Yogademia Essentials: Travel-friendly Bath and Beauty

Alternate post title:
Thwart the Terrorists and the TSA: How to Live Out of Carryon Luggage for Two Weeks Under the TSA's 3-1-1 rule, and Look Good While Doing So.

Warning: Girly Post Alert! Girly Post Alert! The management hereby disclaims any responsibility for male brains that may be fried by reading about beauty products and girly tips.

Traveling is a whole lot less fun than it used to be. You're squished into sardine class with no snacks, your feet are STILL cold from taking your shoes off at security, and if you checked your bags, you never actually know if they will arrive with you or end up in Azerbaijan. But no matter what color the threat level is these days, you do not have to go without your regular beauty potions while traveling under the 3-1-1 rule. There are plenty of good options for non-liquid toiletries and cosmetics out there at this point - even good enough to use at home on a regular basis. Everything I've listed below I have personally tested, zipped into plastic bags, schlepped through airports, and stuffed into suitcases.

*The five key words to remember: solid, sample, packet, powder and pre-moistened.

*The only rule you have to follow: never bring full-size of anything that is liquid, cream or gel, unless the container is 1oz. or smaller. Even then, decide if you will actually use a whole ounce of your eye-depuffing gel over, or just need a small squeeze in a tiny pot.

*Always be sure to pack lip balm, hand cream, face moisturizer, and moisturizing eyedrops. Just put them in the bag and leave them there.

*If you're a Burt's Bees fan, then you already know that the little kits are great. Be sure to re-use the bottles whenever possible!

*Don't bring a bottle of eye-makeup remover and cotton pads; bring pre-moistened pads instead. Same goes for nail polish remover.

*Raid the sample aisle at the drugstore for tiny sizes of toothpaste, deodorant and hairspray. With the exception of these things, don't go out and buy a smaller size of something if you already have the bigger size. Spend the $10 instead on a kit of the tiny jars, tubes, and bottles that can be washed and reused with the products you already know and love.

*Don't forget what you brought! Take a little sticky note (flag size) or a tiny square of paper, write the name of the product on it, and "laminate" it onto the container with pieces of clear scotch tape. Keeps the water off the label, and easy to remove if you change the product, too!

*Lush solid shampoo and conditioner are a great way to save space in your one-quart plastic bag. Try the jasmine-scented, softening Godiva or the anise-scented Hybrid, which has extra cocoa butter for conditioning. But do also check out the solid conditioner, Jungle, which smells amazing. My sister-in-law was shocked to see it was a solid because, in her words, "it made the bathroom smell like a salon." But a little goes a long way, and try mashing up a bit in your hands then working it through the ends of your hair rather than rubbing the bar on your head, else it might weigh your hair down. If you're a Burt's Bees fan, they also make a nice Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar, but it seems to work best on oily hair.

*Find a solid facial soap or cleansing cloth that works for you. Try Burt's Bees range of soaps for different skin types, Clinique's soap offerings (in a travel size, too!), and Olay Daily Facials.

*Ask for samples of your favorite products at the physical stores (not the websites) for Sephora, Lush, Origins, cosmetic counters, etc. But these three places are especially good about giving samples if you ask for them. That way you have the blister packs or the tiny containers, and you can always refill the tiny containers. Plus, it's a fun way of trying new products for free.

*Ask if your favorite perfume comes in a rollerball container, or ask for a sample size. The Body Shop will also often have sample vials of their cologne available - right now they're also promoting their new White Musk for Men with their trademark synthetic musk, and are giving away sample vials of it alongside the traditional women's version. (Nice marketing, huh? Girl goes in, sees White Musk sample, finds guy version of White Musk, convinces guy to buy...)

*Ditch the liquid foundation in favor of mineral makeup. Not only is it TSA friendly, but it always has SPF, and looks like you're not actually wearing makeup - plus, it doesn't sweat off in yoga the same way regular foundation does. There's a wide range for every budget available now, from Target-favorite Physician's Formula all the way to Bare Minerals. (Note: Physicians Formula has recently come out with an organic line of makeup. If anyone has tried it, let me know!)

*Again, the five key words to remember are: Solid, Sample, Packet, Powder and Pre-moistened. Suddenly you're not left using Marriott body lotion on your face and getting a breakout, ending up with frizzy, flyaway hair from Holiday Inn shampoo or going without your perfume because it was confiscated at security. Go, baby, go, and look fabulous while you're at it!