I love to travel, but I don’t always love what it does to my skin, hair, or energy. One late flight or a hotel bathroom with lighting better suited for ghost stories is all it takes to throw my routine off track. At this point, I’ve lost the patience and the upper body strength to haul around a beauty bag full of “just in case” products. These are the travel beauty tips for women over 50 that I’ve come to trust. They’re simple, practical, and help me feel like myself…just in a different place, with fewer decisions and a much lighter makeup bag.
7 Travel Beauty Tips for Women Over 50
1. Simplify Your Travel Makeup Routine
When you’re living out of a suitcase, your beauty routine should feel easy and familiar, and a few multitaskers go a long way. That doesn’t mean skipping makeup altogether, but it does mean choosing products that do more than one thing and make you feel polished with minimal effort.
Here’s what’s usually in my travel makeup bag:
I never leave home without my LED travel mirror. Mine suctions to windows or mirrors and has 10X magnification. It’s helped me apply mascara in dim hotel lighting more times than I can count. The only downside? I’ve accidentally left a few stuck to hotel windows… but they’re easy to replace. This is also so superior for eyebrow shaping that I leave it stuck on my window at home.
If your makeup bag could use a refresh, you may enjoy these posts with clean, cruelty-free beauty products that have earned a permanent spot in mine:
2. Don’t Skip Sunscreen—No Matter Where You’re Headed
Sunscreen is the one product I never skip, no matter the weather or the destination. And as my skin has changed over the years, I’ve gotten pickier about formulas.
I always pack:
- A facial sunscreen with SPF 50 that wears well under makeup (mineral formulas are my go-to)
- A lightweight body SPF that doesn’t leave a greasy film
- A powder sunscreen I can dust on mid-day, and it’s especially helpful for the chest, which often gets missed
If you’re unsure how to reapply SPF, here’s how to update your SPF during the day without disturbing your makeup. And if you’ll be outdoors often, add a wide-brimmed hat and your favorite pair of sunglasses for both style and protection.
3. Stay Hydrated—Inside and Out
It doesn’t matter if I’m on a long flight or a short road trip, my skin always feels drier when I travel, so I make hydration a priority.
Here’s what helps:
It may seem basic, but staying hydrated is one of the most overlooked travel beauty tips for women over 50. I also keep lip balm, eye drops, and a rich hand cream within reach, especially during flights. Hydration is also important at home so you may enjoy reading How to Stay Hydrated as we age.
4. Tame Your Hair Without Overpacking
Hair can be tricky on the road, so I always appreciate easy solutions for second-day hair and humid destinations. Hotel shampoos often don’t agree with mine, and not every place has a dryer I’d trust. That said, I no longer travel with a full salon setup. I just bring what I know I’ll use.
- A travel-size flat iron or curling wand is always helpful (dual voltage if going overseas), but I find this heated brush invaluable, and I never leave home without it.
- Dry shampoo to freshen up between washes and every day for the added body.
- A small brush and a wide-tooth comb
- My hair never frizzes, but if yours does, I recommend an anti-frizz serum
And sometimes, I just pop on a wide-brimmed hat and let it go. That counts as a beauty tip…doesn’t it? You may also enjoy How to Pack a Hat In a Carry-on Without Crushing It
5. Adjust Your Products for the Climate
What works in my everyday routine at home doesn’t always hold up in different weather. Dry mountain air? I reach for richer moisturizers and even a facial oil. Beach vacation? I swap in lightweight gel formulas and go easy on heavy makeup. I don’t reinvent my routine, but I do tweak it. That might mean adding a hydrating mask for long-haul flights or switching to oil-free sunscreen if I’m headed somewhere hot. Let the weather guide you because it saves space and hassle.
6. Prioritize Sleep: It’s the Best Beauty Fix
Late nights, early wake-ups, jet lag… oh joy! Sleep is usually the first thing to go when we travel, and it shows on your face when you don’t get it. Unfortunately, it’s also the thing that most impacts how we look and feel.
Here are a few tools I use at home and don’t travel without:
- A comfortable eye mask- this one is amazingly comfy and blocks all light
- Earplugs or noise-canceling headphones
- A supplement like magnesium or a calming tea blend- I take Magnesium every night
When I sleep well, I notice the difference…my skin looks brighter, my eyes are less puffy, and I feel less grumpy, so it’s worth every effort I make to get my sleep.
7. Don’t Forget the Little Things
It’s always the little things that save the day when traveling. These are the often-forgotten items that take up barely any room but help me feel a little more human when I’m away from home.
- Lip balm and cuticle oil
- Polish remover wipes (in case of chips)
- Travel-size hand cream
- Deodorant wipes
- I never travel without hand sanitizer spray or my favorite wipes.
- Lens wipes (because dirty glasses drive me crazy)
- These TSA-Approved Containers have made traveling with my favorite products so much easier. I use them for shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and decant a few of my go-to skincare items, like my Purito Essence. They take up very little space and help me avoid relying on hotel products that may not work for my skin or hair.
If your glasses get smudged or your hands feel dry and tired from a long flight, these little items can give you a surprising boost. I keep most of them in a small pouch I toss in my carry-on.
Before your next trip, take a moment to look at what’s in your beauty bag. Are you bringing what you’ll actually use? Is it serving the woman you are now or the one who used to pack for every possible scenario, like I did? Stick with products that feel easy, familiar, and effective. Edit out the extras and if something’s never once made it out of your suitcase, consider that your sign.
If you need to add any of my favorites to your travel beauty arsenal, I’ve linked them below so it’s easier for you to shop them:
What’s one beauty item that always earns a spot in your travel bag?