Home for the Holidays: Must-Have Beauty Travel Kits

Let's see a show of hands. Who's leaving town soon to reunite with loved ones? 

No doubt about it, millions of Americans plan to go home for the holidays during the back-to-back celebrations of Christmas and New Year's Eve. If you haven't already loaded up the car or booked an airline ticket, chances are you know someone who will be visiting from out of town. In fact, December 26 receives the unique distinction as the second most traveled day during the holidays and the entire year (the Sunday after Thanksgiving takes the top honor). It's estimated that 12 million trips take place the day after Christmas, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

My dog Rudy starts packing for our annual holiday trip to Lake Arrowhead, Calif.

So grab your passports, fasten your seat belts and pack light. To help you do so, we've assembled nine of the finest beauty travel kits on the market. Although they contain smaller versions of their full-size counterparts, they still get the job done when it comes to restoring luminosity to skin and hair. 

You'll be home experiencing glow-sweet-glow in no time. Happy holidays! 

SHINE: CellCeuticals Discovery Kit. BEAUTY: Counteract the visible signs of aging with Extremely Gentle Skin Cleanser, Extreme Defense (Anti-Cell Damage Skin Treatment), CellGenesis (Regenerative Skin Treatment), CerActive (Active Moisture + Barrier Repair Skin Treatment), NeoCell (Micro-Resurfacing Skin Treatment) and PhotoDefense (Anti-PhotoAging Daily Skin Protector SPF 55+). BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of artificial colorants and fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfate, phthalates and parabens.

SHINE: Coola Environmental Repair Plus Skin Recovery Essentials. BEAUTY: Soothe, smooth and shield your skin with Calm Glow Eye Gel, Fresh Relief Face Serum and Clear Recover Foam Wash. BEACON: Free of paba, parabens, petroleum and phthalates. 

SHINE: Dermalogica Shave Kit (for men). BEAUTY: Cools, calms and comforts his complexion with Daily Clean Scrub, Pre-Shave Guard, Soothing Shave Cream and Post-Shave Balm. BEACON: Contains no artificial fragrances or colorants. Championed joinFITE (Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship).

SHINE: Murad Resurgence Get Glowing! BEAUTY: Boost suppleness and cellular turnover with Renewing Cleansing Cream, Age-Diffusing Serum, Renewing Eye Cream and Age-Balancing Night Cream. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Naturopathica Skin Care Regimen Kit. BEAUTY: Firm and refresh your skin with Oat Facial Polish, Vitamin C Revitalizing Complex, Sweet Lupine Cleansing Cream and Plant Stem Cell Serum. BEACON: Contains no sulfates, PEGs, DEA, TEA, parabens, glycols or urea. Supports the American Botanical Council and The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

SHINE: Number 4 All That Glitters--Va-Va Volume Travel Sac. BEAUTY: Unleash luminous, luxurious locks with Volumizing Shampoo, Volumizing Condition, Styling Foam and Mighty Hair Spray. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of sulfates, gluten and parabens.

SHINE: Paula's Choice Clear Collection Two-Week Trial Kit. BEAUTY: Banish blackheads, bacteria and blemishes with Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser, Clear Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution with 2% Salicylic Acid and Clear Daily Skin Clearing Treatment. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports American Humane Society, DAWN (Domestic Abuse Women's Network) and United Negro College Fund.

SHINE: Sanítas Normal Skin System. BEAUTY: Hydrate and heal your skin with Glycolic Citrus Cleanser, Moisturizing Cleanser, Glycotoner 5%, Moisture Mist, Vita-Rich Serum and Topical C. BEACON: Supports the Cinderella Foundation.

SHINE: Skyn Iceland Quench Kit for Thirsty Skin. BEAUTY: Bring brilliance back to dull, dry and depleted skin with Icelandic Relief Eye Pen, Pure Cloud Cleanser, Arctic Hydrating Balm and Oxygen Infusion Night. BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free. Contains no parabens, petroleum, phthalates, mineral oil, sulfates or dye. Supports Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

Travel-Size Skincare Fix

Have you booked your summer vacay yet? If you're planning a trip this month, there's a good chance you'll be boarding a flight to the enchanted land of mouse ears and make-believe--Walt Disney World Resort.

Orlando tops the list as the most booked summer travel destination in 2011,

according to Orbiz.com. If theme parks cramp your style, consider Vegas, Seattle, Los Angeles, Denver, New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Cancun and Boston--which round out the top 10 vacation cities in order of popularity. 

Whether you plan to go camping, clubbing or catamaraning, don't forget to pack your skin care. Check out the following suitcase-friendly, mini must-haves.

BEAUTY: Tote tiny treasures on your trip with B. Kamins, Chemist Dry to Normal Skin Starter Kit (Day Cream SPF 15, Vegetable Skin Cleanser, Night Cream and Eye Cream). BEACON: No animal testing.

BEAUTY: Pack your flip-flops alongside flight-friendly sizes with Bioelements Travel Light Kit for Combination Skin (Decongestant Cleanser, Equalizer, Pumice Peel, Absolute Moisture and Oil Control Sleepwear). BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no artificial colorants or synthetic fragrances.

BEAUTY: Get your glow-on-the-go with Luzern Laboratories Organic Trip Kit (Purifying Cleansing Gelée, Vita O2 Hydra-Refining Mist, Force De Vie Créme Luxe, Serum Absolut, Pure Molecular Oxygen Treatment Mask and La Défense SPF 30). BEACON: Contains no parabens, petrochemicals, formaldehyde, synthetic preservatives or fragrances.

BEAUTY: R&R stands for revitalize and refresh with Sanítas Normal Skin System Kit (Glycolic Citrus Cleanser, Moisturizing Cleanser, Glycotoner 5%, Moisture Mist, Vita-Rich Serum and Topical C). BEACON: Supports the Cinderella Foundation. 

BEAUTY: No need to suffer breakouts during your summer break with sukí To-Go Complete Care For Clear Skin Kit (Sensitive Cleansing Bar, Transformative Cleansing Clay, Concentrated Balancing Toner and Pure Facial Moisture-Balancing). Also includes free samples of Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser and Balancing Day Lotion (not pictured below). BEACON: Cruelty free. Also supports fair trade, biodynamic processing and local sourcing.

BEAUTY: Travel light but promote potent skin renewal with Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Care Kit (Regenerating Body Oil, Regenerating Hand Cream and Creamy Body Wash). BEACON: Contains no synthetic fragrances, colorants, preservatives or raw materials derived from mineral oils. Also supports Conservation International.