There may be affiliate links in this post. Read my disclosure policy to learn more.
What to pack in your travel makeup kit? So many people struggle with this question.
When it is time to go on vacation to do you stare at your makeup and wonder what to pack? Or do you throw everything you own in a big bag and take it all? Or maybe you are overwhelmed and take nothing?
It’s a hard thing to figure out exactly what you are going to want to pack in your travel make up case, but I am here to help.
What a makeup artist packs on vacation
I’ll let you in on a secret, I am a jack of all trades and master of none! I was born for the gig generation because I want to do too many things (all of them creative).
But suffice it to say, I am a freelance makeup artist. I work on TV shows, Hallmark movies, Netflix movies, Youtube channels and bridal. I do most of my makeup work in the summer when school is out and everyone ramps up production, so it works really well for me. I have been working on and off for the better part of 20 years, and I know makeup and what you really need and what you just might want.
Here are some of my production shots:
[easy-image-collage id=27385]
How to organize your makeup and decide what to take on a trip
I actually have a dedicated makeup bag that I keep packed, clean and ready for a trip at all times. That way I don’t have to go through my home stash to figure it out each time. I do rotate lipstick colors depending on the time of year and eyeshadows when I’m bored of the ones in there, but everything else lives in a little bag ready for fun.
(Granted we are traveling at least twice a month during our regular life, so if you travel less, this isn’t a great idea because makeup will go bad before it gets used.)
Drugstore Travel makeup
Before we get into the nitty gritty, I want to clear the air about the products that I will mention!
There are lots of options for drugstore travel makeup, and I know about some of them. The thing about being a pro makeup artist is that you want to spend money on products that make your job quicker and easier. Generally (though not always) that means a higher price tag.
I don’t want to spend the 15 minutes it will take me to build up a Morphe eyeshadow to a place where I like it. I want to pull out a Lorac palette, a Viseart, or a Natasha Denona palette and do the same look in 7 minutes. That isn’t to say that Morphe is bad eyeshadow, I am saying that time is money when you are working on a film set.
If you want to save money by mixing in high end with drugstore makeup spend money on eyeshadows and face powders. That is where you will see the biggest differences. Then spend less on your other makeup. (My very favorite foundation in the world is a discontinued Physician’s Formula foundation.)
I use the same principal for my vacation makeup. I don’t want to waste time doing makeup when I could be seeing something amazing, so I tend to carry pro-type brands in my travel kit. I value my time over money in this case. You may feel differently and that is okay! If you have something you love and it makes sense to take it on your vacation, do it!!
How to pack skincare for travel
Everyone knows that good makeup requires good skincare. You can’t get a smooth paint finish on a bumpy wall! The problem with skincare is that it often comes in large packaging or tubes that explode as soon as you get off the plane.
Here are my go-to skincare choices broken down by dry, normal, and oily skin
Dry skin needs all the hydration it can get, and the best way to get that is with face oils. If you struggle with tight dry skin like I do this is seriously a game changer! These are my two favorites, and the brand I use every day.
This is my favorite moisturizer for severely dry or menopausal skin
- ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES - Pumpkin Seed Oil has anti-inflammatory properties and is a deeply hydrating moisturizer. Use this emollient daily to prevent...
- PROMOTES HAIR GROWTH - Pumpkin Seed Oil is filled with antioxidants which strengthen hair at the follicles. This oil fights enzymes causing hair loss, and will...
- 100% ORGANIC - Therapeutic grade for skin, hair and nails. Strengthens hair and promotes hair growth (and prevents loss). This oil restores cell degradation and...
This is my favorite for dehydrated or mildly dry skin
- PACKED WITH VITAMIN E & C Softens skin & hair with natural antioxidants and fatty acids.
- ULTRA ANTI-AGING Smooths wrinkles as a natural skin care primer before makeup.
- NOURISHES HAIR Makes hair glossy & reduces hair loss for dry, damaged, or color-treated hair.
For normal skin I love this as a light moisturizer that will hydrate skin for makeup
- This cream revitalizes the skin.
- It plumps
- It leaves the skin brighter
For oily skin this is a must! It gives a little bit of moisture but helps your foundation stay on all day.
- formulated to mattify and remove excess oil
- Effectively controls shine for normal to combination skin types
- instantly absorb excess oil leaving skin with a matte finish
Best Sunscreen to take on your vacation
Here are two of my favorites:
This is what I personally use on a daily basis, I love that it is moisturizing as well as non stinging.
- This sun gel contains natural ingredients that lowers your skin temperature by 4.7?. It also contains 68% moisture essence that adds another moisture layer to...
- With PA++++, which is the extremely high UVA protection indicating factor, this sun gel will protect your skin even from the exposure to the direct sunlight and...
- The sunblock is formulated with advanced technology that helps with absorption. Such property give a soft, smooth feeling when applied to skin. Experience...
This is our favorite if we are swimming as it is waterproof and non stinging. We have used it for years.
- LIGHTWEIGHT WATER GEL FORMULA WON’T CLOG PORES – Non-comedogenic face sunscreen made for daily wear
- ANTIOXIDANT-RICH WITH HYDRATING HYALURONIC ACID – Works double duty to protect skin from UV rays and nourish with Hyaluronic Acid and antioxidants Green Tea,...
