U Beauty Founder Tina Chen Craig Shares her Travel Skincare Essentials

Tina Chen Craig founded U Beauty in 2019 following a successful career as a beauty blogger and Editor at Vogue China. After working as a consultant for some of the biggest beauty brands in the world including, Clé de Peau, La Prairie, and Charlotte Tilbury – Craig found herself searching for something new in beauty. With a deep passion for making high-performance skincare accessible and effective, Craig built U Beauty into a technology-based beauty brand that emphasizes simplicity and quality above all.

Watch the video below to see Tina Chen Craig share her travel skincare essentials before Labour Day weekend.

Ahead, Craig busts skin myths and shares her outlook on aging.

S: What has been one of the biggest skincare myths you’ve heard during your time in the beauty industry?

TC: “There’s a plethora of misconceptions still out there, but the two biggest myths are that there’s power through damage and to use scalding-hot water to achieve squeaky-clean skin. Overtreatment is just that: Healthy skin does not require intervention and products should not damage your skin, on the contrary. These are some of U Beauty’s key tenets. Always use cold or room-temperature water to wash your face, as it won’t strip skin of essential lipids.”

Who had the biggest influence on you as you embarked on your beauty journey? What lessons did they pass down/instill in you?

“My grandmother was the first and will always remain a force of influence, strength, and inspiration in my life. She ingrained in me from a young age that beauty isn’t about vanity. It’s about self-love. She taught me that beauty starts from the inside out, taking care of yourself holistically, starting with eating foods that heal, and to focus on moderation in everything.”

What has been the most rewarding feedback you’ve received from customers on the U Beauty range?

“I love to hear that U Beauty has streamlined people’s routines, improved their skin for the long-term, and in turn, simplified their lives, thanks to multifunctional, intentional formulas. But the most meaningful feedback is when customers tell me they now actually wake up and love the skin they’re in.”

What is your favorite place to travel to and where are you dreaming to go next?

“I love to travel. Destinations, where I can combine my love of beaches and urban cities, are my favourites (Bangkok and Phuket, for example). I can’t wait to go to Istanbul and Bodrum next.”

The limited-edition travel set is packed with hero products. What’s your travel skincare routine? What step do you never miss even when you’re on the road?

“Our OOO Set is a must for travel! Designed for getaways, it features six of our synergistic essentials and makes up my travel routine: The MANTLE Skin Conditioning Wash, which does the work of a double cleanse in a single skin-priming step; The Duo, featuring our essential 8-1 Resurfacing Compound for that signature U Beauty glow and The SUPER Hydrator, for up to 48 hours of dewy hydration; The RETURN Eye Concentrate, complete treatment for visibly brighter, lifted eyes; The SUPER Intensive Face Oil, a next-gen oil hydrator hybrid and truly illuminates the look of your skin, and finally, The PLASMA Lip Compound, which makes your lips visibly softer, smoother, and plumper than ever before – all in our custom beauty bag.”

“As for the step I’ll never miss, washing my face! No matter how tired or jet-lagged I am, I will slap on The MANTLE and some water with our linen washcloth to remove the day’s dirt, debris, and makeup.”.

You underline the importance of good skin and how it’s strongly tied to self-care. In addition to your skincare routine, what does self-care look like for you?

“My self-care routine is my skincare routine! It’s also maintaining a healthy inner self-monologue. The best beauty advice I’ve ever gotten is to stop being so hard on yourself! You’re never going to be as young as you are today. So enjoy every minute! Also, know and remember your worth. Stop trying to impress others, start by impressing yourself, and don’t devote time to toxic people who make you feel less than you are. It’s okay if some people don’t like you. Love yourself.”

“While I’ve always believed there’s no better simple luxury than getting an uninterrupted eight hours of sleep in my bed, I love a bath with a good book and glass of champagne – with some sort of mask on, of course!”

“Finally, meditation! I believe loving your skin also starts with being centred and present. I begin each day with one or two meditations depending on how early I wake up, which is usually around 6:15 am. Doing them while the house is quiet and dark is super-relaxing. I don’t need to sit in any special corner; I meditate best while lying down in bed.”

What is your outlook on aging? How has it changed as you’ve grown your brand?

“Don’t fear it because aging means you’re still alive! Also, I don’t prescribe to any sort of age restrictions as far as how one should dress or do their hair. Grow your hair to your waist, dress however makes you feel beautiful! The phrase ‘age appropriate’ means nothing to me. Now I see beauty as the perfect harmony of your inner and outer selves. They should be mirrors of each other – because you can’t have depth without a surface.”

What are you most excited about when it comes to U Beauty’s future? What’s on the horizon for the brand?

“More innovation as we continue to research all the ways we can utilize the patent-pending SIREN Capsule Technology ingredient delivery system. As for what’s on the horizon for the brand, we intend to focus even more intently on the improvement of skin health for the long term, rather than temporary solutions. We are rewriting what it means to be a ‘luxury skincare brand’ and skincare should mean just that: thoughtful, intentional, results-driven care.”

Shop Tina’s travel skincare essentials below.