No matter how much you love your beauty products and tools, you cannot take them all on a cruise or a plane. This is why a minimalist approach to travel beauty essentials is needed .The goal is to prioritise the most important ones and make the best use out of them all. It can be a bit tricky for sure, this is why we are listing all the travel beauty essentials, you’d need when packing lightly.
And remember, while travelling is an exciting thing, it can come with a lot of stress. No one wants their expensive beauty products confiscated at the airport. Or react the same way Kevin’s mom in Home Alone when they realise they have left the essentials at home. The main way to avoid all of these heart attacks is to plan well. Making sure you make notes, ask your travelling friends and read this article. If any of the below products ring a bell, add it to your list and check before you leave home!
Designated Beauty Bag
Hear us out: Throwing in your beauty essentials in your luggage or carry-on is where things start go wrong. To make sure you have everything you need on a whim, get yourself a cute little beauty bag.
Keeping all your beauty tools and products in a reachable bag can help you find them more easily. This is how you avoid situations like leaks and broken containers. Whenever you feel it’s not packed right, you can rearrange in an instant. And if something goes wrong, you can avoid it becoming a major problem. Why? Your beauty bag won’t have stuff like laptop or a sentimental frame. It’s easy to wash and clean when the mess is among the care products. However, make sure this bag isn’t flimsy and fits nicely in your carry-on or any other luggage. Remember you should be able to reach out easily and any beauty mess can’t leak outside the bag. And smaller the beauty carrier, the better.
If you’re thinking of a quick trip, the The Beauty Bag by Glossier is a lovely addition. It’s crafted using coated cotton which is flexible enough to fit in your luggage or even handbag. It’s got quite a spacious design to fit in most of your trip or even daily essentials. On the larger side, you have Samsonites’s toiletry bag, which could be arranged in any way you want as the inside is a fully spacious with no extra gadgets. And Pocmitus Makeup Bag is quite cute and has a double layer design so you could make good use of the bottom-usually-hollow section. And do you know it’s WATERPROOF? Another example for major travel plans is the Lavievert Toiletry Bag, it lets you fit a whole mini beauty station in it.
Mini Travel Beauty Essentials
It can feel a bit impulsive to dump your whole conditioner bottle into your bag but it’s a big no-no! The answer is to downsize by adding your current beauty essentials into smaller bottles. And if you’re flying, you must know that you are only allowed 3.4 ounces (100ml) of each liquid product. In this context, liquid means creams, serums, aerosols, mists, etc. So, to avoid any and all heartbreak related to item confiscation at the airport, rationise your products. Ask yourself what product and how much of that you’d need during your time of travel. Even if you’re not taking the plane, try to take only what you need.
Mini Bottles and Containers
And the best way to do that is with the use of mini travel-sized containers. Also, as an extra yet easy step, keep all your mini products in a resealable bag before adding it to the beauty bag. This type of layering will contain any sort of leaking. Amazon has a wide range of clear squeeze bottle sets and cosmetic containers that serves the purpose and mingles with any packing arrangement. And for below $15, you have the cute Vitog’s travel kit that comes with lotion bottles, cream containers, sprays, pipettes, spatula, labels, funnel and waterproof ziploc to keep everything safely compact. For essential oils and certain makeup products like liquid highlighters, an eye droppers works just fine. For that use, we love this rose gold eye dropper set that comes with funnels—how convenient is that?
With beauty tools, you do find compact beauty brushes and blenders as kits.
Ala Carte Products
Sometimes, a customised mini set might not be the most practical option for your travel needs. And certain products lose their effectiveness when you pump it out of their original packaging. This is because when these items are exposed to air and light, their composition changes. So the alternative here is that you can buy mini versions of them.
Here are some of our mini beauty recommendations from Sephora: Any vacation is kind of a bummer without supple, glowy skin so make it count with the mini Brazillian Bum Bum Cream. It comes with an irresistable salted caramel, vanilla scent and leaves you with a hint of shimmer. Oof. Travelling after the pandemic should tell you that you can bring an uninvited disease home, so a hand sanitizer is a must. Make an aromatic choice with the Power Mist Hydrating Hand Santitizer, it comes in a diverse range of fresh scents. Carrying hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and niacinamide comes with a bit of risk and luggage space. Therefore, bring it all in one bottle with Travel Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir. It comes in both 8ml and 100ml, making it a perfect choice for both short and long travels.
A sneaky way to prepare is by collecting samples , which last for at least two weeks. Places like Sephora and Dior give a lot of samples with their purchases.
Perfumes
Travelling gives you more reasons to be pampered in your go-to signature fragrance. Having said that, one of the most confiscated items at the airport are perfumes. So how do we smell like a million bucks while not having any travelling disasters. The answer comes in two folds.
Refill Bottles
You could either pick transfer your perfumes into a miniature spray bottles. Amazon has blessed us all with the Mini Refillable Perfume Atomizer Bottles. They are 5ml bottles that come in a pack of four, which means you can take a collection of your perfumes and colognes. They are leakproof since its shell is made of premium alumunium and the inside is covered with durable glass. Also, it’s very easy to use and could see how much if remaining via the clear vial.
