Travel Products Style Beauty The 13 Best Moisturizing Skin Care Products for Travel of 2023 LaRoche-Posay Lipikar is our top pick. By Talia Ergas Talia Ergas Instagram Website Talia Ergas is a writer and editor covering style, beauty, home, food and drinks, wellness, entertainment, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 13, 2023 Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Tips for Buying FAQ Why Trust T+L We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Travel + Leisure / Kristin Kempa Travel can be tough on your skin – especially if you deal with dry skin. Red-eye flights, new climates, and lots of time spent outdoors all increase your risk for tired and puffy eyes, parched skin and hands, cracked lips, and dangerous sunburns. Therefore, it’s important to load up on moisturizing skin care products when you’re on the go to keep your epidermis hydrated and protected. When shopping for hydrating products, “look for ingredients that both add moisturizing factors to your skin like ceramides, oils, hyaluronic acid, glycerin,” advises Dr. Nava Greenfield, a board-certified dermatologist, “and also ingredients that lock in the moisture applied.” To help you pack the best nourishing products to keep your skin happy on your next adventure, we consulted two dermatologists and used our own travel experiences to create this list of the best products on the market today. If you only bring one product, the one we recommend most is LaRoche-Posay Lipikar because the rich moisturizer can be used on your face, hands, and body, therefore cutting down on the products you need to bring. But if you’re looking to round out your cosmetics case with more essentials like sunscreen, lip balm, and serums, read on. Our list reveals the very best moisturizing skin care products in every category. Our Top Picks Best Overall: La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+M Triple Repair Body Cream at Amazon Jump to Review Best Moisturizer: Bliss Mighty Biome Pre/Post Biotics + Barrier Aid Ultra-Hydrating Moisturizer Concentrate at Amazon Jump to Review Best Moisturizer with SPF: Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Moisturizer at Fentybeauty.com Jump to Review Best Serum: Caudalie Vinosource-Hydra SOS Deep Hydration Serum at Nordstrom Jump to Review Best Cleanser: REN Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk at Renskincare.com Jump to Review Best Eye Cream: CeraVe Eye Repair Cream at Amazon Jump to Review Best Lip Balm: Aquaphor Lip Protectant & Ointment at Amazon Jump to Review Best Hand Cream: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream at Amazon Jump to Review Best Face Mist: COOLA Organic Refreshing Water Mist Face Moisturizer With SPF 18 at Nordstrom Jump to Review Best Face Mask: Dr. Jart+ Dermask Water Jet Vital Hydra Solution at Walmart Jump to Review Best Overall La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+M Triple Repair Moisturizing Body Cream 4.8 Amazon View On Amazon View On Target View On Ulta Why We Love It The budget-friendly hydrating cream can be used on your face and body. What to Consider You’ll want to pair this with sunscreen if you're spending time outdoors. This face and body cream is a dermatologist favorite for good reason. It is “extremely moisturizing” thanks to the tried-and-true ingredients shea butter and glycerin, which “help lock moisture into the skin,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Carmen Castilla. It also has niacinamide, which can help calm flushing and redness. Although it’s rich in texture, it has a non-greasy and non-sticky finish. The fact that you can slather this moisturizer on anywhere is a big benefit for travel since it helps minimize the amount of items you’ll need to pack. The fragrance-free product is non-comedogenic and safe for sensitive and eczema-prone skin in adults and children — so one bottle can serve the entire family. It comes in a 2.5-ounce size that’s TSA approved for carry-ons (we recommend reapplying mid-flight); or you can load up on a larger version and toss it in your checked bag. Price at time of publish: $10 The Details: 2.5 ounces, 6.7 ounces, 13.5 ounces | Shea butter and glycerin | Face and body cream Best Moisturizer Bliss Mighty Biome Pre/Post Biotics + Barrier Aid Ultra-Hydrating Moisturizer Concentrate Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Blissworld.com Why We Love It This unique moisturizer hydrates like a mask, yet feels weightless like a cream. What to Consider Some people will prefer a thicker consistency. This small but mighty product does a lot of work to keep your skin looking and feeling its best. It