Travels well

"Now’s a great time to travel." Yes, I say that about every time of year. But the dreary long days of winter feel especially good for setting off to warmer or just different surroundings…

"Now’s a great time to travel."

Yes, I say that about every time of year. But the dreary long days of winter feel especially good for setting off to warmer places – or just more exotic surroundings.

Now, I know some people dread packing. I however actually really enjoy packing. It seems to me to be part of the ‘fun of getting there’ process; a visualisation of what I’m going to be doing, and wearing, and seeing and thus what I’ll need to take.

Thus, this ON MY DESK column features travel-sized products that you can pack and go that travel well, to help YOU travel bettter.

Getting this carry on Samsonite bag from the fabulous www.everme.co.nz bag online store inspired this travel shoot…

Everme.co.nz is a new online hand bag store based in Tauranga New Zealand with an incredibly easy-to-navigate ecommerce site and lots of good ways to define searches for what you want. The business is run by two young brothers aiming to provide customers with an up-to-the-minute online store with free delivery within NZ.

This Samsonite bag is super light and a legal carry-on size and has compartments for your laptop, clothes, and bits n bobs inside. It’s available at www.everme.co.nz for $139.99. Alsp pictured above is MOR Cosmetics chic white toilet bag – just the right size for travel-sezed rocusts and makeup for girls on the go, priced around $35. See www.morcosmetics.com for more info.

Below: You NEED an umbrella when travelling. This cute polkadot Ezibuy umbrella is $14.95 or just $5 with the purchase of the new summer weight trenchcoats, which come in plenty of gorgeous colours as well as classic black for $79.99 at www.ezibuy.co.nz

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF85+ retails for $22.99 as no-one wants to be sunburned – especially while travelling – so be sure to have sunscreen applied at all times. The 88ml size is sleek and handy for your purse.

Below: Banks & Co Botanicals are a great local brand from Pacifica Skincare, and made here in New Zealand too. They have a huge range of affordable skincare and these are the ideal size for travelling with. The Cherry Blossom Hand Cream 40ml is a slender tube of rich handcream with botanical natural oils and is paraben-free. The Sweet Pea Hand Sanitiser is especially great to get hands clean anywhere without water or towels. All $7.59 each, from their Hana collection at gift stores. See www.pacificaskincare.co.nz for more info.

Below: In flight necessities. NIVEA Invisible for Black & White Deodorant ($4.89) makes sure your black clothes stay black while travelling. Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturising Lotion is only $4.99 and is a convenient 71ml size, making this lotion the perfect travelling companion to have in your handbag for whenever skin needs a moisture boost. Inecto Pure Coconut Cleansing Facial Wipes actually smell of coconut when you lift the lid.

Handbag essentials: Nivea Sun Protect SPF30 lip balm ($5.19), Banks & Co handcream and hand sanitiser $7.59 each, and this fabulous Clarins powder makeup compact.

Below: I do like one luxury item when travelling, and having a compact foundation over a liquid one definitely has its advantages. For one, you don’t have to touch liquid foundation with your fingers. Another plus for compact foundations is they last and last. They have a matte finish, which is useful to save having to carry around a separate finishing powder. Also, it doesn’t spill anywhere in your luggage and it’s not a liquid to cary on the planes. Clarins do make gorgeous foundations, and this Everlasting Compact Foundation SPF15, pictured in shade 109 Wheat, is a beautiful one – silky and flawless. Available at Clarins counters now.

Below: Natural skincare to go. Skinfood makes this useful travel pack for an extremely reasonable $14.95, including Cleans All, Exfoliating Scrub and Nourishing Moisturiser. They are all paraben-free, and gentle on skin. They are unisex so perfect for everyone to share which saves packing, and you can use it at day or night. See www.skinfood.co.nz for info and where to buy.

Below: No-one wants to use those hotel shampoos. They smell and feel like washing up liquid. Take perfect hair with you – JOICO now makes small but perfectly formed miniatures of its popular products including K-Pak and Color Therapy and the Smooth Cure minis of shampoo, conditioner below, with Joico Power Gel. All $5.99 each at selected salons.

Unilever have this handy Travel Minis For Women pack with Vaseline dry skin conditioning lotion, Rexona Women Cotton Fresh anti-perspirant, Sunsilk Addictive Brilliant Shine shampoo and conditioner, and Radox Oxygen Bodywash. They are $15.30 each at stores everywhere.

For sleeping well I have been taking these GO Healthy GO Cherry Sleep capsules- great for flights or while you adjust to the time difference. For more info and where to buy, see www.gohealthynz.co.nz

Bon voyage!

Megan Robinson, 3 August 2013