Travel Beauty Lessons I’ve Learned And Boy, They Are Tough

Travel Beauty Lessons I've Learned

© Carli Jean

Happy Friday, folks!

As I settle back home with a much-needed cup of good, strong coffee to tackle the almighty task of unpacking, I pondered on some of the things that I’ve learned through the holiday. Yes, I do that from time to time as my mind wanders to goodness-knows-where.

I mentioned this when I blogged about a fantastic hydrating mask yesterday but I had issues with my skin when I was in Malaysia that I couldn’t seem to fix until I got home. My skin didn’t behave itself during this trip, which meant that I have my work cut out for me now that I’m finally back home. Thankfully, it’s on the mend now albeit slowly.

As I looked back on my trip, I realised that there were some lessons on beauty that I’ve learned, not only from this trip but from my previous travels too. Even though most of these lessons were learned the hard way, with experience, I’ll know what to do and not to do in future.

1. No makeup when heading out? No problem!

I don’t have to wear a lick of makeup (not even foundation or BB cream) when I leave the house and that’s okay. Yes, my skin may not have looked and felt its best yet I didn’t feel the need to have to cover my skin up with makeup. Of course, those surrounding me may beg to differ but hey, it’s my skin, not theirs. Right? 😛

2. Hot and humid weather? Still gotta keep your skin hydrated!

It doesn’t matter how bloody hot and humid Malaysia is; my skin will get very dry and dehydrated from travelling and it will stay that way for weeks. I finally realised that I also need a hydrating serum on top of my usual serum, even when I’m travelling. I’ve never needed to bring an extra serum with me when I travelled before but it looks like I’m going to have to from now on. Oh boy.

3. Shorter hair now? Hello more frizz!

My hair will continue to be frizzy despite of its length and style. In fact, now that my hair is much shorter than before, the frizziness and volume have doubled in high humidity. I’d look like a mushroom head most of the time if not for my trusty flat iron. I’d cry if it broke down halfway through the trip.

4. More of that hot and humid weather? Don’t forget the body lotion!

Even though the weather can be hot and very humid, my skin (body) still needs plenty of body lotion. I thought I could skip on it given that the weather isn’t dry. My skin (now dry and scaly) strongly disagrees.

5. Prices on beauty products increasing? Think twice before stocking up!

With the addition of the 6% Malaysian GST in April, sales assistants at beauty counters will encourage you to buy more of your favourite beauty products to stock up before the price increases. Mum was coerced into buying more of her favourite Sulwhasoo skincare to stock up and I was asked to do so as well with any of the skincare products I’d stock up whenever I’m in Malaysia. I thought hard about it and declined because who knows if I’m going to want to continue using the same product a year down the road? What if I discovered something better? Stocking up just to beat the price increase may not be the answer especially since the products do expire after some time. I once stocked up on a moisturiser I really liked at that time but fell in love with something else a few months later and ended up neglecting those stocked up products. They’re still sitting in my beauty cupboard unopened 2 years later.

6. Someone else knowing your skin/hair more than you? Really?

Beauty treatments like hair styling/treatment, facials and massages are relatively cheaper in Asia compared to Australia so it’s natural to want to book a beauty treatment or two. However, always remember that YOU know your skin and hair best, not the beauty therapist or hair stylist. Don’t be coerced into getting blackhead extractions you don’t need (this can irritate and even damage the skin), paying more for unnecessary (usually overpriced) treatments or worse, be made to feel bad that your skin/hair is not up to par (therefore you’ll “need” extra treatments i.e. pay extra $$). This is a lesson I learned when my thick hair is, while appreciated in Australia, condemned in Malaysia (I’m told that I “need” permanent hair straightening to flatten my hair). I was told that my skin was so bad, I needed additional, super expensive treatments to “guarantee to make it better”.

Sorry for the ranty tone of the post but even I irk myself sometimes. These are expensive lessons to learn and it will take time for my skin and hair to right themselves again. At least I now know what to do and not to do. You’d think that I’d know more about my own skin and hair but you know the silly buggers; their conditions can change at the drop of a hat.

Are there any beauty lessons you’ve learned lately? Something you haven’t known before but wished you have?

