By Judi Dash
Helpful self-care products for travelers are on the rise. These innovations rate consideration for a place in your luggage.
1. SWEET CREAMS:
Babor, a maker of botanical skin care products, has introduced a line of travel sets that are appropriate for men and women. The gels, creams, liquids and lotions come in sturdy containers in small sizes that meet federal security regulations for carry-on items (less than three ounces).
Sets range from an Anti-Jet-lag Flight Set with skin cream and eye fluids that tackle the dry air aloft, to a hypoallergenic Calming Sensitive Travel Set containing day-cream, night cream, eye fluid and cleansing liquids that are particularly gentle with easily irritated skin. Makes a nice bon voyage gift.
Anti-Jet-lag Flight Set is $15; Calming Sensitive Travel Set, $45 at www.babor.com; (888) 222-6791.
2. WEIGH TO GO:
There goes your excuse for not watching your weight while traveling. The new Mini Scale from Travelon measures 10- by 6- by 1.3 inches high and weighs about a pound. Two sliding panels pull out from the center to reveal a median section with a backlit digital weight read-out in pounds or kilograms.
Just step onto the two open panels -- one foot on each -- and, presto, the bitter truth. (Tip: don't try this after that big French dinner out). The digital scale runs on one included lithium battery and comes with a padded zippered nylon carry case.
Travelon Mini Scale (item JF1191) is $40 at www.luggage.com; (800) 675-3451.
3. THERE'S THE RUB:
The soap side pops out so you can pop in other inserts, sold separately. Among these are a pumice stone to exfoliate dry skin, a reflex massager insert, and a liquid soap dispenser. Then there's Soapy Toes, a little foot scrubber with soft rubber bristles. Lather up the bristles with any soap, lay Soapy Toes on the shower floor, and rub your foot back and forth over it. No bending or balancing act.
Bath brush with soap is $20; inserts $5 apiece; Soapy toes, $10 at www.mcnaughtoninc.com; (800) 423-5487.
4. NAILING A NEED:
Finally, a Swiss Army Knife that answers that burning question: What about my nails? The Swiss Clipper is a full-size stainless steel nail clipper that swivels out of a a Swiss Army Knife chassis. The sharp curved blades clip as neatly and efficiently as any well-made nail clipper. The Swiss Clipper also includes a fold-out nail file and cleaner, scissors, and knife, as well as tweezers and a plastic toothpick.
An alternative model, called the Swiss Clipper AT. (short for Air Travel), has a micro screwdriver instead of the knife, for those who would rather not risk the possibility of security officials confiscating a Swiss Army Knife with a blade during heightened alerts. Both models are available in a traditional red housing, as well as pastel pink, or translucent watermelon pink or plum ice purple.
Swiss Clipper, with blade or screwdriver, is $33 at www.wengerna.com; (800) 267-3577.
5. BLANKET APPROVAL:
Airline-supplied blankets, when available, are scratchy, and who knows how clean? Good thing you brought DreamSacks' Luxury Travel Kit, a luxuriantly soft, lightweight, 42- by 76-inch blanket, that comes with silk eyeshades and a silk carry pouch that reverses to a pillowcase.
If the nearly $200 price tag is too high for comfort, opt instead for DreamSacks' Airline Comfort Set, a silk blanket, eyeshades and pillow case in a pouch that still makes for great nestling at about one-third the cost. Both sets can be hand-washed; the cashmere/silk blend also can be dry-cleaned; the silk version machine washed.
Luxury Travel Kit is $196; Airline Comfort Set, $59, at www.dreamsack.com; (800) 670-7661.
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