Your On-The-Go Guide to Holiday Travel Grooming

Like it or not, the holidays are approaching at lightning speed. Now that Halloween has passed, it’s time to think about Thanksgiving and Hanukkah (they overlap this year, in case you haven’t heard) until it’s a landslide into Christmas. For many of us, this means traveling both near and far to visit family and friends in celebration. And on top of gift buying, turkey basting and candle lighting, there’s packing, which can stress us out to say the least. But this year, we have your travel grooming routine covered.

Exposure to stale airplane air and moving from one climate to another can make skin and hair go a little berserk. The most important thing you can do is not switch the products you use during travel when your skin isn’t used to them. Instead, allow a few days (three is a good rule of thumb) to make sure a new product agrees with you. Check out our grooming routine below and note the extra steps that will help combat the looks of fatigue and dullness travel can bring to your skin. They will only add a few minutes to your day, and you’ll be amazed at how handsome you look.

Cleanse & Shave
The last thing you want to do when traveling is carry an excess of products with you. We’ll be honest, some 2-in-1s can be scary, but this formula is just the opposite. EVOLUTIONMAN’s Cleanse & Shave not only freshens and cleanses the skin, it softens facial hair to prepare it for a close shave. Either lather and rinse if you’re keeping the beard (which we highly encourage) or lather, shave and rinse to show off that smooth, handsome face. $23, birchbox.com

Exfoliate
This step is extremely important all the time but especially so when traveling. Dry, stale airplane air makes your skin work overtime to stay moisturized, but it’s inevitable you’re going to get some dry patches. Use an exfoliating scrub after cleansing to get rid of flakes and promote cell renewal. Baxter of California’s Exfoliating Facial Scrub is the perfect product at a perfect price. $15, mrporter.com

Balance
If you don’t regularly use a toner, now is the time to start. A toner prepares the skin to properly accept moisture by removing any oils or dead skin cells remaining on the skin after cleansing and exfoliating. The Organic Male OM4 Surface Refining pH Balancer not only cools and firms, it helps to balance your skin’s pH levels after a long day of traveling. $38, oandncollective.com

Moisturize
Moisturizing may be the most important part of this routine because every step that comes before prepares your face for hydration. When traveling, it’s best to stick to the most natural products you can find so your skin doesn’t go berserk. Ernest Supplies Protective Matte Moisturizer gets the job done with vitamins A, C & E, the antioxidant benefits of acai, cupuaçu and green tea extracts and no added fragrance. Plus, the oil controlling formula will keep your skin hydrated without the shine. $25, ernestsupplies.com

Hair Helper
Don’t forget about that mane, man. Your scalp should be a part of your skincare routine just as much as your face, and it too gets dry and distressed when traveling. The Philip Kingsley Scalp Toner rehydrates and energizes to promote scalp health and hair growth by stimulating blood supply. Its mild astringent qualities help to absorb excess oil and protect against bacterial attack, aka nasty flaking. Leave it in and go. $29, philipkingsley.com