Hola Chicas!
Kelsey's Travel Tips & Tricks
Spain Edition
I am still glowing from my first post-pandemic European Holiday with my best friend to Spain. We spent 9 blissful days between Barcelona, and the islands of Mallorca and Ibiza. The weather was perfect, the food was divine and the energy was magnetic. It was refreshing to get away for an extended amount of time, but the planning and preparation was quite different from a long weekend away to Napa or Mexico that I had grown accustomed to over the last couple of years.
With that, It felt timely to share some of my favorite travel friendly products and supplements, as well as insider tips I’ve accumulated over the years that make vacationing a bit more easeful. We hope you enjoy, and feel free to share some of your favorite travel tips in the comments!
SKINCARE
Since I knew I would be spending a lot of time in the sun and that the weather was going to be hot and humid in Spain I made sure to bring products that were packed with antioxidants, would keep my skin barrier strong and hydrated, and that were not too heavy or would clog my pores.
Ranavat Royal Tonique Hydrating Jasmine Mist
This is a luxe, non-irritating, hydrating mist that smells absolutely divine. I spray it on straight out of the shower and between serum, oil, and moisturizer applications for better product absorption. I also love to pack it in my beach tote to spritz on for added moisture and freshness throughout the day.
Marie Veronique Vitamin C + E + Ferulic Acid Serum
This serum is rich in antioxidants and helps provide sun protection by acting as a boost to your daily sunscreen (huge plus and reason why I packed it for Spain) while also working to neutralize free radicals. It is great for both am and pm applications and provides a dewy glow.
This serum has Holy Grail status in my medicine cabinet. It’s packed with 18 different types of Hyaluronic Acid, super charged antioxidants, and specialized marine algae – just to name a few. It’s ultra lightweight, layers well with other products and gives the best natural glow. It was a no brainer to pack this!
EleVen by Venus Williams Unrivaled Sun Serum SPF 35
This new line by Venus Williams is getting a lot of hype, for good reason. This sunscreen serum is lightweight and great for all skin types and tones. I am not the best when it comes to habitual sunscreen application, but this one paired well with the rest of my skincare and doesn’t have that typical “sunscreen” feel.
MWL Tip: If you are a regular retinol user, give your retinol a break when you travel, especially if you are going somewhere where you will be exposed to the sun more than normal. I took a break from my retinol routine a week before I left and focused on hydration and skin tone and texture.
When it comes to sunscreen, be sure to extend your application down to your neck and decolletage. We easily forget about these areas and they get just as much, or even more sun exposure, as you face. Extending your regular skincare down to these areas, especially as we age, is super beneficial as well.
SUPPLEMENTS
For me personally, digestion is the biggest bane in my existence when I travel. The time change, new foods and not being on my normal routine throw me totally off kilter. I tend to streamline my typical daily supplement protocol when I travel, and focus on only packing products that help with digestion, immune response and physical recovery.
The last thing I wanted was to feel constantly bloated or get sick while I was out trying to live my best Catalonian life!
The Nue Co. Prebiotic + Probiotic
I have been an avid pro-biotic consumer for the last 10+ years. These have been game changing for my gut health! PREBIOTIC + PROBIOTIC delivers 15 billion spores per dose to reinforce the good bacteria in your gut and support the microbiome. When I travel I typically double my dose and take a serving in the morning and before I go to bed, both on an empty stomach.
I take these right before a big meal; allways before dinner, and when I travel I also make sure to incorporate a second dose either at lunch or right before bed. Debloat+ helps calm chronic bloating, gas and aids with digestion with a fast acting blend of digestive enzymes and Ayurvedic herbs. It’s ideal for travel and when eating foods you don’t normally eat.
Pre-pandemic, immune support while traveling was important, but now more than ever it is imperative to incorporate it into your supplement regimen. SuperPower is a clinical blend of liposomal vitamin C and D, beta-glucan, and zinc to help ward off external stressors and keep your immune system strong. 3 per day to keep the Vid away! 😉
HigherDose High-Dration Powder
If you plan to be in the sun and consume your favorite cocktails while on vacation (my drink of choice in Spain was Nordes Gin & Tonic), replenishing electrolytes is key. HigherDose just launched a new line of ingestibles, all with a common thread of magnesium supplementation for recovery. I was immediately enticed by their High-Dration Powder with its unique blend of magnesium and marine algae minerals combined with the ultra-hydrating duo of watermelon and coconut powders. It was ideal for this trip because each dose came prepackaged and was super easy to add into a bottle of water every morning to make sure I was sufficiently hydrated for the day.
MWL Tip: If you suffer from poor digestion and bloating when you travel, like me, I also highly recommend incorporating a bit of self massage for digestion. There are quite a few articles and YouTube videos you can look up on this, but ideally you want to put a little bit of oil or lotion on your hands and gently massage your belly in a clockwise direction. This was a game changer for me in Spain and I will definitely be incorporating it into my regular travel routine for future trips.
Lastly, separate and pre-pack all your supplements in small reusable bags or containers in order to save space in your luggage. I usually label each bag and pull the exact amount I need in order to be efficient with space.
MOVEMENT & SELF-CARE
To be fully transparent, I am not a big fan of working out while I am on vacation. Don’t get me wrong, I love to be active and typically do a lot of walking on my trips, but because of my profession, it is good for me to fully take a break from the studio and gym environment. Stretching, though, is key, especially when traveling. I try to at least do 5-10 minutes of restorative stretches at night. I will often do this whole routine from my bed with a focus on slow connected breathing with low back and hip mobility stretches. There isn’t a specific sequence I follow, but I move my body in a way that feels good and in all ranges of motion (rotation, extension and flexion). I also always pack small release balls to roll out my feet after walking long distances or release my low back when I’ve been sitting on a plane for hours on end.
I do, though, try to indulge in at least one spa experience when I travel. I feel like it’s a great way to cap a trip off and head home fully relaxed and ready to jump back into the real world. This trip we managed to sneak it in right in the middle of our stay at our hotel in Mallorca. Our boutique hotel, formerly a Convent, had a very intimate underground spa that felt like a beautifully candlelit dungeon – a whole vibe in itself – and reserved for only one party at a time. We spent our last afternoon in the infrared sauna, cold plunging, lounging on daybeds and eating the most delicious local fruits. It was a perfect mid-trip treat that I am so thankful we got to experience.
MWL Tip: In general, be cautious in trying new products or supplements when you travel internationally for an extended period of time. I luckily avoided a major snafu by trying out a new hair product a couple weeks before heading to Spain. I had been on the search for an air dry product that would give me a smooth, natural texture without having to use a blow dryer or heat. I tried a product that had been recommended to me by my stylist and I ended up having an allergic reaction that gave me a bad case of dermatitis all over my upper back right where my hair naturally falls. I am so thankful I tested it out beforehand, it would have been slightly embarrassing and painful to have this happen while I was away. The key is to streamline and stick to what you know what works best for you and your body.
I also highly recommend investing in a good quality toiletry bag, it makes a huge difference in the organization of products when traveling. It’s something that I keep prepped at all times. Depending on where I am going and for how long, I will edit what is already in there, but it’s typically always packed with my travel sized staples.
