What is your makeup routine while travelling? Does it differ from what you practise at home? Is it more minimalist? Do you incorporate makeup-free days, or do you travel without makeup? By leaving your makeup at home or building in some makeup-free days, you may be surprised by what is revealed when you experience these 10 benefits of makeup-free travel.

The pandemic changed several habits

The pandemic deserves a special mention as it relates to makeup.

Many people skipped their regular makeup routines during lockdowns, working from home, or wearing a mask in public places. And they chose to eliminate or reduce their collections of cosmetics going forward.

For some, it wasn’t a question of simply reducing their makeup routine. It led to life-changing discoveries. In the case of blogger Sunday Riley, she writes about how the pandemic taught her to love her makeup-free face.

Others kept their pre-pandemic routines to feel more normal in abnormal circumstances. I recently reconnected with a former colleague who described her routine of preparing to attend church during the pandemic. She would dress in her finest, apply makeup, and participate in a live stream of her church service alone in her living room. Why? It was her way of demonstrating respect for her church by looking her best and connecting with a less complicated life before the pandemic disrupted it.

These stories got me thinking about the various reasons people wear makeup.

Why do people wear makeup?

Applying makeup can be enjoyable and relaxing. It offers a creative outlet by choosing cosmetics to match mood, enhance natural features, obscure a skin condition, or create different looks. It’s an artistic form of self-expression. It can reflect your mood on your face; some days call for the brightest lipsticks, or others for a more minimalist approach to enhance your natural features. It might help you feel more comfortable, confident, and ‘put together.’ For others, it represents a part of their daily routine that helps them feel awake and ready to face the day.

It’s also influenced by external pressures from advertising, bloggers, and social media influencers.

While travelling, wearing makeup helps some people feel and look their best. Preserving travel memories with the help of photographs creates a little extra pressure to look good for the camera.

One traveller’s makeup epiphany

It was in the Facebook group Girls Love Travel that I stumbled across the following post:

Hello, beautiful ladies!!

My boyfriend and I went to Italy in September. I did things differently this time, and I had an epiphany. 

I brought my makeup but didn’t wear it at all, and I’ll tell you why.

It started with a long flight from Phoenix through Chicago and Frankfurt to Naples. The flight was at seven in the morning, and I didn’t want to deal with having to reapply my makeup or worry that my mascara would smear when I wore my eye mask on the plane. So, I didn’t wear any. 

And you know what? Nobody cared. Nobody noticed.

I’m saying this because I saved myself twenty minutes every day by not having to put makeup on and carry it in my purse so I could always touch it up. 

It was quite liberating. Think about yourself and when you look at other people. Do you think someone would be prettier if they had false eyelashes, wore lipstick, or had makeup on? No.

I know we all look at ourselves and think we look better with makeup. I didn’t even think about it after the second day of not wearing it. It wasn’t a priority for me. I was on vacation and wanted to start my day and leave our accommodation to see the country.

My boyfriend never noticed that I wasn’t wearing it. Nobody at the cafés or restaurants noticed, not that they cared or that anyone looked at me for more than a few seconds.

Anyway, it was terrific, not caring if I had any on, and it gave me more room in my purse. 

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t usually leave the house without it on at home, but it was nice to get up in the morning, take a shower, take five minutes to curl my hair and leave. I never felt ugly or out of place. I was just on vacation. 

I’m putting this out there for you who travel a lot and think you must always look like an Instagram model. You don’t.

Enjoy your vacation and don’t worry that you don’t have false eyelashes or eyeliner on. It’s very empowering.

Kathy Danger (reproduced with permission)

Kathy’s revelation attracted many comments. Many agreed that being on vacation presented an opportunity to adjust a makeup routine. In contrast, others weren’t swayed to reduce or eliminate makeup while travelling. And, of course, those who go makeup-free at all times weighed in.

10 Benefits of makeup-free travel

Makeup-free travel and packing light are complementary pieces. If you’re committed to following a regular makeup routine while travelling, that’s OK. Travel is a gift, and it’s important you enjoy it in a way that works for you.

Are you open to experiencing the benefits of makeup-free travel? it’s about more than lightening your luggage but considering the possibilities that going makeup-free might reveal.

1. It’s healthier

Going makeup-free promotes healthier skin and avoids adverse reactions to the chemicals and toxins that clog pores or cause irritation, inflammation, allergies, and breakouts. A makeup-free break allows your skin to recalibrate, naturally rejuvenate, and produce natural oils vital to healthy skin. Think of it as an opportunity for your face to go on its spa retreat.

Skin therapist Robyn McAlpine says, “Makeup ingredients can be quite occlusive and clog and congest our skin. Going a week without adding any extra stress on our cells through makeup that might not be skin-friendly will have your skin beginning to function in a healthy way.”

2. Flights are healthier and more comfortable

Harper’s Bazaar makes a case for a makeup-free flight in Why wearing makeup on flights is bad for your skin. From dehydration to breakouts, a doctor explains why your skin won’t thank you.

During a flight, it’s easier to apply rehydrating products such as a sleeping mask or a facial mist. For example, I love the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater. It’s much more effective when used without makeup.

Also, lubricating eye drops keep eyes moist, help protect them from injury and infection, and decrease symptoms of dry eyes such as burning and itching. It’s most inconvenient if you’re wearing eye makeup and mascara streaks as a result.

Reapplying makeup in a plane’s cramped, unsanitary bathroom isn’t the place to practise skincare. Besides, it’s inconvenient for you and other passengers waiting for access.

Going makeup-free means stepping off the plane, ready for new experiences with a fresh face that’s enjoyed hours of hydration, free from cosmetic constraints.

