The nature and fun of travelling is often enhanced by the companions you choose to go with. I don't mean partners in the literal sense but the essentials of your travel kit, likely to prove more faithful when expecting the unexpected. It may be truly romantic to sail down the Kerala backwaters à deux but terrible if you had not had the foresight to pack that mosquito repellent, available now in a simple, easy to use glide-on lightweight moisturiser.

A far cry from the sage advice dished out to me by an earnest young intern at a Bangkok hospital where I had gone to take malaria shots only to find I was too late to complete the course, before my journey to a part of Thailand infested with dengue, malaria and Japanese encephalitis. "Don't wear pink or black when you go into the interior," she cautioned. It wasn't a fashion tip - it is seriously believed that mosquitoes are repulsed by certain colours. In Ladakh, it is possible to be burnt to a cinder, at least that's what it feels like - I can vouch from experience - because the ozone layer up in the mountains is so thin, your parched skin begs for dollops of sunscreen.
After a deep sea dive your hair hollers for some conditioner. I am not being a frivolous beauty maven. I simply believe that you don't have to be deep-fried, frazzled and frizzed just because you have embarked upon a sojourn. And the journey does not have to be extreme sport or adventure tourism. Just boarding an aircraft can sometimes prove to be a test of all weather conditions. If you travel west from India you are likely to swing at least 20 degrees in weather changes. If you fly to Toronto or Vancouver from Mumbai in January, you can go from a warm 28 to a freezing -28 degrees in less than 24 hours. You may have noticed some women step out of jets looking cool, skin moist and glowing, every hair in place - a near impossibility in my opinion but they manage it. Moral of the story - you can never have enough moisturiser while flying or enough sunscreen while on a cruise.

Hair develops a temperament entirely of its own. It's like discovering your child is a split personality. My hairdresser who is posh and cool took one look at my travel-scarred hair, rejected the TIGI /Bed head serum I was throwing about and insouciantly recommended Livon.
Livon, thanks largely to its advertising, is definitely not for me but here she was recommending it with confidence. I carried it on my next journey hiding the label surreptituously and I take back any snobbish views I held. The product worked wonders en flight defrizzing, smoothening and softening my mane so I never stepped out looking like a hag who came in from the cold. As it is vetted on Indian strands it works on straight hair without making it limp and lifeless and works on layered hair as well, which is always a good test for your serum, conditioner or leave in product. It did not work back home in Mumbai but it has entered my beauty bag.

Some must-have items in the travel kit can vary depending on the journey but there a few essential products that you must always carry. Sunscreen or a high SPF moisturiser like Neutrogena, Clinique or a local brand Lotus which has a cooling sunblock, a splurge-but-worth-it moisturiser from Shiseido, Clarins, Dior, Aveda or Kama's Kumkumadi oil, a good facial mist like Evian, Bvlgari or Shiseido, a light cleansing milk from Body Shop and Biotique. In colours, try bright lipsticks like M.A.C, Dior or Boots that do not bleed or chap. I tried Passion Pink from Onyx, which my instinct tells me, will be ideal for long trips. The rule of thumb is you must use a good fluid foundation when travelling west and a good compact while touring the east.

Finding something hypoallergenic is mandatory because your skin can change while you are on an expedition. A lot of women cannot do without lip balm. I personally also recommend a soothing foot spray – Body Shop has a peppermint foot spray which is pure therapy – you would never imagine how tense your face muscles can become due to tired feet. A light hair spray works when used judiciously but be careful with sprays – Pantene has a great travel size one for raven hair, Lakme Shine is a light spray that makes your mane shine without losing bounce. Dove and Olay have gentle cleansing wipes that substitute cleansing milk. The list is endless.

How much should you carry in your travel kit? Enough to tide you over for a few days until you find the local shops are a good marker for long journeys. On shorter trips, especially work trips, I recommend you carry everything you are likely to need – it is always nice to have your personal and familiar stuff with you. If you are someone who likes natural products, then remember some herbal items are not stable, so they may go bad in transit. Airline kits are usually helpful in making the trip easier. Several airlines are associated with global brands to offer the best items to their consumers. Earlier, Singapore Airlines had a tie-up with Bvlgari and the kit offered a wide range of products to travellers from the international luxury brand’s green-tea selection. British Airways has stuck to Molton Brown, a British label, for a while. Their Coco de Mer lotion is excellent.

Many brands have their own kits which give you the entire range you are likely to need whilst you are on a journey. Biotique has its products in small travel packs. And there are smart manufacturers who sell coordinated bottles and transparent pouches for you to fill with your own brands and carry as a set. They even helpfully label them so you just have to fill as per the tag. The lines blur between beauty and maintenance when you are globe-trotting. Travelling is essential but doing it comfortably is equally important. Here’s a story I heard which may help you get into travel mode. A group of French women were asked what they would choose if they were selected to go on a trip to the moon – their husbands or their moisturisers. Ninety per cent chose their moisturiser! Happy holidays.