has prebiotics, which attract water to the top layers of skin, and postbiotics, which help stimulate skin renewal and reinforce the skin's barrier. Antioxidants help smooth and brighten the skin while protecting from free radicals and environmental stressors. Plus, ceramide NP and plant-based squalane further prevent water loss from the skin. It can be used morning and night on your face and body. Price at time of publish: $25 The Details: 2 ounces | Ceramide NP and squalane | Moisturizer Best Moisturizer with SPF Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen 4.2 Sephora View On Fentybeauty.com View On Kohls.com View On Sephora Why We Love It The moisturizer doubles as a primer. What to Consider People with very dry skin may prefer a thicker-consistency product. For your daytime moisturizer, consider a product that already contains sun protection so you don’t have to layer over another sunscreen. The Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor is a fan favorite from Rihanna’s skin care line because it’s lightweight, yet delivers intense hydration thanks to a kalahari melon, hyaluronic acid, and aloe-based formula. It also contains niacinamide, which fights shine and reduces the look of pores and dark spots. The original formula features a light desert melon scent, but it’s also available in a fragrance-free option, which is recommended for people with sensitive skin. A mini, travel-friendly size is available as well as refill tubes for the 1.7-ounce full size container. Price at time of publish: $39 The Details: 1.7 ounces or 1 ounce | Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and aloe | Moisturizer The 12 Best Travel-sized Skincare Sets of 2023 Best Serum Caudalie Vinosource-Hydra SOS Deep Hydration Serum Sephora View On Nordstrom View On Caudalie.com View On Sephora Why We Love It The lightweight, water-based serum provides an added boost of hydration to sensitive skin. What to Consider It’s pricey. If your skin tends to get especially parched, consider layering a hydrating serum underneath your moisturizer. This one, by Caudalie, contains hyaluronic acid, which is an ingredient Dr. Castilla recommends because it’s “naturally occurring in skin” and “helps draw water into the skin.” It’s also packed with organic grape water, which moisturizes and soothes dry skin and nourishes the skin’s microbiome, and antioxidants. The oil-free serum can be used on any skin type, but it’s especially good for sensitive skin. It’s lightweight and water-based, which means it won’t make your skin feel sticky if you use it in hotter climates. Price at time of publish: $52 The Details: 1 ounce | Hyaluronic acid | Serum Best Cleanser REN Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk Sephora View On Renskincare.com View On Sephora View On Spacenk.com Why We Love It The milky cleanser feels calming after long days in the sun. What to Consider If you’re wearing makeup, you may need a separate remover product. Dr. Greenfield loves this product as a travel companion because it’s “great for after a day of sun when your skin becomes very dry.” It works to calm itchy, tight, red skin with a nourishing and soothing formula including black currant seed oil and glycerin, and restores vital hydration. Furthermore, the cleanser has fennel seed extract to protect the skin from free radicals and external aggressors. It’s packaged in a recyclable container and comes in two sizes, the smaller of which is carry-on friendly. Price at time of publish: $38 The Details: 5.1 ounces and 1.7 ounces | Vitamin E and glycerin | Cleanser Best Eye Cream CeraVe Eye Repair Cream Target View On Amazon View On Walmart View On CVS Why We Love It It’s budget-friendly, travel-sized, and super hydrating. What to Consider Some users report a slightly greasy feeling. There’s a reason the drugstore brand CeraVe is beloved by dermatologists and shoppers alike. Despite its budget-friendly price tags, the brand delivers products with quality, derm-approved ingredients. This eye cream is one of our favorites from the label because it contains ceramides, which restore skin and maintain its natural protective barrier, and hyaluronic acid, which helps prevent water loss and locks in moisture. The 0.5-ounce size makes it a perfect travel companion. We recommend tossing the fragrance-free tube in your carry-on and reapplying it mid-flight when your delicate eye skin starts to feel dry. Price at time of publish: $20 The Details: 0.5 ounces | Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide | Eye cream Best Lip Balm Aquaphor Lip Protectant & Sunscreen Ointment SPF 30 4.6 Amazon View On Amazon View