Do you use a sleep mask while wearing eye makeup? Eyeliner can smudge, and mascara can clump lashes in ways that are difficult to fix.

3. Exposure to fewer bacteria

Bacteria are all around us, and they flourish in creamy and liquid products. They love makeup brushes and sponges, especially those not regularly cleaned. When a makeup brush, sponge, or finger touches your face, you add bacteria to your skin.

Best-after-opening periods of cosmetics are painfully short (like three months for mascara), and many products are kept way beyond expiry dates. These are breeding grounds for bacteria, and viruses can live on lipstick and other products for weeks. For insights, see Are you travelling with expired toiletries? Avoid doing so with these 14 tips.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, “Dirty makeup brushes can cause an infection, such as a fungal infection, E. coli, or a staph infection, which can be very serious.”

4. It saves time

Shopping for the right makeup and cosmetics is time-consuming.

Time is saved to apply makeup, touch up during the day, and remove it at night. Going makeup-free means an earlier, more straightforward start to the day. It eliminates the need to find suitable places to reapply while enjoying the sights. After a long day of travel, it’s one less thing to do before bed and enjoy extra beauty sleep.

5. There’s less mess

Makeup can end up on clothing that can be inconvenient and difficult to remove. Foundation and lipstick stains can be remarkably stubborn.

During a long flight, falling asleep with eyeliner and mascara and then rubbing tired eyes can get messy. What started as a polished look can end up smudged after several hours.You’ll worry less about rubbing your eyes and not looking like a racoon.

When travelling around water, be it rainfall or impromptu swims, there’s less to worry about having makeup run or stress about when there’s an opportunity to reapply.

You can cry, laugh, sweat, or hug others without messing up your makeup or clothing, yours and others.

6. Travel is easier

There’s less to pack and less to carry in a purse or day bag. You won’t need to figure out what makeup needs to go in the ‘liquids bag’ for liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes. It creates more space in your luggage.

Also, it means fewer products that can leak or wreak havoc in a travel bag. Have you ever opened your luggage to find a broken powder compact that has exploded over everything? Or liquid foundation has leaked? It’s not a pretty sight and can be disastrous if valuable electronics are affected.

You’ll likely feel more comfortable in all temperatures, conditions, and activities. Some places are too hot, and makeup isn’t compatible with sweat and water activities. Plus, going makeup-free makes it easier to apply and reapply sunscreen.

It elevates your ability to be spontaneous. A spontaneous dip in the ocean? Hiking to a magnificent waterfall and taking a plunge underneath? Catching a glimpse of sunrise without the whirlwind of getting ready?

It’s easier on relationships. When travelling with others, keeping people waiting can negatively impact interpersonal dynamics. I’ve seen posts in travel forums describing how one person’s makeup routine can significantly impact a relationship because of a delayed start to a day of sightseeing.

It eliminates a learning curve about products, their period after opening and expiry dates, and the necessary skills to create a flawless look.

7. It’s an opportunity to be less visible as a tourist

There are many countries where people don’t have access to makeup, can’t afford it, or their customs don’t allow it. In countries and cultures where light or no makeup is the norm, it’s easier to blend in and enjoy a more authentic and immersive cultural experience by interacting with others in their bare-faced, natural state without standing out.

8. It saves money

Some cosmetics are costly. Most have a short shelf life. Replacing expired products can be expensive.

According to the medical device researcher and manufacturer Comper, the average woman spends over $15,000 on makeup products in a lifetime. Whew! Imagine how many trips $15,000 could fund by going makeup-free!

9. An opportunity to appreciate your natural beauty

In 2011, the first National No Makeup Day was celebrated in the United States. Since then, it has been observed worldwide every year on April 26 to encourage women to go makeup-free. It’s an opportunity for women to challenge society’s beauty standards and appreciate their natural beauty.

In her article, 5 Reasons Why You Should Ditch the Makeup, Ronni Robinson quotes clinical psychologist Aura De Los Santos: “Without makeup, women learn to value themselves for who they are and less for what they have; they create a healthier image of themselves, which is one reason days like ‘No Makeup Day’ can be so empowering. When women identify that their value lies more in who they are than in what they wear and how they look, they change their self-concept and self-esteem, adding healthier values and ideals.”

And you’re not alone. Many celebrities have led or joined the makeup-free movement, including Alicia Keys, Anne Hathaway, Cameron Diaz, and Drew Barrymore. In a Lenny Letter interview, Alicia Keys said, “I don’t want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing.”

Going makeup-free, even occasionally, allows you to appreciate your authentic beauty, your real face with its natural lashes without mascara weighing them down, gorgeous freckles, and laugh lines celebrating your past. Or, to quote Alex Grace in her article, Embracing Makeup-free Days, “There is nothing more liberating than being comfortable in your own skin.”

10. It’s better for the environment

The $48 billion beauty industry has a substantial environmental cost. According to the social justice platform TRVST, packaging amounts to 120 billion units of garbage annually, including plastic, paper, glass, and metals, that ultimately end up in landfills. Also, many products create a demand for natural oil, leading to intensive cultivation that harms natural habitats through deforestation and contaminating soil and water through fertilizer and pesticides. For more information, see Environmental Impact of Cosmetics & Beauty Products.

Opting for makeup-free travel significantly contributes to eco-friendly travel and fewer products cluttering landfills and finding their way into our oceans.

Conclusion

Are you ready to go makeup-free or minimize your makeup routine during your travels? Travelling presents an opportunity to see and experience the world differently, and going makeup-free can make each day feel a little different.  

Distancing yourself from home-based routines can be liberating. Travel is an opportunity to physically and mentally detox from wearing makeup and as a result, you may discover that your skin is healthier and more vibrant than ever.

 

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