Mini Perfumes
The other way to take to add fragrance into your travel beauty essentials is by purchasing petite perfumes. You can easily use them even when the travel is over by adding it to your usual handbags. A win. Here are our recommendations that will blend with any kind of travel plans.
If you want a sweet, musky and spicy sillage, the Ebene Fume Eau de Parfum Travel Spray by Tom Ford is the one. Want a fresh scent that lasts all day long? Get Valentino’s Donna Yellow Dream Eau de Parfum Travel Spray. Its key notes are Italian lemon, fresh musks and rose essence. For those who fancy warm florals, we want you to try Viktor&Rolf’s Flowerbomb Ruby Orchid Eau de Parfum Travel Spray. This is perfect if you are travelling with someone who gets migraines in the presence of a strong perfume.
Everyone’s favourite collection, Daisy by Marc Jacobs has a perfume roll-on, it’s a chill sweet fragrance for daytime. But if you want a warm version, the mini perfume Daisy Love Paradise Eau de Toilette is the one. Miss Dior Rose N’Roses Roller-pearl is a luxurious classic floral with musky undertones—the best of both worlds. Want a bold, sensual fragrance on you? The Mini Black Opium & Libre Eau de Parfum Set is a warm spicy floral fragance with notes of coffee, white flowers and vanilla. Love the raw beach scent and want an aroma that can be layered with much bolder fragrances? Pick Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne Travel Spray by Jo Malone London.
Travel Beauty Essential Kits
Let’s say you don’t have time to organise your travel beauty kits. If you have enough time, we’d suggest you do it. But last-minute, spontaneous travel plans do happen. Therefore, free your packing plans from extra planning by resorting to mini essential beauty kits.
The Drunk Elephant The Littles™ Skincare Travel Set works well with combination, dull and normal skin. The 6-piece set has everything you’d need to cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate and brighten your skin. Did you know this travel set has raving reviews claiming it as a source for soft, glowing skin? What’s more? Don’t forget your bodycare. Yes, hotel usually provides your shower gel and body lotion. But how about using this opportunity to trying your hand at clean beauty? The Body Ritual by Nécessaire comes with a body exfoliator, brightening body wash, hydrating body serum and anti-aging lotion. The fragrance is amazing and the products leave your skin super clean!
Multi-purpose Products
One of the wisest packaging moves is to include products that serve more than one function. For instance, you can use certain products across your body as opposed to limiting it to face or body. When it comes to both makeup and skincare, you can find the most efficient multipurpose products. And it’s becoming a trend to use products with multi-use. At the same time, you don’t have to sacrifice the quality of travel beauty routine to pack like a minimalist. This is why we are listing a slew of versatile travel beauty essentials in this section.
The Mini NUDIES Roses ‘N Honey Nudes 3pc Kit
This works as a lipstick, blush and eyeshadow. You could literally apply them all over your face. Oh, also it can work very well for highlighting and contouring too. For an all-day fresh beat using this product, apply it with a transclucent powder or setting spray. This works for both everyday looks and glamorous dressup. It’s glowy and feels like butter on skin. Want a metallic version of this? Try Nude Metallics For Eyes by NUDESTIX.
Mini Hangover 3-in-1 Replenishing Primer & Setting Spray
No matter how hot it is where you are travelling, this weightless spray holds on real tight on your skin. It’s the perfect substitute for your primer, setting spray and primer. Because it enhances your makeup while keeping it in place and hydrating your face all day long. Did you know that this has unique ingredients such as coconut water? Also, if you need another similar option, we’d suggest trying out the moisturising Mini Always an Optimist 4-in-1 Mist by Rare Beauty. We heard it’s amazing on dry skin.
Mini Hollywood Flawless Filter
Looking like you fly around with a personal makeup artist is now possible with this bottle. Ever since it went viral on Tiktok, so many beauty enthusiasts are obsessed with. Why? It blurs, smooths and illuminates your skin and instantly makes it look like you’re wearing a real-life filter. By including this as one of the travel beauty essentials, you could either use this as a base to create a glowy high coverage look or just wear this for a special no-makeup look. Every little bit gives your that subtle shine, here’s to radiant, flawless skin even during travels! And if you have acne-prone skin and dark circles, test out the holygrail that Tiktok introduced us to: Mini Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer and Daytime Eye Cream. It’s a liquid formula that gives great medium coverage. Perfect for glam and chilling.
Kitty Likes to Scratch Mini Eyeshadow Palette
Bless the team at Too Faced because they crafted this phenomenal all-in-one palette that can serve as eyeshadow, highlighter, blush, bronzer. It seamlessly blends in as a day look products while serving night out-worthy shimmers. In addition to that, if you’re new to makeup, this is a bonus choice. This is so silky-smooth and pigmented enough to easily create many other looks.
