Travel Chic: What’s in My Beauty Bag for Boston Adventures!

Next weekend, I’m traveling with a friend to visit another friend who’s a doctoral student at Harvard University. Boston, also known as the 'City of Firsts,' is famous for its rich history, the Boston Celtics basketball team, and, if you're like me, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody's iconic Hotel Tipton.

But let’s be real—what I’m not ready for is Boston’s freezing winter temperatures. As a Southern girl used to Atlanta’s relatively mild winters (think 22°F at the coldest), I know I’m in for a shock with Boston’s below-freezing weather. Harsh wind and icy air aren’t exactly kind to my skin, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned about Georgia winters, it’s that they can dry out even the most moisturized skin.

So, I’m heading into this trip prepped and ready because the prepped are never scared! Here are the beauty essentials I’m packing to battle dry skin patches like a pro:

Oil-Based Facial Cleanser

When it comes to winter facial cleansers, always reach for an oil-based or cream formula over gels or foams, which can strip your skin of its natural oils and leave it feeling parched. For my Boston trip, I’m packing two cleansers: one for late-night girls’ outings and another for tackling daily buildup. While I’m usually loyal to Fenty Beauty’s Melt Awf Cleanser for makeup removal, this time I’m putting Farmacy’s Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm to the test. This lightweight, Allure Best of Beauty award-winning formula melts into your skin to dissolve layers of makeup. It claims to remove over 99% of long-wear foundation, waterproof mascara, and SPF, all without the need for double cleansing, which is honestly my favorite part.

For my morning routine, I’ve been reaching for Tatcha’s travel-sized The Rice Wash Skin-Softening Cleanser. Its smooth, velvety texture glides effortlessly from hands to face, making it the perfect luxurious start to the day. While it’s not made to tackle heavy-duty makeup removal after late-night glam, it’s ideal for refreshing your skin after a long travel day or during a well-deserved lazy morning—because every girl’s trip needs at least one of those.

Exfoliation

Don't let dead skin cells pile up! Gentle exfoliation is key for glowing winter skin under the Boston sun. Since this is a short trip, I plan to exfoliate once. My personal rule is to exfoliate every three days for dry skin. Oily-skin babes can exfoliate every two days. My favorite is Dermalogica’s Mini Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator, a rice-based powder formula that’s super gentle and gives my skin an instant glow.

Moisturizing Toner + Serum

There are two types of toners: acid-based and hydrating. Avoid acid-based ones (BHAs or AHAs) in freezing temperatures, as they can further dry out your skin. Instead, opt for a hydrating toner like Fenty Beauty’s Fat Water Niacinamide Pore-Refining Toner Serum. Because I have limited space in my check-in bag, this toner + serum combo helps me save some space for the rest of my items. It’s a multitasking miracle that hydrates and refines pores in one step.

Sunscreen (Yes, Even in Winter!)

Just because the sun isn’t shining doesn’t mean UV rays aren’t sneaking through. Contrary to popular belief, sunscreen is a winter must-have. According to Medline Plus, “UV levels are invisible to the human eye, but the skin can still feel them—even in the winter.” That’s why Make It Hybrid™ SPF 50 Sunscreen from Black Girl Sunscreen is a staple in my beauty bag to fight photoaging and keep my skin glowing.

Hydrating Face Mask

Your skin can never have too much moisture! For extra security, I’m bringing a hydrating face mask. Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream-Infused Mask has been clinically proven to boost moisture by 151%, which sounds like a match made in heaven for Boston’s dry, cold air.

Doubling Down on Moisturizers

After masking, it’s still essential to moisturize. My dream team is Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Refillable Moisturizing Cream with Squalane and Fenty Beauty’s Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer SPF 30. Kiehl's cream provides 72 hours of hydration—talk about secret service-level protection for my skin!

With these products in my bag, I’m ready to face Boston’s winter chill and keep my skin glowing all weekend long. And who knows? With my skin prepped, my confidence high, and my products ready, I just might survive a Boston winter without looking like Frosty the Snowman. Boston, your girl is ready to glow—snow or shine!