Beauty Products I Use Backpacking In Asia

Without sounding cocky, I get a lot of compliments on my skin. That’s not to say that I don’t have breakouts, in fact, my skin has been the worst it has been in a long time whilst I’ve been backpacking – a combination of sweat, dirty streets, and a different diet to what I’m used to are all probably contributing factors.

Anyway, I thought I would share the products that I use whilst traveling to give you an idea of what works for me and keeps my skin and hair in good condition even when cramped on a bus for 15 in Vietnam or hiking up volcanoes in Indonesia.

Shampoo & Conditioner 

Whenever I can, I try and find something along the lines of these products. The shampoo was from a health shop, but a lot of pharmacies in Thailand also sell natural products which is where I got the conditioner from for 50 Bhat!

Both of these are natural products using Butterflypea flowers, which is especially great for hair as it promotes blood circulation in the scalp as well as strengthening and nourishing the hair follicles.

Body Wash

My go to body wash which can be found in every Seven Eleven in Thailand and various other shops around Southeast Asia is Shokubutsu. It’s inexpensive and made from 99% natural plant extracts. It’s a creamy body wash that leaves your skin feeling hydrated which is perfect in hot countries!

Face Wash

I picked up this little bottle of herbal face wash with Moringa and Vitamin E oil which up until recently was working like a charm. Moringa oil is full of vitamins, as well as being a natural antiseptic and having anti-inflammatory properties.

However, my skin has been significantly less well behaved lately, so I treated myself to this 3 in 1 Body Shop tea tree scrub (in Kualur Lumpur airport duty-free) and it’s fantastic! It’s a vegan cruelty-free product and can be used as a facial wash, scrub and face mask.

Tea tree products are perfect for troubled skin if you’re getting breakouts. It’s a natural antiseptic and antibacterial, it’s great at drying out spots and blackheads and balancing oily skin.

Face masks

Whenever my skin gets really bad, a good face mask always sorts it out! So whilst I’ve been traveling, these are the best masks I’ve come across:

Clay masks are my favourite kind of face masks and always work well on my skin because they draw all of the impurities out! Back home I usually use a natural peppermint and white clay mask, but this is the closest thing I could find to it. I picked this Cocoa clay mask up in a supermarket in Vietnam.

Cocoa is great for the skin because it’s packed with antioxidants that help repair skin cells.

I picked up this coconut mask in Kuala Lumpur airport; it was my first time using a “sheet mask” and I was pretty impressed! My skin felt instantly firmer and more hydrated after this mask.

Coconut water is ultra hydrating and full of electrolytes, and this particular brand is natural, non-GMO, sustainably sourced, and cruelty-free.

Makeup remover

Similar to my Moringa oil face wash, I picked up a small bottle of natural makeup remover from a corner store in Thailand. This gel used Emblica or “Indian Gooseberry” which has natural antiviral and antimicrobial properties, as well as high amounts of Vitamin C. However, it can have a lightening effect on the skin so I wouldn’t use it on a regular basis!

Surprisingly, coconut oil is actually a great makeup remover among many other things! Rub it into the face and wipe away with a flannel to get rid of makeup; it will also leave your skin feeling soft and hydrated. Coconut oil is pretty cheap and abundant here in Asia and due to the heat, is always in liquid form and ready to use.

Moisturiser

Of course, coconut oil can always double up as an effective skin moisturiser as well, but I personally prefer something a bit less oily and keep an eye out for good moisturisers.

I found this one in a health shop in Thailand, a natural product filled with Vitamin C, it’s a lightweight moisturiser which is nice for using in the morning or during the day when you don’t want anything too heavy on your skin in the heat!

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think?