100ml Essentials
A curated dopp kit for travel
After a warm shower, whilst my pores have opened up, I shave with a unique aloe shave gel formulation by Clinique. It lathers brilliantly, soothes, and minimises razor burn. Unlike cheaper brands, it doesn't clump up when I'm shaving and is a daily essential I can't recommend enough. Thereafter, I moisturise with face lotion from Le Labo. It's slightly on the thicker side of moisturisers but it keeps my combination skin hydrated throughout colder days. For warmer climates, I would opt for a UV Defense SPF 50 Facial Sunscreen by Kiehls.
Lastly I finish my moisturising routine on my neck, arms and legs with a light body lotion from Acqua di Parma (alternatively, I sometimes use the thicker Rind body balm by Aēsop from the travel kit on colder dry days). I fix my hair with matte paste from Kevin Murphy, spritz on Santal 33 by Le Labo on the neck and I'm good to go.
Above, from left to right: Santal 33 eau de parfum by Le Labo (15ml); Night Rider hair paste by Kevin Murphy (100ml); Mint flavoured toothpaste by Marvis (75ml); Tann toothbrush by HAY; Face lotion by Le Labo (60ml); Parsley Seed facial cleanser by Aēsop (100ml); Travel shave gel by Clinique (41ml); Special edition razor by Gillette; Colonia body lotion by Acqua di Parma (75 ml); Anti-blemish gel by Aēsop (9 ml).
Evening: Before bed, I’m an advocate of washing my face with the Parsley Seed cleanser again to rid the accumulated sweat and grime after a long day out. Afterwards, a great regenerative treat is the Blue Chamomile facial hydrating masque by Aēsop. I typically leave this on for 15-20 minutes after cleansing and during which, I brush my teeth before bed. Wash off the masque and moisturise afterwards (optionally you can use a serum instead for night routines). Lastly, apply blemish control by Aēsop to tackle any problematic areas. I suggest doing this at night because blemish control typically has a higher sheen when applied which may draw more attention to said area than it already needs.
To help carry all my essentials is a leather dopp kit (aka toiletries / wash bag) from Common Projects. My love for their classic achilles sneakers convinced me that you can never go wrong with investing in a bit of hand crafted Italian leather. To this date, I continue to be a big fan of their leather goods and would recommend them time and time again. To summarise, I would suggest keeping your grooming habits relatively short and poignant, don’t overpack and moisturise accordingly to the weather.
Above, from left to right: Parsley Seed facial cleanser by Aēsop (100 ml); Travel kit (50 ml each) and Blue Chamomile facial hydrating masque by Aēsop (60 ml); Bergamote 22 soap by Le Labo; Leather dopp kit by Common Projects.