travelling light

[hajjie]

hi everyone.

My present job requires me to be away for several weeks at a time & im tired of lugging round half of Boots in my trolley bag:ugh:
So just wondering if anyone has any advice on any decent 2 in 1 type products (skincare) 2 save my back.

thanks in advance :ok:

[BackPacker]

Seriously, the human race has done without skin care products for millions of years, 90% of the worlds people, the ones who happen to live in less fortunate parts of the world still do without it, and even 90% (more?) of the male population in developed countries do without it. Unless you have a serious allergy which requires prescription medicine, you can really do without skin care products altogether, although the marketing people at Boots and the like want you to believe otherwise.

[hajjie]

Thanks very much for that reaally useful info:D

[SouBE]

I used to use Clinque and had a cream for everything. Ive ditched 'em all now, and use Nivea Light for hands face and body. Dead easy.

[vodkaholic]

Seriously, the human race has done without skin care products for millions of years, 90% of the worlds people, the ones who happen to live in less fortunate parts of the world still do without it, and even 90% (more?) of the male population in developed countries do without it. Unless you have a serious allergy which requires prescription medicine, you can really do without skin care products altogether, although the marketing people at Boots and the like want you to believe otherwise.

yes, but those people you mentioned dont work in a pressurised tube in the sky!! being cabin crew and pilots can really dry out your skin and its so important to moisturise if you dont want those horrible wrinkles much before they are due!!

[BackPacker]

Sorry about my light-hearted first post. I just meant to bring a little fun in this thread, which up to then wasn't even a thread at all...

As far as "moisturizing" goes, I do remain sceptical. I admit that those alu tubes are filled with relatively dry air, but so is the air in the Sahara, and these people do without creams as well. And seem to cope. After all, the skin is supposed to be a watertight barrier with sweat glands to let moisture out, but should not let moisture in, regardless whether it comes in form of a cream or anything else. And let's be honest - you probably will sweat more than the equivalent of a full bottle of cream on a typical flight. But do you apply a full bottle of cream to counter that? I think not. So I still trust the regulatory system of my skin more than the marketing plot of the likes of Nivea.

If you also think it delays the onset of wrinkles, well, watch the advertisements closely. In all ads they suggest that it prevents wrinkles, but actually never make the connection "this cream prevents wrinkles". That sentence is always missing. There simply isn't any scientific proof that it does, so they're not allowed to claim it. (For laughs, call the consumer information desk of your favourite cream and ask for the test reports about what they're allegedly claiming in the ads...)

Having said that, if putting something on your skin makes you feel good, fysically or psychologically, by all means go ahead. Just don't fall into the marketing trap they've set for you, that you absolutely cannot do without a day cream, a separate night cream, a separate face cream, a separate hand cream and whatnot. As SouBE does: Nivea Light for everything.

[SouBE]

Well, my dear old mum who's 74 has used Nivea all her life and if I look as good as her at 74 i'd be chuffed to nuts!

[cabingal]

:) Ha ha yes but have u seen the awful wrinkly skin that people in hot countries have - (if they expose themselves to too much sun!!!) I like Nivea soft. Good all rounder! The people who say "ooh but it doesn't stop wrinkles" make me laugh - we KNOW that - we just want to improve the apperance of them!!! I love my products! But then they are my only vice so why not!!!

[Bushfiva]

Nivea Assist Water, which may or may not only be available in Japan, seems to be a pretty good one-bottle-rubs-on-everything answer. Japan and Hong Kong both seem to sell products that are way lighter than their North European counterparts.

[hajjie]

Thanks guys...finally some useful suggestions rather than the earlier dermatologist ranting :ok:

[BackPacker]

I really did wind you up, didn't I? :-)

When I'm not flying or working to pay for the flying, I really am a backpacker. And when you do that long enough, you realise that everything you leave at home, counts. To the point where personal hygiene stuff, and even spare clothes are minimized. I know guys who will take a hacksaw and saw about 1/3 off the length of their toothbrush, under the assumption that if they can reduce the weight of every individual piece of equipment by 1/3, they've saved 33% weight overall.

So when I saw the title "travelling light" I really could not resist...

But to be honest, when backpacking, good looks and smells really don't count. But if cabin crew would look and smell just as bad as we do after having walked the bush for five days, I'd probably never fly that airline again.

So take what I said with a big grain of salt, and go get that Nivea Assist!

[BA-FLY]

There is some great skincare you can find which is easy to use and not so expensive , i use to work for estee lauder so that can be a wee bit pricey but If you want something to moisturise hands and body then palmers coco formula is great and smells yummy! or just stocking up on loads of little samples from clinique , clarins and estee lauder.

[Virginia]

Just go and ask for loads of mini samples from beauty counters!

[ShesGreatintheGalley]

i am a pro at packing light.. i can pack for three weeks in a domestic size roll-a-board!
purchase the small bottles from the body shop empty and refill with a cleanser, shampoo and conditioner. Body Shop sell them empty, or you can buy others simmilar size which are readily available.use soap in hotels.. dont bother packing bodywash/soap unless you cant use soap on your skin, in which case pack a small bottle of sanex/simmilar.
the gift with purchase packs at department stores normally have small pots in them of moisturiser, i refill mine into one of these (a small lancome pot). or buy your moisturise in the smallest size tube avail and keep it in your bag for overnight use only.
pack only minimal hoisery/underwear/socks/bras and wash out in sink with shampoo which is very simmilar to laundry liquid except with more fragrance. smalls like that dry easily overnight or with hotel hairdryer if pushed for time
cut your makeup down to size by using lots of the gift with purchase samples, esp for bigger items like mascara, eyeshadow and pencils etc. pack only a small travel size brush and use the hotel hairdryers.

other than a cleanser, moisturiser, shampoo & conditioner, and basic makeup, the only other stuff you might need are some cotton pads (to help remove makeup), a small bottle of bio oil or baby mineral oil will double as an eyemakeup remover, intensive face moisturiser (if very dry) and good for cuticles and feet before bed. a small travel size can of hairspray, and an all purpose balm ( i like smiths rosebud salve or 8 hr cream) will do everything else.