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Once you’ve refined the art of carefully selecting your travel beauty products, you’ll have plenty more room for souvenirs and new finds from abroad. The obvious tip is to pack the least amount of products as possible, but when you’re traveling for weeks at a time it’s hard to compromise your daily routine.
Your main focus is to minimize liquids and to focus on your essentials. Here are my top tips on what travel beauty products to pack and what to leave behind!
What Travel Beauty Products to Pack
Written by: Iona Y.
Pack these Travel Beauty Products
Sunscreen
Whether you’ll be sipping cocktails in your French villa or cruising through the Greek islands, it’s best to pack your own sunscreen. Different countries have very specific regulations when it comes to sunscreen. You’ll find that your usual SPF 50+ may not be available in some European countries. I’ll usually pack a tube of Invisible Zinc, a great alternative to chemical sunscreens.
You’ll want to look your best when you travel! Read my travel tips to Pack Light Stylishly!
Rosehip Oil
Every travel bag needs a versatile all rounder and it’s definitely Rosehip oil. Use it on scars, cuts,itchy skin. Use it as a moisturizer, serum and cuticle oil. It’s 100% organic and absorbs really quickly. Can’t find Rosehip oil? Try Josie Moran’s Argan Oil
Mini Shampoo and Conditioner
Most hotels will offer complimentary shampoo and sometimes conditioner but they may not always work well. Pack some minis with you so that if the shampoos aren’t working with your hair, you have back up. This women’s essential kit from Evo is easy to pack and it has all the hair and body care you need for a few weeks of travel.
Use slim packing cubes to save space in your suitcase and travel carry-on only.
What Travel Beauty Producs to Leave at Home
Swap full sized or decanted products for travel minis and sachets
Traveling means you get to explore local cult products. Leave room in your suitcase by bringing minis. I stock up on sample sachets whenever I buy skincare or makeup at Mecca or Sephora. That way you can try new brands and save time decanting your skincare products.
Samples are great especially with perfume. Instead of packing full sized bottles, hit up your department store and ask for mini samples or opt for liquid-free fragrance wipes.
Tip: Read the ingredients label to make sure you won’t have an allergic reaction. If your skin is really sensitive, it might be best to pack perfumes you already use.
Ditch the Aerosols
Aerosol cans don’t travel well and if you lose the cap, customs won’t allow you to pack it. Instead of spray deodorant, use a solid one. If dry shampoos are your go-to staples, opt for a dry powder shampoo like this one from Bumble Bumble.
Blow dryer, curling tong and GHD
I’m going to save you some space here. Leave all your styling tools at home. Different countries have different wattage and even if you pack a converter, it might do a number break your styling tools. I don’t mess with electrical and neither should you. Besides, you really should give your hair a break from all the styling you do. Instead of using the hotel hair dryer, consider dry wrapping – brushing your hair in different directions so you can shape the way it dries.
You’re on holiday – embrace drying your hair without heated tools. If you’re off to a dinner, put it up in a top know or braid it.
Read TFG’s complete guide to understanding power outlets and converters/travel adapters.
14 Point Travel Beauty Checklist
Hair Essentials
- Paddle brush
- Mini shampoo and conditioner
Makeup:
- BB Cream (pick one with SPF so you can skip the sunblock in the morning)
- Bronzer
- Blush Brush
- Blush- Tinted Lip Balm
- Eye Liner
- Eyebrow wax or pencil
- Mascara (I opt for eyelash extensions when I travel)
Skincare:
- Rosehip oil
- Face cream (that works both day and night)
- Cleanser (in sachet samples)
- Makeup remover wipes
- Invisible Zinc sun block
What to Pack in Your Carry On
You can pack everything else in your suitcase but leave the following in your carry on to freshen up on the plane:
- Rosehip oil (for dry skin and cuticles)Tinted lip balm to keep lips moisturized and you looking somewhat decent
- Blush for a quick pick me up before landing
- Dry shampoo (powder form) to refresh your roots and fringe
- Mascara
What are your essential travel beauty products? Please comment below!
For more of the best travel beauty products, please read:
- Beauty Products to Buy When Traveling to Europe
- 10 Airplane Beauty Tips
- The Beauty Junkie’s Guide to Minimalist Travel Makeup
Hope you liked this post on how to choose the best travel beauty products. Please share with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
Author Bio: Iona Y juggles multiple hobbies when she’s not playing with lipstick and sharing beauty tips. One of them just so happens to be a dating blog. Drop her a line at www.30everafter.com.
All must haves but I also pack my Studio Dry hair towel since hotel towels don’t work well at removing excess water fast.
I always bring along my tinted moisturizer! Foundation and moisturizer in one!
Great tip Emily! Thanks for reading! We love multi-functional products!
This is such a great, simple list of what beauty products to pack! I always make sure to pack my lip gloss!
Thanks for reading Emily! Glad you enjoyed the list! Happy travels!
I use make up remover cloth such as Makeup Eraser & recently bought Black Magic. Both work fine and save on recurring expense and bulk of makeup remover wipes, especially for longer trips
Great tip! Thanks for reading!
Short and sweet! I was looking for a dry shampoo that wasn’t aerosol, so this is excellent info!
Glad you found it useful 🙂
So if you are going to the beach and have to travel carry-on only, would you suggest bringing multiple travel tubes and sticks of sunscreen or do you have another method?
Hi Hannah, usually if I know I’ll need a large quantity of a certain product I decant it into several containers. However, you can also buy a sunblock stick like this one which is a good size: http://amzn.to/1TBMO1y
Amika also makes GREAT hair tools that are dual voltage. I’ve brought a travel (mini!!!) hairdryer, straightener and full size curling iron on many trips (and yes, I only do carry on) and they’ve worked very well.
Sounds good! Will have to check them out. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Suggesting that you leave your hair styling tools at home is fine for all the travellin’ girls with straight hair. Us curly headed folks need our tools. At least I do.
It doesn’t work for all of us 🙁
I have curly hair as well and I definitely leave the tools at home…enter buns and braids!! IF necessary you could bring a mini straightener for bangs, but I just pinned mine back! Life is too short to fight with your hair; embrace your texture and go have fun!! :):) Curls are beautiful!
Great idea Lacey! Hair can take up way to much valuable travel time 🙂 We also have this helpful post for curly hair you might like: https://travelfashiongirl.com/how-to-style-curly-hair-when-traveling/ thanks!