3-2-1 TAKEOFF!!!!

The countdown is over and I'm (hopefully) basking on a beach in Southern Italy while you're reading this. I can tell you that packing light is not my forte, and I never seem to have the right products for the climate. Thankfully, I travel a lot and have learned some tricks along the way. Check out my

5 TRAVEL TIPS and share with me any of your own tips.

1. Stockpile Travel-Sized Products

Even though I don't travel carry-on only, YA RIGHT. I LOVE my Monat travel size products for allowing me to bring more products and take up less space. Over the years I have stocked up on the travel skincare, which is the best purchase ever. It lasts forever and many of them are refillable. You can get travel size with a Flexship order and occasionally during sales, which is also the perfect way to try new items.

I also have a trio of travel size products that come on every trip: dry texturizing spray, dry shampoo and flexible hold hairspray and I'll throw in my travel size Super Moisture Masque when I know I'm going to be swimming in a hot climate.

2. Choose Multi-Tasking Products

Look for products that serve more than one purpose.

• A tinted moisturizer with SPF can replace your foundation, sunscreen, and moisturizer. Now if only our BB Cream was back in stock ugh. I'm squeezing the last out of mine and packing one color that's hoping I get a tan haha.

• A leave-in conditioner that doubles as a UV protector and frizz-fighter is a space-saving miracle! Restore leave-in conditioner and unknot detangler are my go-to for this.

• Dry shampoo can also get you that volume you need and a bit of hold.

3. Hydration is Key

Travel can dehydrate both your skin and hair. I pack different shampoo and conditioners depending on where I'm going and what I'll be doing. For example, I know Italy is humid and we'll have a lot of time in pools and salt water, so I'm packing Renew shampoo to keep the dryness at bay.

Pack Monat's Rejuveniqe oil and Hydrate + Refresh mist in your bag to refresh your face throughout the day. Rejuveniqe is small enough to go in your purse on the plane too wahoo.

And don't forget your scalp. I'm transferring my scalp scrub to a smaller container so that my hair will feel clean after the sweat and chlorine and salt water. This will also help prevent flakiness or irritation from travel stress.

4. Downsize your Bottles

Monat doesn't offer travel size in every product, so whenever I can, I save old bottles, clean them, and repurpose them with other products. Think of some of the smaller containers: Eye smooth, heat protectant spray, and the styling clays, all make for great bottles to reuse or grab some from the dollar store.

MAKE SURE YOU LABEL THEM! True story, I've had someone message me from their trip saying "well I just moisturized my hair and conditioned my face". Remember water washes labels off in the shower, so plan accordingly.

5. Preplan what your trip will look like

Is your trip a beach vacation? Will you realistically blow dry and style your hair? Or will you embrace an airdry look?

Pack your products accordingly. I know majority of my trip I'll be air drying, so I'm bringing our curly hair products like the new Curl Perfection Trio and I'm transferring them into the eye smooth containers.

Now we shall see if I do a good job bringing the right products. I'll be sure to post a photo of what I bring and what I wish I had brought.

Ciao

Jackie