Updated links/couple of brand details in 2024 – and now reminiscing on the fun trip that brought about this blog back in 2018!
I’ve been away since last Tuesday first in LA, then Pennsylvania and now New York. It’s been a mix of working hard on a US project, a conference and catching up with friends and family based here for a bit of downtime in between. If you’ve been on the blog a while now, you’ll know my extensive Low Tox travel tips post – definitely one to file away for a pre-trip read in the future!
This time, though, I thought I’d share what some of my favourite travel products have been like this past year.
The basics for me are eating low carb – like really low carb, except for a few fresh veggies to avoid getting puffy with all the sitting down of air travel. I also don’t drink at all while travelling. I’m not a frequent drinker as it is, but regardless of all the opportunities to drink in airports, lounges and on planes – I never touch the stuff if air travelling. Dehydration, inflammation, poor sleep in an already poor sleep environment… no thanks, right? More than that and you have liver sluggishness, possible sinus issues and dehydration and you don’t need anything to make flying more exhausting. Water, water, water.
So here, in no particular order, is my list of my current favourite low tox travel loves. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
- Weleda Arnica – A homoeopathic remedy that no French family would be without. It’s almost like a chorus when someone bumps themselves “Va chercher l’arnica!!” – (go find the arnica!) Arnica supports and relieves inflammation, bumps, bruises and swelling and is a great lymphatic support – I used to wear compression socks while travelling and still come out with cankles after 13 hours long-haul but now, no issues if I take arnica along my journey every few hours – obviously, if you’ve been prescribed compression stockings for whatever reason by a doctor, please do not just stop because you have arnica – Mine weren’t prescribed, just felt better, but staying low carb and taking arnica I find a very helpful anti-inflammatory protocol while travelling and excessively sedentary. I also do a few squats in the little back corridor every 2-3 hours to get blood flow happening regularly. You could also get the Arnica cream and give yourself an ankle and foot rub every 3-4 hours on the plane! Both are great, just depends which one you prefer – Being French and totally sold on arnica: naturally, I do both! 😉
- Olive leaf extract – A powerful antioxidant and immune booster, Olive Leaf extract is traditionally used in Western herbal Medicine as a natural immune booster. I love taking it as an insurance policy of sorts, and I think it actually somehow helps with jetlag because the past 2 international trips I’ve used it, and I’ve hardly had it. My friend Mel has cited a similar story recently too!
- Magnesium Spray or roll on – I like the roll on because it’s under 100ml and great for international travel. Magnesium deficiency is rife and if you have a dodgy tummy, sometimes it won’t be well absorbed, so transdermal (through the skin) is where it’s at. A spray on pressure points – wrists, back of neck, back of knees, is where you’ll get the fastest uptake. It relaxes and energises at the same time, so it really helps with the ‘scatty feelings’ vibe of travelling and settling in.
- A good mascara – if you’re US-based, w3ll people is awesome, and you can get that one from Credo online. BIOME in AUSTRALIA has a great natural brown mascara. The Eco Minerals black mascara is awesome, too!
- Organic Australian Rosehip oil roll– a wonderful, light and simple oil for all-weather situations. You can add a drop of your favourite essential oil into your dose before using – stay away from citrus oils on the face if you’re going in the sun though. I like a drop of vetiver, myrrh or frankincense in mine.
- Weleda Skin Food – This thick, unctuous cream is 90 years old and still strong. It is a godsend for many reasons and many a people I’ve introduced it to. There’s no dry skin it can’t sort out. It’s healing, restorative, shielding. It does it all, and with a 30ml travel size for travelling, it’s a little pocket rocket of awesome that I would never travel without. Weird dry knees (why do I get dry knees on the plane!? I mean, knees? Random)
- Black Chicken hydrating face mist – So many face mists are too drying, but this is moisturising, refreshing, and complexion brightening all in one because of the delicate balance of oils in the mix.
- Mini Dr Bronner soap bottle – that does everything from hand wash to dress spot treatment to dishes and cups in hotel, to shower gel to hand soap… Just so handy and just $12.95 and one ‘cleanser’ to carry for all those things instead of !
- A few fave travel essential oils. Vetiver (calming nerves on plane), Rosemary (work focus when time is limited at the computer), Peppermint (energy pick me up and jet lag shake-off), You can use whatever you fancy by way of oils. I use the Young Living range who commit to owning many of their farms to be able to offer a high level of transparency, and I love Twenty8 and Springfields as well – both excellent Aussie companies with strong ethics and quality assurance.
- Dr Bronner Lavender hand sanitiser. I don’t use weird soaps without ingredient lists and with weird smells in hotels, airports, restaurants. I squirt my hand sanitiser and rinse with water. It’s super gentle on hands and missing all the weird stuff of many hand sanitisers like Triclosan or petroleum based ingredients. Job done. Au naturel!
So enjoy exploring those items if you want to have a bit of a travel collection going. To be sure this isn’t my complete list as it’s missing deodorant, the one I use is THIS ONE and a few other bits, but as the 10 staples I’ve been working with this past couple of international flights, I thought I’d share as they’re really working for me and leaving me feeling little to no jet lag!
Oh and get yourself a good eye mask – the ones from Block BLue Light here are just brilliant. I feel I need one as a city living gal but you definitely need one for travel. Ok, definitely done now!
Low Tox. Happy People. Happy Planet
Disclaimer: Nothing in this post or site is to be treated as medical advice. Please discuss any changes to medication or additional supplements with your practitioner or a naturopath to be sure it’s right for you. Sometimes I will use affiliate links. This means a small portion of any sales through my site to the affiliate site, give me a small commission. Rest assured I am the strictest lady around when it comes to saying I like a product. I have always bought them myself and always tried them for a couple of weeks at least to be absolutely sure of my recommendations. I want the best for you.
