Travel Essentials

I don’t know about you, but there are few pleasures in life greater than the moment you step off your flight. I
t may be because you’re eager to get where you’re going or that you packed the improper travel essentials.
For the purposes of this article, we’re going to work with the latter!

So just what does the perfect travel kit contain?
I guess that depends on your travel and lifestyle profile. Are you a Type-A hyper achiever needing to hit the ground running, believing that the world may stop spinning if you don’t? Or the fearful flyer just happy to land on, rather than hit, terra firm?
I’m neither, not any longer anyway, so I’m going to share with you what a blissed out modern hippie with a head for business and a bod built for Shirshasana (that’s headstand to you non-yoginis) neatly folds into her plastic baggy and on-board Marc Jacobs tote.

Beauty things

There’s no point in jumping on the red eye only to arrive looking like you took the red eye.
Here are my favorite products for stepping off the plane looking like one of the Kardashian sisters, minus the questionable fashion choices, “real hair” extensions, and well-fed booty.

Dr. Alkaitis travel kit

“Skincare so pure you can eat it.”
As I don’t eat airplane food, I can confirm that you can in fact eat their products. Oh my, we don’t know each other well yet, you’ll get my sense of humor…
I’ve been a big Alkaitis fan since being introduced to their products by RMS Beauty creator Rose-Marie Swift. People might balk at paying for such simple, raw ingredients – I mean honey, I can pour some sweet almond oil into a glass bottle myself to use as a make up remover thank you very much. But the point is that it’s lovely to be able to buy something so pure off the shelf. Because how many of us have time in this day and age to run around finding organic natural oils and then bottling them from home? Though I’m no longer that Type-A, I still have a life to live. This handy little travel kit features their most popular items.

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Screenface stackable pots

My name is Yasmina Ykelenstam and I’m a beauty junky. All joking aside, if there existed a 12-step beauty addict recovery program, I’d have to sling my non-Kardashian butt in there. Common sense, shoulder sag, and embarrassment as stunned bystanders catch a glimpse of my overflowing Mary Poppins-like beauty tote, finally told me it was time to cut back on the good stuff. But rather than force myself into making a decision between the five or eight luscious lippies I usually carry, I decanted generous helpings of my beauty products into these hardy stackable pots.
I was a huge fan of Screenface back in the day, but I tend to go for organic make up nowadays. I make sure to snag a couple every time I’m in Notting Hill but you can order them online in the states .

Perfect for brightening up tired eyes and less than rosy cheeks, these fruit and vegetable pigment derived colors impart a chic glow, perfect for that post baggage reclaim encounter with Mr. Hot Stuff (or his chauffeur – you lucky gal!).

100%Pure Naked Travel Palette

One of my favorite innovative, organic make up brands on the market, 100% Pure, has thoughtfully combined some of their hottest neutral shades into one hand travel compact.
Perfect for brightening up tired eyes and less than rosy cheeks, these fruit and vegetable pigment derived colors impart a chic glow, perfect for that post baggage reclaim encounter with Mr. Hot Stuff (or his chauffeur – you lucky gal!). You can read more about organic beauty products in my post here.

De Mamiel Altitude Oil

This antibacterial and anti-viral heavenly scented oil wards off nasty bugs while reviving the spirits. Dab this lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, pine, patchouli (and more) oil onto a tissue to sniff (like the 18th century bouffant haired courtesan in that super flick you caught with the girls last week), or dab lightly under each nostril. You’ll have arrived before you know it…

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Foodie things

I used to find air travel to be the perfect time for a mini-fast. Nowadays though I’m finding that a little tough on the nerves (or maybe cattle class syndrome is finally kicking in). With that being said, I do look at it as an opportunity to catch up on work rather than stuff my face to pass the hours.

High in vitamin c, this anti-inflammatory fruit can be rehydrated in a cup of water on the plane if you’re feeling dehydration kick in.

Organic dried mango

I never, ever fly without a bag of this stuff. It takes a while to chew, giving your mouth a satisfying work out while passing time. High in vitamin c, this anti-inflammatory fruit can be rehydrated in a cup of water on the plane if you’re feeling dehydration kick in.
It also makes the mango just a little gooey, so you can work it in to a cup of Greek yogurt that can be acquired at most trendy airport snack places nowadays.

Soy-free Extra Virgin Olive Oil Clearspring rice crackers

I’ll fess up – I have actually packed an entire part of a suitcase full of these when traveling to remote locations. Crazy right? But when you’re on the road in third world countries (as I often am), finding clean food can be a problem. These rice crackers travel great and are super satisfying. You can even break them up and toss them into a salad.

I buzz together ginger, turmeric and lime in a Vitamix (you can also juice), to pour into my meager allowance.

Ginger turmeric shot with lime

This should be titled: how to make the most out of your 100ml allowance.
I need my nutrients. Daily. Especially when traveling. I buzz together ginger, turmeric and lime in a Vitamix (you can also juice), to pour into my meager allowance. I don’t recommend this as a shooter, but rather as something you’d dilute with water for a pre-landing pick me up. Goes down far better than that Bloody Mary believe me.

Cherry juice shot

Cherries are one of the only fruits that boost melatonin, the sleep/time zone regulation hormone.¹
I enjoy mine after take off, or upon arrival. I juice ‘em up, or blend, and pour into another of those silly little plastic bottles.

I use it for all of the aforementioned, in other words to be fully functional when stepping off the plane and into meetings without breaking my stride, but also to lower excess histamine which can lead to allergy-like symptoms.

Neuroprotek

Studies show that bioflavonoids like quercetin, commonly found in brightly colored plants and trees, can alleviate exercise induced fatigue and increase endurance. (Find it HERE)
Bioflavonoids have also been proven to alleviate mental fatigue and increase alertness and attention.
I use it for all of the aforementioned, in other words to be fully functional when stepping off the plane and into meetings without breaking my stride, but also to lower excess histamine which can lead to allergy-like symptoms. You can read all about it in my post on the low histamine diet here.

Yasmina would like readers of this article to know that, contrary to her commentary in this blog post, she thinks Kim (like the rest of the Kardashian klan) has a lovely bottom.