My Effortless Beachy Glow Starts With the 5 Best Pre-Travel Beauty Treatments
Here's how to look hot on vacation.
Ahh, summer travel, the best time of year. As a Leo, I make it my mission to escape the craziness of New York City and lounge on a beach or by the pool as often as possible—ideally in an entirely different time zone. But my hair and skin aren't always as cavalier about a change in the atmosphere, sun exposure levels, and mineral content in the local water. It's why I've developed a roster of fool-proof pre-travel beauty treatments—most of which I handle from the comfort of home—to get ready for a few blissful days somewhere relaxing and tropical. That means protecting my blonde hair color and 2B waves, perfecting my faux tan, and ensuring that I can leave the majority of my makeup products at home because I'm going to be far too busy chilling pool-side with a smutty romance novel to apply mascara or foundation. So, like any good beauty obsessive, here’s everything I suggest doing before going on vacation to look really, really, ridiculously hot—minimal effort required.
A Lotta Lashes
My eyelashes are naturally quite light with a blonde base, so not great for providing definition without mascara. I swear by a lash lift (which is basically a perm) and tint to give me that curl and mascara-level color, without any product, but before I book my appointment, I make sure that my lash density is on point.
Want thicker lashes that look like you’re wearing falsies? Add this serum to your pre-travel routine a few weeks out and you’ll hit the beach with thicker, fuller, flirtier lashes.
If you’re looking for a prostaglandin-free option to grow your lashes, you can’t go wrong with this gentle formula. Prepare for compliments after a few weeks of use.
Bigger, Bolder Brows
My full brows are my calling card, but again, my hair is naturally on the lighter side. If an appointment to tint and shape them is feasible, I swear by Joey Healy in Manhattan or Kristie Streicher in LA, but if I have to DIY, a stellar pair of tweezers and some beard dye (yes really) are almost as good.
I know this has a steeper price tag than drugstore options, but I live and die by these Swiss-made tweezers. Those rogue hairs that pop up so far outside my desired brow shape you’d think I was a Eugene Levy double don’t stand a chance.
This is my most-beloved beauty editor hack for fuller-looking brows (even my mom swears by it). I do two five-minute sessions to tint my brows, and the results last for weeks—no brow gel or pencil required.
High-Shine Color
I color my hair with camel-coat blonde highlights three times a year, but if I’m not careful, it will turn brassy in the sun. So, before I step foot on a plane, I make sure to do a gloss and toning treatment to keep my blonde bright and beach-ready.
If you’re a blonde devotee like me, you know that purple shampoo and purple masks are a must to counteract those unwanted brassy tones. This cult-favorite luxe mask works so fast, one treatment is all I need pre-travel to amplify that neutral blonde shade that I love and wash brassiness down the drain.
With copious sunshine and salt water, your hair is bound to get a little dry and damaged. I prep for that with this bonding gloss treatment, which also gives my wavy hair a healthy boost of shine.
Totally Tanner
I’m a true sunshine baby, but I know better than to sacrifice my health and skin condition for a tan, especially when self-tanner in 2026 is so exceptional. I reach for my favorite formulas a few days before vacation for a gorgeous faux glow.
The entire MC beauty team swears by this tanning milk and for good reason—it’s an incredibly easy way to build a natural-looking tan without streaks or that tell-tale orange cast. I make sure to get three applications in (post-shower and exfoliating) for a healthy tan color.
If I’m short on prep days or I want a deeper, richer tan, I apply 1-2 coats of this tanning mousse with a mitt (plus a dense brush for my wrists and fingers). After a few hours of developing, I’m a buttery biscuit bronze and ready for vacation.
Hello, Hair Removal
I’m a few years into professional hair removal for my bikini line and underarms, but pre-vacation I make sure to give myself a little touch-up with an at-home hair removal device to nix any strays.
If you want true hair reduction without an in-office treatment, may I recommend the only FDA-cleared laser for at-home use (and permanent results). It's more powerful than IPL, and if it's a fit for your skin tone, you can see results in just two treatments. I'm four treatments into my bikini line touch-ups and I can already notice a difference in growth—no professional required.
This is my go-to IPL device for the bikini line, and after five days of wearing my skimpiest bikinis on the beach, I can safely say that I looked smooth and stubble-free.
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