Packing: the least fun part of a holiday. It can be stressful (leaving it until the night before) or expensive (paying for extra luggage at the airport). We carefully curate our beauty regime, so when it comes to a weekend or two-week break, we hate to sacrifice our hard work for travel-friendly cheap alternatives.
While we may not be able to organise your pre-getaway schedule, we can do the next best thing. We've rounded up the best skincare travel sets that range from time-out luxury (hello face masks and body oil) to the bare essentials, ideal for backpackers. Wherever you're headed this summer, don't let your skin suffer. Happy packing.
The Beauty Kitchen prides itself on organic and natural skincare, and this Abyssinian Oil set is a delight. It smells amazing, and includes a cleanser, mask, oil, and moisturiser. The packaging is cute, too.
The Beauty Kitchen Abyssinian Oil Skincare Pick Me Ups Kit, £19.99, available at Holland & Barrett.
This Aesop set includes everything from mouthwash and shampoo to its renowned parsley seed skincare. The sleek travel bag it comes in is large enough to hold full-size products, so when you've finished the minis, you can keep it for future holidays.
Aesop London Travel Kit, £50, available at Space.NK
This collection of minis will leave sun-soaked skin rehydrated and glowing. The bag they come in leaves little to be desired (your standard clear plastic case) but the set includes a serum, restoring face mask, cleansing foam and day cream, so you can focus on making your visage poolside peachy.
Bliss Triple Oxygen Travel Essentials, £39.50, available at ASOS
Clarins brings you pint-sized versions of three of its cult classics: the Gentle Foaming Cleanser, Toning Lotion, and Instant Eye Makeup Remover. Add a moisturiser of your choice, and this set is the best for those who like to keep it simple.
Clarins Cleansing Collection For Normal To Combination Skin, £15, available at Selfridges
Elemis collaborated with British designer Misha Nonoo to produce this cute beauty carry-all. If you haven't tried Elemis' bestsellers – the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream and Frangipani Monoi Body Oil are classics – then you can see if they're worth the hype here. With everything from makeup remover to night cream and body oil, this set is a luxurious addition to your suitcase.
Elemis Luxury Travel Essentials For Her, £62, available at Elemis
You've heard the buzz around Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, so don't be without it come sweaty nights in the Med. We love that the Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion is included in this one – perfect for de-puffing post-flight eyes.
Liz Earle Essentials Try-Me Kit, £24.75, available at Liz Earle
We adore Farmacy's ethos (farm to face beauty), and this travel set is the perfect excuse to try out its bestsellers. The honey potion collection is a particular highlight for brightening and detoxing skin. The packaging is super-chic, too.
Farmacy Skin Savior Kit, £42, available at Cult Beauty
Nuxe products feel and smell like pure luxury, which makes its travel set a real holiday treat. Shower oil, cleansing gel and hand cream will keep your skin feeling smooth and taken care of.
Nuxe Travel Kit, £13.50, available at Look Fantastic
This set is a saviour for those invested in their skincare routine and not wanting to give it up on holiday. Including a pore refiner, perfecting serum, eye cream and oil-free hydrator, your skin will thank you for taking the time to nourish while away.
Perricone MD Pre:Empt Travel Kit, £59, available at Look Fantastic
Another classic brand, another chance to try out the hits if you haven't before. As easy as A, B, C, Clinique's three-step kit includes a cleansing foam, clarifying lotion and its hero, the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Cream.
Clinique 3-Step Introduction Kit Extra Gentle, £20, available at Selfridges
Not only is this collection a bargain (no more rushing around for travel sizes in Boots at Gatwick), but it ticks all of your beauty boxes. Calm stressed sunburnt skin with the Moisturising Sorbet, enjoy a rose-scented shower gel, and use the multipurpose oil on everything from ends of the hair to nail cuticles.
Caudalie Travel Set, £12.50, available at Look Fantastic
Another great set by Elemis, this time with miniature versions of its cult Pro-Collagen range. Who said peachy skin was unattainable?
Elemis 5 Piece Pro Collagen Discovery Collection, £34.98, available at QVC.
Maria Nila's shampoos and conditioners does it all - protects our bleached ends, soothes our over-worked scalps, and leaves our hair silky smooth. Now, you don't need to compromise on haircare when you're away, as the brand have introduced 100ml bottles - ideal of mixing and matching, and staying under your limit on the plane.
Maria Nila Head & Hair Heal Shampoos & Conditioners, £7.99, available at Sally Express.
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