the products I’m using on my trip to New Zealand
Some of the products in my travel skincare routine
This is the travel skincare routine I am using for the two weeks that I am in New Zealand. As you’ll see, I use mainly Asian products with some Western ones as well. They are all pretty popular products which are accessible to people living in the US.
Travel and skincare are two of my favorite things so I’m super excited to share this with you! In case you don’t know, it’s spring in New Zealand right now, with temperatures mostly ranging from 50’s to 70’s. Thus, this routine is slightly lighter than what I am using back in New England (where it’s pretty much feeling like winter, I think it already snowed??) But it’s not much lighter, since all the flying I’m doing is sucking the moisture right out of my face. All products are listed in the order that I use them, but I don’t always use all these products at once.
About My Skin-type: Dry, mild rosacea, hyperpigmentation. At the moment, my main concerns are keeping my skin hydrated and moisturized, especially during/after flights during my travels. I’m also happy to say that my acne has mostly cleared up in the last few months, so now I am mainly working on fading the hyperpigmentation that is left over.
Note About My Retin-A Usage: In addition to the products listed below, I am also using Retin-A, a 0.05% tretinoin cream, almost every night. Sadly, this product is prescription-only in the US. But if you have persistent acne or wrinkles, and you are able to go to a dermatologist, I highly recommend asking about this product. It has made a big difference in my acne since I started using it in July. This product is also the reason why my skin is so dry (it used to be combination) and why my routine is so heavy on moisture, as you will notice below.
Kose Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil
Description: I have tried a lot of different oil cleansers since I find it so hard to commit to one. I have never repurchased one. But that might change now that I’ve found this cleansing oil. It cleanses very effectively (especially since I hardly wear makeup anymore), although it can take me a while to wash it off. I also like the thicker consistency, it doesn’t dry out my skin, the smell is inoffensive, and the price is pretty much as good as it gets. This year, I am trying to follow a stricter budget, especially when it comes to skincare, and I think this is the best option for me right now. When I’m travelling, I decant it into a travel-size pump bottle I bought at Muji which saves space and dispenses the product very well. I only apply this in the evening to wash off my sunscreen and sometimes makeup before bed.
Rating: 4/5
Drunk Elephant No. 9 Beste Jelly Cleanser
Description: If I had paid for this cleanser, my opinion of it would probably be lower. However, I received it from Sephora as a birthday gift, and thus, I can’t be too mad about it. Still, I’m not a fan. Since the other product I received with the birthday gift (the Protini polypeptide moisturizer) was so awesome, I had high hopes for this cleanser. But it was not great.
Sadly, it dries out my skin more than I’d like and stings my eyes if I’m not extremely careful. It’s clear and somewhat viscous and foams only a little bit. I was surprised that it felt so drying. Therefore, I only use it at night after my oil cleanser, and sometimes don’t use it at all. Yet, I still brought it with me to New Zealand, even though I was aware of these issues. It’s just the perfect travel-sized product, and I was too lazy to decant my regular cleanser…
Rating: 2.5/5
Melano CC Anti-Spot Essence
Description: This is probably the best vitamin-C product for travelling, primarily due to the packaging. The metallic tube is small and blocks all light from coming in contact with the product which prevents it from oxidizing. Other vitamin-Cs often need to be kept in the refrigerator to prevent them from oxidizing too quickly, which would make it difficult to travel with them. Furthermore, this vitamin-C is gentle but still effective, which is awesome for my current skin condition. I’m using it mainly to help speed up the process of fading my post-acne hyperpigmentation, and I’ve found that it does make a bit of a difference. And the antioxidant properties are also a plus.
The exact percentage of ascorbic acid in this product is unknown, but I’ve heard estimates of around 15%, which is below but still close to the ideal 20%. I use this product most days and only in the morning. And because of the oil-based formula, I don’t find this product to sting or dry out my skin unlike the two other vitamin-Cs I’ve tried. The price isn’t bad either. The biggest issue for me is that I find it rather difficult to spread evenly across my face and end up using quite a lot.
Rating: 4/5
Kikumasamune High Moist Lotion
Description: Now this is another excellent budget product. First of all, it comes in a HUGE container which lasts forever. It’s a very light, watery toner/essence, even though it’s called a lotion (lotion means toners in Japan). Since it contains fermented ingredients, I tend to think of it as a First Treatment Essence (FTE), but it is SO much cheaper than anything else in that product category, especially for the volume of product that you get. It is very hydrating and only slightly sticky, which I don’t really mind. I think it slightly brightens and smoothens my skin, just not quite as much as other FTE’s. But for the price, that’s fine with me; I am mostly interested in its hydrating properties anyway.
As for application, I usually apply 2-3 layers depending on how I’m feeling. For some people, I know that the smell of this product can be a deal-breaker. But to me, it smells sweet and delicious, kind of like banana? It’s hard to describe, but I really like it. Since this comes in such a large bottle, you will certainly want to decant this into a smaller reusable container. Again, I use one that I purchased at Muji.
Rating: 4.5/5
Benton Snail Bee high content Essence
Description: I still haven’t entirely made up my mind about this product even though I’ve been using it every day for over a month now. I find it quite pleasant to use; the consistency is decently thick and it also seems to have a nice cooling effect on my skin. However, besides adding hydration, I don’t really feel like this product is doing much for me. And at least in colder or dryer weather, this essence definitely does not provide my skin with enough hydration. Sometimes, I feel like I need to apply multiple layers of it, which is not very cost-effective considering that it comes in a rather small container and it’s not especially cheap. Yet, since it comes in a small-ish container, it’s a pretty great size for travelling and I decided to bring it along.
