Unusual travel beauty tips and tricks
 

A couple of weeks ago, I wanted to quickly remove the afternoon shine from my nose and forehead, but didn't have any of those oil blotter papers handy.

At first I was going to just wash my face at the sink, but then I thought, "Hmm...those toilet seat covers seem to be made of the same type of tissue..." And so I grabbed one (unused ;)) and sure enough, it was just as effective as those little blotter papers. @:-)

This probably won't help anyone traveling through ORD (with their little plastic seat covers), but most US airports have these tissue seat covers.

Any other "emergency" travel beauty tips you've discovered?

haha, I love the toilet cover trick--I've used it plenty of times. Smart of those oil-blotting paper companies to use the same material as toilet paper, cut in small pieces, and sell it for $4 a pack!

I wish I had a tip to add, but unfortunately I really haven't been able to avoid looking like crap when I travel. Makeup just feels so gross on, my feet get swollen, my lips are chapped...but I'm looking forward to what other FT-ers have to say! Great thread, Owlchick!

My bag didn't arrive, and I had very little with me makeup wise (unusual for me, and haven't since). I had a meeting early the next morning and the hotel had nothing. I had an eyelash curler, but no mascara, YIKES! I had a colored lip gloss with me which I put on my eyes (not too bad, a little glossy), as blush, and of course on my lips.

My boss told me after my meeting she would have skipped the meeting without make up LOL! I made it through but felt YUCK. I ran to Saks and bought a new full face for my dinner meeting and looke human.

* Fruit yogurt with packets of sugar mixed in makes an easy-to-obtain gentle, yummy-smelling, moisturizing, exfoliating mask.

* Fabric softener dryer sheets tucked into the lining or pockets of suitcases keep your clothes fresh when packed and have many other uses for which they can be diverted if needed. They can be used in a pinch to eliminate static cling by rubbing them on a garment. If you need to use a hotel washer/dryer, they usually have detergent available, but seldom softener, but you have your own on hand. And if your shoes are a little rank, you can stuff them inside to freshen things up overnight.

* Jojoba oil is very versatile to have on hand because you can use it as a moisturizer for your face, body, or hair; if your hair is dry or frizzy in a different climate you can rub it on the ends before bed as a deep overnight conditioner, add a couple drops to your conditioner, or smooth a little through damp hair before blow drying as a leave-in conditioner. I also really like the Aveda oils like the balancing infusion and beautifying formula for similar reasons; very versatile and can fill in for a number of other products or fix beauty problems resulting from being in different climates and using different types of water.

* Hotel shampoo makes good bath gel or bubble bath. You can also wash a garment with it in the sink in an emergency.

* Hotel mouthwash is great for freshening your toothbrush after its been in a travel tube if you pour it into a glass with enough very hot water to cover the bristles and soak it overnight.

* Many gas stations still sell 2.5 ounce spray deoderents that are small enough to fit into a quart size baggie with your other toiletries (especially if you take the top off). This size is very hard to find anywhere but gas stations.

* A little milk poured in a tub makes a nice milk bath.

* Chanel eyeshadows can be used wet or dry. Most of the compacts that have 4 colors include a black or at least some pretty dark color. When I forgot my eyeliner and mascara, I wet my the tip of my eyeshadow brush, dipped it in the black eyeshadow and swirled it around gently, and carefully lined my eyes and colored my lashes with it. It worked like a charm. What a handy product!

* Chanel is very generous with skincare samples. I never buy anything from them or any other counter without asking for samples of the same thing I am purchasing, "for travel". I don't want random samples, I want the ones I really use, and they are usually very accommodating (probably because they know their stuff is expensive). I also love their little sample perfume bottles that have the little roller balls, they're so cute, take up no room, and one will last for several trips.

* GloMinerals pressed powder base is amazing and it works as both a foundation and a touch up powder. I never carry liquid foundation anymore and I think the mineral makeup looks much more natural and holds up better to long flights.

* I sometimes put my good shampoo and conditioner into emptied out hotel shampoo and conditioner bottles so that when I have used them all up during the trip I can just toss them out and don't have to drag the empty bottles back home with me.

* It is always good to have an extra pair of clean underwear, even at the end of trip. You never know when you'll get stuck unexpectedly and that's the one thing you really can't just wear over again.

I've typed way too much but I kinda got carried away on this post...

Nice
 

Great idea for a thread...and wow, VelvetKennedy...nice tips...

I don't have any suggestions nearly so long or elaborate, but I am anxious to see what other FT women come up with :)

I do have a funny one from a workaholic friend who came up with that she swears she really did...she was working late at the office and her french tip nails had begun to chip. So she took the White-out from her desk and put it to good use!

Bicarbonate of soda has many many uses, from emergency deodorant (works well if messily) to cleaning anything from teeth to a white shirt which somehow got red wine on it.

Great tips, all! I've used the chanel eyeshadows as liners, but never thought about mascara - brilliant!

White out also works as a run stopper in stockings (besides the old standby of nail polish).

My main tip is to just keep a drawer full of things you need for travel so that in packing you don't forget. This happened after taking many trips where I always forgot one thing, once a comb or brush, another deoderant, once actually underwear. So I just have a drawer at home where I keep a set of things I need for travel and that at least helps me remember!

Guerlain Terracotta bronzing powder is great for adding a bit of color.

220V hair dryer - I have an Elchim, for me a must have item. After years of travel dryers, adapters, converters....always resulted in frizzies. Now smooth and less time to dry. I have long, thick ,wavy/curly hair.

Lavender Essential Oil - mix with I like Emu oil. Massage tired, swollen feet, etc. Add few drops to bed linens. Many great uses.

More exfoliating tips:

- Take a packet of sugar or raw sugar and mix with packet of honey. Gently massage on face, rinse. Lemon or Lime is also good to add to mix. If no honey, mix sugar with any cleanser.

- Take about 8 aspirin (white, uncoated) in palm add a some water enough to make paste......put on clean face, wait about 10 min., massage, rinse off.

Thanks VelvetKennedy for a terrific and print-worthy list of good suggestions. ^

Post-It notes are also great substitutes for blotting paper.

And a great way of taking the sting out of a burn is to cover it in salt. Don't try it if the skin is broken or with a sunburn, but it's great if you accidentally touch a hot pan or something.

Immediately after getting burned, pour a little pile of salt on a plate and bury your finger (or wherever you're burned) in it for about 15 min.

Sounds crazy but I swear it works.

A little dab of glue will work, as well.

WOW - fascinating tips, especially the creative tips from VelvetKennedy. ^^

I'll be thinking to see if I can come up with anything even half as worthwhile as what has been offered here already (the glue tip really isn't it!). :)

toothpaste for bug bites
 

Standby for my kids (and sometimes me) when I can't find the benedryl stick is smearing toothpaste on the itchy bites. Seems to pacify them for a while and not as messy as calamine lotion.

If the heal of a new pair of shoes is digging into your skin, take a minipad, fold it over and insert it between your foot and the shoe. Works wonders in a pinch!

Another way to help with an uncomfortable shoe is to put a few drops of water in the toe. Combined with the heat of your foot, it helps the leather soften and expand around your toes.