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12 comments… add one
  1. MonicaP

    Ah, the beauty “up-sell” .. it’s a shame that the beauty industry feels the need to make you feel bad so they can sell you more products and services. At least you’re in the know 🙂

    Monica.
    MonicaP recently posted..Simple southwest inspired lookMy Profile

    1. Tine

      I know right? It’s horrible, I tell ya. Normally, we’d be mighty indignant, angry even, when someone tells you there’s something wrong with you but for some reason, we accept such comments from the beauty industry with our heads hung in shame and we really shouldn’t. I remember I used to actually apologise for how thick my hair is to the hairstylist even before they began. It’s ridiculous!

  2. Norlin

    Well, when I went back to Singapore a few years ago I totally did not bring along my exfoliator and the cream based cleanser. BIG MISTAKE! Skin went bloody nuts. Lesson learned and the next time I brought my usual skincare regime, just in smaller dosage. OMG never will I go through that shitty skin phase.
    Norlin recently posted..Friday’s Favourites: Bioderma Hydrabio Serum, Uriage Stick Levres & YoungBlood Cosmetics LipstickMy Profile

    1. Tine

      OMG I didn’t bring my exfoliator with me this trip too! No wonder all those dead skin cells built up like crazy and gave me sandpaper skin! Never again, I tell ya. Never again.

  3. Paris B

    Good points and actually, whenever I travel, my skin goes mad ALL THE TIME! The problem is that I don’t always stick to my regular skincare routine when I’m away, thinking samples are the way to go. IT NEVER IS! I have a nice long trip planned soon, and I plan to bring my regular skincare. Nevermind that it’ll fill half my bag, it’s all coming with me!

    Oh and I hear ya on the no makeup thing too. I bring makeup but then I don’t put any on when on holiday. Makes me wonder why I even bother 😛
    Paris B recently posted..Boing! Bounce your way to hydrated skin with The Body Shop Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping MaskMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Oh it never is. I used to do that too. I even called them my Tom, Dick and Sally skincare ie all sorts of sample sachets I could find to bring on holiday. If it’s only for a couple of days, they’re all right but for anything lasting over a week? My skin will scream bloody murder, I tell ya. Best to just bring our usual stuff. Learned that lesson with a side of sandpaper skin. Sigh.

      Haha our makeup bag is what I call the “just in case” bag. Hardly touched but ya never know! 😉

  4. Beauty Box

    Yeah I hear you about needing to keep skin hydrated even in hot and humid weather. It’s a pain to lug around body stuff so I just buy said product when I reach Singapore. I usually stay for a week or more so it’s still worth it and I visit twice a year so I know it’ll still be good to go when I return. I guess I can do that because I stay with my folks when I visit so they wouldn’t mind me leaving a few things behind. One recent thing I learned on my last long trip to Oz and SG was I hardly touched the masks I brought. In fact, I gave away the sheet masks to my mum so I wouldn’t have to bring them back (luggage was bursting) and I only used the pot of mask I brought TWICE in two months. I travel with my Clarisonic with me so I think I will leave special treatments till when I get home. It sounds terrible but I don’t seem to find the time or privacy to wear a mask when I’m travelling.
    Beauty Box recently posted..Fun Times: Depotting MAC EyeshadowsMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Haha I actually had to buy facial sheet masks to combat the dry and dehydrated skin problems I was having in Malaysia! I originally brought 2 with me but they turned out insufficient for the issues I was having. Usually I wouldn’t even bother using facial sheet masks on holidays but whaddyaknow, my skin decided to boycott on me this trip.

      Haha your mum must be happy with all those sheet masks you gave her! 😛

  5. fashfix

    this is such a good write up… however… I did stock up some makeup items (due to pre-GST) but it was discounted! 50% 😛
    Hope to use it up in time before it expires

    1. Tine

      Thanks! Yeah I understand a lot of people stocking up pre-GST. Man, that GST thing is making people spend a heck lotta money! :O

  6. cecylia

    Such good tips! I love the last one- definitely true. We know our skin/sensitivities and which products work better than any one else.
    cecylia recently posted..At It AgainMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Precisely! Even though yes, they may be skin/hair experts but they don’t live with our skin and hair 24/7. We do. 🙂

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