Look like a goddess without carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.

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What beauty products to take travelling Jess Fitch writes... "Weirdly enough, the issue of what beauty products to take backpacking is a fairly divisive one. If you’re someone who doesn’t wear makeup or wax regularly you’re told you’re not a ‘proper woman’, whereas if you want to take your hairdryer to Honduras you’re told you’re not a ‘proper traveller’. But come on, guys, there’s room enough in this big old world for all sorts. And yes, I did get that line from Sesame Street. For this reason, I won’t try and give you a comprehensive list of what to take and what to leave behind. Instead, here are a few things to bear in mind when packing your spongebag: - Space and weight are probably your main considerations. And if they’re not now, believe me: you’ll be unhealthily obsessed with them as soon as you start carrying your life around on your back. Don’t take more than you need. In fact, take less than you think you’ll need. - What’s the weather going to be like? If you’re going somewhere hot or humid, avoid oily or creamy make-up. If you feel the need, try powder-based foundation, though you’ll probably sweat it off. If you’re going somewhere sunny, remember that whatever else you wear you’ll be wearing sunscreen underneath. - If you can’t do without electrical beauty products, bear in mind that power supplies differ in different countries. Read up on the country you’re visiting. Your first consideration is plug configurations (two prongs or three, and what shape? Consider buying an adaptor). Your second is voltage (110 or 220 volts? Consider buying a converter). Your third is the number of times an electrical current changes direction each second, or its alternating cycle (50 or 60? You may need a transformer). - Consider two-in-one products. Bear in mind that some products have many uses: your sunscreen doubles as a moisturizer; your soap can wash your body, face, clothes - even your hair, at a push - and can be used instead of shaving foam. - Consider special travel products. Those bars of solid shampoo are great, not because they take up less space, but because you use them up less quickly. - Avoid unfortunate spillages or hair-in-your-toothbrush syndrome by keeping all your bathroom stuff separate in sandwich bags inside your spongebag. - Try lateral thinking. Take a hat or bandana to cover bad hair days. Take sunglasses instead of eye makeup. - You may not always have access to a sink or mirror. Take a little hand-held mirror, and plenty of wet-wipes for freshening up. - If you’re sorting out what to take and you find you have a big pile of ‘maybe’ items, don’t pack them. Instead, put them in a carefully-labelled pile in your room. If you need them, email a kindly parent-type and get him/her to send them out to you. Also note that you can buy most things in most countries if you look hard enough. - Finally, bear in mind that backpacking culture really isn’t all about being perfectly-coiffed. You might not walk down your local high-street without eyeliner, but hostel-life is different. Backpacking gives you the chance to live more simply: the truth is that if you don’t take something, you probably won’t need it. Why not take one item of makeup that makes you feel gorgeous and save it for special occasions?" Click here >> to buy travel wash-kit in our online shop Click here >> for advice on what to do with your hair Click here >> for advice on clothes

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