On CVS View On IHerb Why We Love It This budget-friendly balm has SPF. What to Consider It contains the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. The skin on your lips is thinner than the skin on the rest of your body, and therefore, your lips are often the first part of your body to dry out. Aquaphor’s drugstore staple balm nourishes the lips with a combination of petrolatum, castor oil, and shea butter. We recommend keeping a tube of lip balm handy while you fly since plane cabins can be especially drying on lips. Another bonus: this lip balm has broad spectrum SPF 30, which is important since lips do get sunburnt. Price at time of publish: $5 The Details: 0.3 ounces | Petrolatum | Lip balm Best Hand Cream Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream Target View On Amazon View On Walmart View On CVS Why We Love It A little goes a long way with this fragrance-free formula. What to Consider Some users report a slight sticky feeling. Dry, cracked hands will find relief with this glycerin-rich formula which helps heal dry skin. The 2-ounce tube is sure to last a while as you only need a small dab to moisturize both hands fully. Still, it’s small enough to toss in a carry-on or your purse for as-needed use while you travel. You can also apply the cream to your nails and cuticles to keep them healthy looking. The lightweight lotion is available in scented and fragrance-free versions. Price at time of publish: $5 The Details: 2 ounces | Glycerin | Hand cream Best Face Mist COOLA Organic Refreshing Water Mist Face Moisturizer With SPF 18 Nordstrom View On Nordstrom View On Beautifiedyou.com View On Bloomingdales Why We Love It We love the small and convenient size of this mist, which you can keep close and apply throughout the day. What to Consider It’s a tad expensive. After a long day in the sun, your skin may start to feel dry. Beyond that, you’ll need to reapply sun protection throughout the day as well. Since it’s not realistic to carry all your hydrating products around all day and it may be tough to reapply moisturizer and SPF over makeup, that’s where COOLA’s nifty refreshing spray comes in. The aloe and coconut-packed water mist has SPF 18 and can be spritzed directly onto your face (even over makeup) for an added boost of sun protection and hydration. It’s alcohol-free, reef-friendly, and vegan. Price at time of publish: $36 The Details: 1.7 ounces | Aloe, coconut water | Face mist Best Face Mask Dr. Jart+ Dermask Water Jet Vital Hydra Solution Amazon View On Walmart View On Drjart.com View On Sephora Why We Love It It delivers deep hydration for parched skin. What to Consider You’ll want to follow it up with a face cream and SPF. Here’s an activity suggestion that’s both relaxing and effective for your next plane ride: pack a sheet mask and apply it mid-flight. Since plane cabins tend to be harsh on skin, your face will likely be craving a boost of hydration, and leaning back your seat with a luxurious mask draped over your face is just so much more fun than reapplying face cream. The Dr. Jart+ Dermask Water Jet Vital Hydra Solution is a cellulose sheet mask that delivers deep hydration via hyaluronic acid and algae extract. The single-use mask can be disposed of after use, so you don’t need to carry around a half empty tube for the remainder of your trip. Price at time of publish: $7 The Details: Sold as a single mask or in a pack of 5 | Hyaluronic acid and algae extract | Cellulose face mask Best Body Lotion Charlotte Tilbury Magic Body Cream Charlotte Tilbury View On Charlottetilbury.com Why We Love It The new body cream is inspired by the brand’s famous face cream. What to Consider It’s expensive. Charlotte Tilbury’s magic cream is beloved by celebrities and beauty junkies alike because it delivers intense hydration while somehow managing to feel thick and lightweight at the same time. The brand’s latest expansion on their cult-favorite product is a body cream formulated with glycerin, softening soybean, energizing caffeine, smoothing sunflower oil, and elasticizing rose extract. It’s available in a TSA-friendly 1.7-ounce tube, as well as a larger option to toss into your checked bag. Price at time of publish: $65 The Details: 1.7 ounces and 6.7 ounces | Glycerin, caffeine, sunflower oil | Body lotion The 13 Best Travel Lotions of 2023 Best Body Serum Iota Superplant Body Serum+ w/ 2% niacinamide Iota Body View On Iotabody.com Why We Love It The lightweight formula works on all skin types including sensitive skin. What to Consider You’ll need to transfer the product into a smaller container if you’re packing it in your carry-on. If the skin