Rating: 3.5/5
Stratia Liquid Gold
Description: This product comes in a container that is about the same size as the Benton Snail Bee essence. Thus, it’s pretty easy to travel with. Not to mention, this product is amazing for dry skin and is supposed to help repair and strengthen the moisture barrier.. I love the ingredients which include ceramides, cholesterol, niacinamide, sea buckthorn seed oil, and various other beautiful oils. It feels very comfortable and soothing when applied; it moisturizes well but isn’t too heavy. Since adding it to my routine, in combination with my heavier moisturizer, my skin is definitely feeling less dry, which is so great for someone who uses retinoids like tretinoin. Normally, I only use this product at night due to the bright yellow color which gives a slight yellow tint to my very pale skin. However, when my skin is extra dry, I just don’t care and I will apply this whenever. This is one of the more expensive products in my skincare routine, so I may not repurchase it right away, although I may give in if I miss it enough after I run out.
Rating: 4.5/5
Trilogy Antioxidant+ Rosehip Oil
Description: This oil is the newest addition to my routine. I had previously used the regular Trilogy Rosehip Oil, which I enjoyed, until I found another oil that I liked better—squalane. I still love myself some squalane; however, since I was planning to go to New Zealand, I decided I wanted to try Trilogy (a New Zealand brand) again. And I was intrigued by the blend of interesting oils in this product. This time around, I am definitely enjoying rosehip oil more than before. I don’t notice a huge difference between the Antioxidant+ and the regular rosehip oil, although I like the concept of the additional antioxidants.
Actually, when I first used Trilogy’s regular rosehip oil, I found it to be a little too heavy for my skin and I as disappointed that it didn’t improve my acne and hyperpigmentation as I was hoping it would. But now that my skin has gotten dryer, I don’t mind the heaviness of rosehip oil as much. It still doesn’t really sink into my skin, at least not quickly, but it seems to help my skin stay moisturized. At night, I slather on about 5 drops of this stuff and end up looking like a disco ball. But I don’t mind that too much, I care more about how great my skin feels in the morning.
Rating: 4/5
CeraVe moisturizing Cream
Description: This is a solid budget moisturizer. That’s pretty much it. I know this product is extremely popular, and I supposed I can see why. Since I am currently trying to reduce the amount I spend on skincare, I decided to purchase this moisturizer because you get such a large quantity for a good price. One thing I do like about it is that I can use it for both my face and body and don’t have to feel bad about using a large amount. Otherwise, I find it to be just alright. It sufficiently moisturizes my face in combination with my other products. I just don’t love the feel of the cream; I find it difficult to spread across my face and it doesn’t wear very comfortably, especially in the daytime. Still, I don’t have any major problems with it. I will continue to use it but when I empty the container, I may purchase a different, slightly more expensive face cream. It might be worth it? I also decant this product into a small travel-size container.
Rating: 3.5/5
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Description: I will never go back to regular chapstick again. I used to leave this product behind when I’m travelling, but not I cannot go without it. Especially for a long plane ride, this lip mask is so so good. I apply a thick layer of this stuff before bed and wake up with moisturized lips, which would otherwise be dry and flaky. Unless I roll around too much and wipe it all off on my pillow. I use the berry flavor, which is nice, though I’m interested in trying a different one when I run out. And that’s the other great thing about this product, it takes forever to run out of it. I’ve been using one container almost nightly for about 2 years now and I still have a little left. Honestly, maybe I should stop using it because it’s probably expired… but it looks, feels, and smells fine, so I’m not gonna do that.
Rating: 5/5
Innisfree Jeju Orchid Eye Cream
Description: This eye cream is pretty thick and creamy with a slight floral fragrance. A little goes a very long way, which is awesome because it makes this pretty large tub last a very long time. The packaging is not the most sanitary though, especially for an eye cream. Personally, I’m not certain if an eye cream is really necssary, since you can put a regular moisturizer under my eyes, and can’t really tell if it’s doing much of anything. Still, it does keep my under-eyes well moisturized so I’m hoping it can help prevent future wrinkles. And it doesn’t make my eyes water unlike some other eye creams I’ve tried. The tub is a little large for travelling, so normally I would just leave this at home, but I had some extra space in my luggage so I took it anyway.
Rating: 4/5
Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV
Description: *FYI: Sunscreen is essential for New Zealand! The hole in the ozone here means that you can get sunburned super quickly here. But also, you really should wear sunscreen everywhere and every day.* This is probably my favorite sunscreen I’ve tried so far. I’m still curious to try others, but this I go back to whenever I need a reliable moisturizing sunscreen. One thing to keep in mind is that this sunscreen is not waterproof at all. And if you have oily or combination skin, this may be too moisturizing for you, especially in the summer. For me, it’s pretty much perfect, although it can make my face a little bit shiny in hot/humid weather, when I might opt for a different sunscreen.
This product has a gel consistency and is very pleasant and comfortable to wear. It does not pill (form small balls of product on the skin) unlike some other products I’ve tried, unless I really overdo it with my skincare. In most weather, I feel like I’m not wearing sunscreen at all. The major downside is the small quantity that you receive for the price. However, I have been able to find it for a reasonable cost on Amazon. And the small size makes it great for travelling.
Rating: 5/5
Even though this probably seems like a pretty long routine, it’s quite compact and it all fits into a quart-sized Ziploc bag (except my cleansers). I used to use fewer different products when I traveled, but these days I’ve settled into a pretty consistent routine and I tend to use pretty much the same products at home and on the road, with the exception of a few extra items. Do you have a travel skincare routine? If so, how does it differ from your normal routine?
