisturizer and a 5.2-mL L’Oréal Paris True Match concealer.

Barbara Elliot, strategic business planning director, Johnson & Johnson Inc.

Elliot, who is based in Burlington, Ont., has learned to hone her carry-on skills after having had her expensive makeup and treatment items confiscated by airport security because they were too big. “I like to have my full-size products with me when I travel, so I put everything-my creams, cosmetics and hair products-in my checked luggage,” she says. “Exceptions include my Aveeno moisturizer-which I transfer into one of those plastic travel bottles-and a travel toothbrush and toothpaste.” She skips wearing eye makeup when flying, she says, because it can get smudged during the “power naps” she likes to take during even the shortest flights. If she has a business meeting upon landing, she quickly puts on eye makeup in the airport washroom.

Mary Symons, Mary Symons & Associates

No makeup and maximum moisture: That’s Symons’ travel beauty motto. Whether she’s off to Mumbai on business or Venice for pleasure, this Torontonian, who helms her own PR agency, makes sure she always has bottled water at her seat. Her external moisturizers of choice are Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer and travel-size Evian spray. Beyond that, her carry-on essentials are limited to a lip balm and Bioré cleansing pads.

What are your travel essentials? Share them in the comments below.