Besides that, we do have other honorary mentions when it comes to a mulitasking palette. The Mini Soft Butterfly Kisses Eyeshadow Palette by Violet Voss has a mix of blush, bronzer and neutral tones. Along with bright, popping hues like blue, orange and tuquoise so hot girl summer is going to get better with this.The Haze Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette has an interesting mix of glitters, subdued colours that can work for both day and night looks. The word on the street is that you can blend it very easily so you can use it across your face. And even a little bit on the collarbone. Oh, and we almost forgot the iconic Mini Shimmer Brick Highlighter, it’s everyone’s fave. You get an array of neutral, golden and rosy shimmers in one swipe and you can use it across your face and body.
Liquid Lip Blush & Cheek Tint
This sensational product by Benefit Cosmetics, gives you that pink radiance with a natural finish. Also, it’s long-lasting and very easy to apply. Other alternaives is any Rare Beauty liquid blush along with their Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush. This is great for those who want a satin finish that would suit dry skin. While, we are talking about lip tints, try a lip oil like Dior Addict, it can be used alone as a glossy or can be paired with a bold lipstick.
Mini Glowscreen Sunscreen SPF 40 PA+++ with Hyaluronic Acid + Niacinamide
Just like the title suggests, this isn’t your usual sunscreen. This Supergoop holygrail is packed with everything that you require from your fancy body lotion. Bid your goodbyes to dull, polluted skin on vacay with this. It’s a hydrating, makeup-gripping primer with SPF 40 and blue-light protection with pearlescent finish. Your skin would have no option but to glow in the sun! And let’s say you want a tanned skin with no sun burn just protection, we have another mulitasker! Glow Oil Body Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ by Supergoop leaves you skin tanned while protecting it from the nasty sun rays. And it does it in style with glowing, non-greasy shine.
Mini Dream Coat Supernatural Spray Anti-Frizz Treatment
This Colour Wow has been having its breakthrough moment laterly, it all started with Chris Appleton introducing it via his social media. The renowned British Beauty expert uses this all-rounder product on his A-list celebrity clients like Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez. So, who doesn’t want to indulge in a few Hollywood beauty secrets. By including this anti–frizz spray as one of your beauty travel essentials, you could skip the shampoos and conditioners and use the ones you get from your hotel. People love it because it’s non-greasy and makes your hair look effortlessly alluring. Also, it’s humidity-blocking, heat-protecting and has a high-shine finish. So, this is the only hair product you need while on vacay.
And yes, there are options. The Mini Elixir Ultime Hydrating Hair Oil Serum by Kérastase, Mini Perfect hair Day (PhD) Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo by Living Proof and Ouai’s Mini Detangling and Frizz Fighting Leave in Conditioner are all great for hydration and frizz control. You’d get the out-of-the-shower look in seconds.
Mini Brazilian Crush Body Fragrance Mist
While we already discussed about the role of perfume in your travel beauty essentials list, this one’s a multitasker. Therefore, we need to talk about it here. This holygrail by Sol De Janeiro has all the fragrance enthusiasts in a chokehold. Open #beautytok on TikTok and you’d see so many raving reviews about it. This is a warm, spicy fragrance that carries the delicious aroma of vanilla, salted caramel and pistachio. You can use it on your hair, body and lingerie! So, you could stick to just one functional hair product and skip your day fragrance bottle and stick to this. And for a fragrance mist, this one lasts for about 4-6 hours! If you need a difference scent of the same product, let’s say with fruity florals. Check out the lesser-known Mini Brazilian Crush Cheirosa ’68 Beija Flor™ Hair & Body Fragrance Mist.
Beauty Sleep Essentials
When travelling, it’s easy to have less sleep or even if you sleep well, there’s a chance that you are moving, strolling or jet-skiing so relaxation is a must. Therefore adding a sleep-friendly product or two to your travel beauty essentials list is an elite move. And with this measure, you can also bring down the effects of jet lag or any motion sicknesses that can arise while you’re on the move.
Sleep Mask
Let’s begin with a good silk sleep mask; the one by Slip at Sephora doesn’t tug your face. Instead it holds on your eyes with the right soHft and thick grip. And the fabric and other fine details of this product was developed over a decade so this is truly a one-of-a-kind. Also, it comes in a wide range glossy hues like charcoal, caramel, pink, rose gold and navy.
Silk Pillowcase
The Silk pillowcases have your back while you’re having a good night’s sleep. They help with acne by letting your pores breathe. Besides that, silk pillowcases play a major role in keeping your hair hydrated and protecting from breakage, tangles and frizz. Wherever you are, you’d wake up looking and feeling like a goddess. Buy yours from Blissy—all their pillowcases are made from pure Mulberry silk. This is the highest-quality silk and is made using silkworms that eat the leaves of mulberry tree.
Sleep Mist
You don’t have to carry a calming sleep mist, when you’re planning a light packing. However, if you’re someone who struggles to sleep in a new environment or might get stressed easily by travelling, this is a must-have.Any sleep mist made using relaxing properties such as lavendar, chamomile, aloe vera is great. A couple of options are the Beauty Sleep Essentials Set – Lavender and Aloe Vera at K-Mart and Pillow Sleep Spray Mist for Deep Sleep kit by Combat Cleaner.
For more lifestyle tips and tricks:
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