The U Beauty Quintessential Travel Guide
The U Beauty Quintessential Travel Guide
Far-reaching vacations and reliable skincare go hand-in-hand, and for good reason: Wherever your sense of adventure takes you this year—from Seoul’s beguiling historic-modern mix and Jackson Hole’s Wild West playground to the souks and hammams of Marrakech and white-sand beach parties of Mykonos—good skin is the one thing you don’t want to leave at home.
Naturally, we’ve matched your ideal vacation destination to your must-have U Beauty hero, aka your consummate travel partner.
Resurfacing Compound: Mount Desert Island, Maine
Sure, when it comes to easygoing escapes, weekends in the Hamptons are definitive for bona fide New Yorkers, and South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island is a perennial American favorite, but this lesser-known coastal island is arguably even more classic. Perhaps that’s because historical Mount Desert Island surprisingly has something for everyone, from sunset cruises to famed blueberry ice cream—much like its multifunctional counterpart, the tried-and-true Resurfacing Compound.
Explore Acadia National Park, grab a pint at Fog Town Brewing, embrace your touristy side at the Lumberjack Show, gorge on lobster at Jordan Pond House, or relish some old-money luxury at the newly renovated Claremont Hotel in Southwest Harbor, where the esteemed Rockefellers, Morgans, and Astors were all regulars (a classic cocktail at Harry’s Bar is a must).
And like our original hero, Maine’s largest island boasts its own first: If you’re up early (or late) enough, you’ll catch the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain here before anywhere else in the United States.
Multimodal Defender Broad Spectrum SPF30: O’ahu, Hawaii
While Costa Rica’s Pacific beaches are becoming a fast favorite, Hawaii’s most populous island is quintessential when your whole vacation itinerary reads: surf, sun, repeat. Aptly nicknamed “The Gathering Place,” O’ahu is home to state capital Honolulu and iconic beach Waikiki. WIth no shortage of epic waves, it’s no surprise the rugged North Shore is known as a surfer’s paradise.
Located southeast of Kauai, summer is peak time to visit O’ahu—especially if you want to indulge in as much daylight as you can. Enter the Multimodal Defender Broad Spectrum SPF30: With non-nano zinc oxide, it protects from UVA, UVB, infrared, and blue-light rays—making it your best friend on the makai and beyond.
Check into the Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club to make the most of Waikiki’s surf scene or enjoy the solar-powered Turtle Bay Resort’s five-mile-stretch of beach—along with their ocean-front Sunset Bar, ideal for watching pros hang ten. When you’re due for a break from the breaks, Hau Tree, the surfside restaurant at the Kaimana Beach Hotel, makes for an ideal reprieve.
Feeling the heat? Your skin won’t show it: the cooling MMD also helps visibly reduce heat-induced freckles and prevents the appearance of inflammation. Embrace the salt in your hair and sand on your skin—there’s no need to succumb to the sun’s damaging rays.
Resurfacing Body Compound: Mykonos, Greece
Santorini, Syros, and Athens may be coming up as worthy rivals, but the Cyclades island known as the “Manhattan of the Aegean” still reigns supreme for those who want to see and be seen. Cruisers, partiers, and, yes, of course, influencers alike have been flocking here for years to show off and indulge in crystal-clear blue waters, striking sunsets, and vibrant nightlife. Credit Mykonos’ reputation for wild seashore soirees: Relish the thumping beats of Super Paradise Beach and the onslaught of prominent DJs at Cavo Paradiso. Or hit Paraga Beach for a chill day, then Kalua Beach Bar post-4pm for a full-on spectacle.
There’s nothing like flawless bare skin to command attention, especially when minimally dressed. What better accessory to unleash your inner exhibitionist than the silky body treatment for a polished, buffed glow from head to toe? Like the island itself, the Resurfacing Body Compound feels light yet decadent—and has proven to be an enduring mainstay that keeps devotees coming back for more.
And if you’d rather take some privacy with your reveal, book a stay at the Cali Mykonos, a chic hideaway hotel inspired by Grecian mythology muse Calliope, where each villa features its own private pool overlooking the sea.
The BARRIER Bioactive Treatment: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Whether exploring Yellowstone Park, taking in a starlit evening rodeo, or simply dining al fresco at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, this Wyoming mountain town invites you to embrace the great outdoors, not to mention a hearty kick of the Old Wild West.
Surrounded by alpine lakes and winding trails, Jackson Hole naturally offers endless outdoor activities—from paddle-boarding, kayaking, and whitewater-rafting to horseback-riding, biking, and camping—that tend to leave you with skin that looks like it’s weathered the elements. Not with The BARRIER Bioactive Treatment in tow. Serving as a protective layer packed with bioactive marine ingredients, it leaves your skin with a visibly bouncy cushion effect and boosted barrier function. Because while Jackson Hole might inspire you to want to feel rugged, you likely don’t want to look the part.