on your body gets really dry, consider layering a body serum under your body lotion. This lightweight formula from Iota uses niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and hibiscus flower to boost hydration on your entire body. As an optional step, you can follow with a moisturizer to lock in hydration, and remember to apply SPF as a last step if you’re spending time in the sun. Price at time of publish: $39 The Details: 5 ounces | Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and hibiscus flower | Body serum Best Body Wash Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Bed Bath & Beyond Why We Love It The nourishing body wash is a favorite among dermatologists. What to Consider You should still pack a separate face wash. The free miniature body wash in your hotel bathroom isn’t always the best quality and can leave your skin feeling tight. Instead, we recommend this budget-friendly product that’s an oldie but a goodie. Dove’s Deep Moisture Body Wash comes in a size for every scenario: from a TSA-approved 3-ounce container to a cost-effective 34-ounce pump you can keep handy at home to refill your travel-size bottles with. It’s PETA-certified cruelty-free and made in 100 percent recycled plastic bottles. Price at time of publish: $2 The Details: 3 ounces, 22 ounces, 34 ounces | Glycerin, soybean oil | Body wash Tips for Buying Moisturizing Skin Care Products for Travel Pay attention to the size Per the TSA, if you’re packing liquids in your carry-on, individual liquid containers must be 3.4 ounces or smaller, they must fit into one clear, quart-size bag, and there is only one bag allowed per passenger. Make sure to check the labels on all of your products to make sure they’re carry-on safe. If not, larger containers can be stowed in your checked bag or you can transfer your product into a travel-friendly container. Look at the ingredients If dry skin is your concern, make sure the ingredients in your product are doing the most to keep you hydrated. “Look for ingredients that both add moisturizing factors to your skin like ceramides, oils, hyaluronic acid, [and] glycerin,” says Dr. Greenfield, “and also ingredients that lock in the moisture applied.” Beyond that, Dr. Castilla also recommends petrolatum, which “helps lock moisture into the skin” and dimethicone, which “helps reduce water loss from the skin.” You’ll also want to steer clear of certain products in order to get the best results. “Avoid irritating and highly allergenic ingredients like harsh preservatives and fragrances. Avoid products with alcohol and a high water content,” notes Dr. Greenfield. Chemical exfoliators, such as salicylic acid and glycolic acid, are great for people with oily skin types, but are likely to make dry skin “drier and flake,” adds Dr. Castilla. Consider the container type Pumps, tubs, and tubes are not all equally sanitary, which is an extra important consideration while traveling, since soap and water won’t always be readily available. “Avoid containers that require you to repeatedly dip your finger in to get product,” suggests Dr. Castilla.“Pumps prevent the introduction of bacteria into the container,” adds Dr. Greenfield, who notes that tubs are fine as long as you are able to wash your hands first. Frequently Asked Questions How do you keep your skin moisturized on a plane? Plane cabins are notorious for drying out the skin on your face, hands, and lips. We recommend traveling with at least a few TSA-friendly-sized containers of moisturizing products in your carry-on and applying them as needed mid- and post-flight. “I recommend a very basic moisturizer or moisturizing oil and hydrating cleanser,” says Dr. Greenfield. A hydrating facial spray can also be beneficial since you can mist it over any makeup you might be wearing. How do you travel with moisturizer? When traveling with moisturizer, make sure to pick a container that seals well so it doesn’t spill in your luggage, and pack it inside a water-repellent cosmetics case or ziplock plastic bag for extra protection. If your favorite moisturizers don’t come in TSA-friendly sizes, “you can portion [them] into small carry-on-sized containers to bring on the flight,” says Dr. Castilla. Why Trust Travel + Leisure For this story, Talia Ergas used her experience as a beauty editor in tandem with her travel experience and the advice of two dermatologists to find the best moisturizing products in every category. She consulted with Dr. Carmen Castilla and Dr. Nava Greenfield, board-certified dermatologists based in New York City. The 11 Best Reef-safe Sunscreens of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit