The Only Beauty Product You'll Need to Pack for Spring Break

by Tina Ferraro, TEEN VOGUE

Because a five-in-one product takes up less room than five products.

Photo: Courtesy CNP Montrose

Cleansing conditioners: You know how incredible they can be for your hair, but would you ever slather one all over your face in place of your beloved moisturizer? Wait, hear us out! We spoke to L.A.-based stylist and Wen creator Chaz Dean to get the scoop on the many uses of his all-natural cleansing conditioner—most of which you wouldn’t believe. We trust Dean’s judgment (after all, the man hasn’t used shampoo on his strands since 1993 and they look fantastic).

Plus, with spring break fast approaching, you’ll want to save as much space as possible in your travel bag for more important things (like shoes!), so consolidating your beauty products is key. Toss in your favorite scent of Wen Cleansing Conditioner (we’re loving the new Limited-Edition Winter White Citrus flavor), and you’ll be ready to jet-set in no time—with room in your suitcase to spare.

Lather up (or don’t).
When it comes to washing your hair, you might expect there to be plenty of suds involved but these little bubbles don’t necessarily equate to cleanliness. “We naturally associate that frothy feeling in the shower with being clean,” Dean says. “But suds are just a by-product of the harsh detergents often found in shampoo.” The same thinking goes for your body wash, so ditch the bar soap and add a dollop of cleansing conditioner to your loofah with just a few pumps. This way, you’ll be able to power through that post-shower, gotta-find-my-lotion dryness—especially after a full day spent soaking up the sun.

Put a mask on it.
Compare the ingredient list of a Wen Cleansing Conditioner to your favorite facial mask’s, and you won’t find very many differences between the two. Packed with goji berry and honey extracts, a cleansing conditioner can add a healthy dose of hydration to thirsty skin (yes, skin!). Dean recommends subbing out your facial mask for a few dabs of cleansing conditioner, and letting it sit on skin for 15-30 minutes.

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Get to cleansing.
If you’re skeptical about using the cleansing-conditioner as a facial-mask, try simply washing your face with it instead. Dean swears by this skin-smoothing technique—in fact, he pumps a few drops onto his Clarisonic and scrubs with it each night. How do you know it’s safe to use on your precious face? The soy-based product is completely vegan. ‘Nough said!

Say goodbye to your salt spray.
For the less daring: Add a bit of texture to limp hair by pumping the conditioner into your hands, and scrunching through your strands. “This will give you the grungy texture you’re looking for without that crunchy feeling that texturizers can leave,” says Dean. Distributing the product throughout your hair also seals in moisture, creating a barrier against the elements—namely seawater, which often leaves your hair extra dry.

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Show your hands some love.
Is there anything worse than dry hands that ensue when traveling by plane? Rather than investing in a pricey hand cream or relying on the watered-down solutions that are often provided on planes or in hotels, squirt a bit of the cleansing conditioner on your hands and slip them into a pair of gloves while you get some shuteye on the ride. You won’t believe how soft—not slippery—your hands feel once you wake from your slumber.

Dean also recommends using Wen as a laundry detergent, but we have a feeling you won’t be doing very much laundry during spring break, right?

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