Ride the gondola at Snow King Mountain Resort, aka the area’s summer playground; observe the wildlife at Grand Teton National Park; take a soak in the mineral-rich pools of Astoria Hot Springs; or experience the Double H Bar’s elevated cookout (including a dinner show and a ride in a horse-drawn wagon).
Need to get inside for a nightcap, before applying your favorite overnight treatment? Duck into the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, situated right off the celebrated Town Square, and relax in one of their saddle-topped bar seats.
The RETURN Eye Compound: Ibiza, Spain
Count on the unofficial party capital of the world to keep you up all night—and raging well into the twilight hours of the next day. The Balearic island beaming off the southern coast of Spain is in full swing come summer, and that’s saying a lot. Credit the fact the White Isle delivers haute-hippie debauchery at its most enticing, from legendary venues, like Pacha and Hï Ibiza (where DJ duo The Martinez Brothers keep a seasonal residency), to the seasonal outposts of hyped clubs, including Nikki Beach Ibiza, to beloved cabaret-cum-supper club Lío (Leonardo DiCaprio is a longtime fan). And then, of course, there’s the endless flow of Hierbas, a potent sugar-cane liquor you can only find on the island.
A little Mediterranean hedonism calls for a full-size serving of the ultimate eye cream: The RETURN Eye Concentrate doesn’t just combat visible dark circles and puffiness. Infused with pure diamond powder, this soft-touch contouring formula helps illuminate your visage’s most delicate area for eyes that gleam like dance-floor strobes—and hides a week’s worth of sins.
Where to stay when you finally want to crash, or at least maintain your beauty routine: Both Pure House Ibiza and Hotel Riomar (their coveted pool deck makes for an ideal afternoon siesta spot) offer a reprieve while keeping you just close enough to the action.
You probably won’t want to hide your eyes with The RETURN on hand, but it’s worth stopping by sunglasses boutique Capote for a new pair of shades.
The SUPER Hydrator: Marrakech, Morocco
Back in the eighties, fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent was so taken by a particular garden in Marrakech, Jardin Majorelle, he called it “an endless source of inspiration,” before promptly purchasing it. A similar statement can be made about its skin-enhancing equivalent: The SUPER Hydrator is often called an endless source of hydration.
With plenty of hotels known for minimalist luxury—a key feature of our deceptively potent cult-favorite moisturizer—along with no dearth of old-world opulence, the Pink City can take you from the souk (it doesn’t get more famous than Djemaa el-Fna) to the hammam (the Royal Mansour holds an epic 27,000-square-foot spa) to the nightclub (Comptoir Darna turns into a belly dancer-filled party post-dinner).
An upscale must-see is the Nobu Hotel Marrakech, situated in the verdant Hivernage neighborhood known for buzzing nightlife. Experience the “Vegas of Marrakech,” courtesy of the newly renovated century-old hotel La Moumonia; dine like a local at L’mida, set on two levels of a traditional riad in the Medina; or take a jaunt to the Agafay Desert, where global collective Habitas has opened the Burning Man-inspired Caravan Agafay, full of bohemian-luxe tents and glistening swimming pools amid a stone desert.
And naturally, there’s a practical connection here: The SUPER will keep you dewy, not sweaty, in the North African city’s arid summer air.
The PLASMA Lip Compound Tints: Seoul, South Korea
Stimulating, eclectic, unexpected: South Korea’s largest city isn’t just K-Pop and K-Beauty—though it’s easily the beauty capital of the world. Thanks to a rich cultural boom blending the past and present, Seoul invites a sensory experience, from its vibrant night markets (hyper-popular Myeongdong is also the nightlife epicenter) to five grand palaces (Gyeongbokgung is especially awe-striking) to endless shopping (Seoul is known for its epic department stores).
One thing to pack ahead: your favorite lip treatment in vivid tints with as much versatility as Seoul itself. Think: three adaptable shades of The PLASMA Lip Compound—Rose, Fawn, and Cassis—for the city’s 25 districts, each equally distinct.
Just like its contouring counterpart, the Land of the Morning Calm is more than a glossy veneer. Hit Seongsu-dong for trendy bars and boutiques—including an open-air Dior pop-up—then scope an edit of emerging designers at Yeoido’s The Hyundai, a mecca to put your local mall to shame. Next up: The Perfume Club by Soohyang, a members-only experience for scent-lovers and Chaum, a world-famous stem cell clinic offering bio-insurance.
As its nickname suggests, Seoul lights up with energy at night: Slurp some Pyongyang naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) at Sulnoon, sip jeontongju (a traditional rice-based spirit) at the Four Seasons’ Oul, and grab a zodiac-themed cocktail at Zoo Sindang before reapplying your PLASMA—and letting even the most discerning of aesthetes wonder if you’ve had a little enhancement.
The SCULPT Arm Compound: Tanzania
Few holidays make for an adventurous flex like a trek to Tanzania, known for its sprawling natural beauty. Especially if you’re climbing Mount Kilimanjaro: the dormant volcano is the highest mountain in Africa—and highest free-standing mountain in the world. Speaking of some lift, The SCULPT Arm Compound will keep you looking taut and firm, whether you’re observing the scenery or enduring a hike. Besides, when your destination is home to the highest number of predators on a whole continent, you want a body treatment that makes you feel your strongest.
When it comes to safari, the Seregenti is the obvious choice, or you can go off the beaten path: Take Usangu Expedition Camp’s heralded night tour of Ruaha National Park, home to leopards, lions, elephants, and more, before unwinding at their starlit campfire. Don’t miss the spoils of Zanzibar, among them the Emerson Spice Hotel (it was once a merchant’s palace), lunch at Lukmann (for classic Swahili cuisine), and the relics of historical Stone Town.
And there’s plenty of luxury to be enjoyed on land or in the sea, literally: the andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge is a designer boutique hotel set in the remote bush, while at the Manta Resort on Pemba Island you can spend the night surrounded by coral reef in their astounding underwater suite. Speaking of ocean life, with a blend of marine extracts, probiotics, and select ferments, The SCULPT energizes the skin’s appearance, while retinol helps visibly smooth and refine—for skin that will make the dolphins off Fanjove Island envious.
The MANTLE Skin Conditioning Wash: Lisbon, Portugal
A bustling city sojourn calls for a multifunctional face wash that rinses away the grit and grime of the day’s escapades. Few cities inspire you to pound the pavement like Portugal’s cosmopolitan capital, and no other face wash nourishes like The MANTLE Skin Conditioning Wash.
Any local will tell you: The full Lisbon experience means walking around—a lot. Start with an espresso at Boutik (part café, part surf shop, part gallery) in the trendy Sao Bento neighborhood, before touring the National Tile Museum and Praça do Comércio, checking out new shops at LxFactory in the Alcântara area, taking a street-art tour with Street Buddha, grabbing a drink at storied Café A Brasileira, enjoying a Michelin-starred dinner at Cura, heading to the Bairro Alto district to take your pick of over 100 bars and restaurants—and finally slipping into bed at the Altis Belém Hotel (but not your nightly skincare routine, of course).
Prefer to leave your exploration to an expert? Lifelong resident Humberto Bernardo is the top-rated walking-tour host on Airbnb Experiences. If your feet need a break but you’re not ready to call it, hop on Tram 28, the city’s vintage Remolodado streetcars, and pretend you’re in a bygone era as you clatter through the narrow streets.
Bonus: A double cleanse in a single step, The MANTLE makes washing your face after an exhilarating, and admittedly, exhausting day of exploring a breeze.
The SUPER Body Hydrator: Montego Bay, Jamaica
Where better to serve body than one of the most enduringly popular vacation spots in the Caribbean? Montego Bay is known for turquoise waters, kaleidoscopic sunsets, and a supremely chill vibe that inspires. Lucky for you, with The SUPER Body Hydrator, aka your secret weapon for skin that glistens from head to toe, that won’t be a problem.
With countless resort options, beaches, and dance halls, Jamaica’s tropical melting pot serves up an ideal high-low mix, from a snorkel session at Doctor’s Cave Beach to the jerk chicken at Scotchie’s, a no-frills joint for those in the know.
As far as “all-inclusive” goes, the Tryall Club, boasting 84 sumptuous private villas; Eclipse, Half Moon’s luxury development off the main island; and Round Hill, with rooms designed by Ralph Lauren, are among the most exclusive. (Want some extra pampering? Book a treatment, or three, at Round Hill’s spa, which leads to a private beach.
Get lost—but still gleam with radiance–in a tangle of the Hip Strip’s pounding nightclubs. Don’t be surprised if locals say they’re hitting Margaritaville After Dark; it’s only a tourist trap by day. And then there’s the robust culture, which you can take in at the Rastafari Indigenous Village or Bob Marley Museum in NineMile. Whatever you do, your allover glow will rival that of the famed Luminous Lagoon, home to millions of glistening dinoflagellates that light up the water nightly.
The Duo: Staycation
Keeping it close to home this summer? We’ll be the first to preach there’s merit in maintaining a consistent routine, wherever you are. That’s why The Duo is your non-negotiable go-to whether you’re living it up at a local hotel close to home or reveling in a chill weekend on your couch. Two simplified steps ensure a complexion that’s effortlessly resurfaced, revived, and hydrated. Because while adventure is a state of mind, good skin is not.