- ALWAYS MINERAL-BASED – Combining mineral and chemical UV protectors for performance you can trust
Best foundation to take on holiday
The best foundation to take with you when you travel is one that is small in size and that you will actually use. Don’t bring something that is fussy or changes consistency easily.
I only keep one in my travel kit and it is this one:
- Contains over 30% enhanced mineral water
- Helps protect against pollution: environmental aggressors, heavy metals and blue light
- Provides non-chemical SPF 25 protection
I love it because it is super easy to use, I don’t have to pack it in my liquids bag, and it is moisturizing and long lasting. It never spills or makes messes. In short it is perfect for travel. (It’s also a great foundation if you have dry skin, and I use it often in my everyday life. It is a medium coverage and super light weight.)
If you have normal to oil-prone skin I recommend this beautiful foundation:
- Experience the all-day staying power of new fresh wear foundation, available in 30 shades - lasting wear meets lightweight comfort - Our first of its kind in...
- L'Oreal Paris fresh wear foundation lasts all day and allows the skin to breathe. This lightweight foundation makes skin feel hydrated and comfortable for up to...
- The formula's three oil absorbers resist sweat, water, and transfer - providing coverage no matter what your day brings
I keep this in a million colors in my kit, and I rarely have drugstore options there. But this is just that good! It is a medium coverage and it will last from the time you get up in the morning until bedtime. If your skin is only a little bit dry you can get away with this too, but it is much too drying for most dry skin types.
Best eyeshadow to pack for travel
I pack very little eyeshadow with me and always tiny travel palettes. I don’t see the point in hauling around a huge palette that will break and that you won’t use that much. I also recommend higher end eyeshadow for travel. You can change the color payoff by how much pressure you use to apply it and so you can’t get tons of different looks from 4-6 shadows.
Here are the only 2 I keep in my travel kit:
If I could only pick one to travel with it would be the Viseart palette. I have had that in my kit for 2 years, and it isn’t even half gone. Not to mention the pans have never broken, and the mirror makes applying the shadow a breeze.
I know what you are going to say, these are expensive palettes, and they are I know. But these brands perform better than any other palettes I own (I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 different palettes), and they will last you for years.
I used to keep a more colorful palette in my bag, but I never used it!
Drug Store eyeshadow palette for travel
If I had to pick a cheaper option for eyeshadow palettes, I would steer you toward a color pop eyeshadow palette like this one:
- 12 pressed powders
- Highly pigmented
- Buildable coverage
It has a great variety of colors and textures and is a great collection that I use at home. It is not as small, nor is the quality as good, but it is a beautiful collection.
Face powder that is good for travel
I like to take a pressed powder only when I travel because I don’t want the mess of a loose powder when I am putting makeup on in unusual locations!
If you have oily skin or oily patches this cheap powder is also pretty amazing!
- Upto 5 hour natural shine control
- Minimizes the appearance of pores
- With natural minerals
I personally take this with me and only powder very loosely under my eyes.
- If you struggle with an oily T-zone, or simply want a flawless 'retouched' look, Charlotte Tilbury's skin-perfecting powder is a must-have. "Like the most...
Blush for travel makeup
Blush is one of those things that you either love or hate. There doesn’t seem to be an in-between for most people. I have learned to love it as I have gotten older and more washed out, but if you told me in my 20’s that I would ever wear blush I wouldn’t have believed you.
Pick a very neutral color when you are picking a blush for travel. You don’t want to take something that only works with certain eye looks or lipsticks. I find that peach colored blushes are very flattering to all but the most olive skinned complexions. (Olive skin looks beautiful with an orangey colored blush!)
Here are 2 of my favorite blushes for travel because they come in a small package and work without much fuss.
- Like the name says, it really lasts all day. Your gorgeous flush will not budge.
I love this little mini sized blush! It works well, blends well and the lid snaps closed really well.
Or this Nudestix blush in the color “In The Nude”
This is my favorite blush at the moment, I wear it every single day. I just took a little slice off the top of the stick and put it in one of these
- Cosmetic containers with PS bottle body, PP lid, are better than ABS and normal acrylic on market.
- 2.Made of high-grade acrylic, generally not reacting chemically with makeup, resistant to breaking and warping from heat, a tight seal and prevent leaking.
- These cosmetic jars are perfect for storing mineralized makeup, eye shadows, lotions, lipsticks, toners, creams, eye cream, manicure, and other beauty aids.
I don’t even need a brush to make this work, I just dab a bit on with my fingers and sheer it out!
Eyebrows for travel
You can’t get much smaller than an eyebrow pencil when you think about how to do your brows for travel.
My personal favorite brow pencil is a drugstore one. It matches my eyebrows perfectly, and I don’t want to bring anything more fussy with me. (I wear it in soft black.)
- BROW STYLIST DEFINER EYEBROW PENCIL: Ultra fine self-sharpening mechanical brow pencil draws on tiny brow hairs to fill in sparse areas or gaps and spoolie...
- FOR BROWS THAT ARE FLAWLESSLY, NATURALLY YOU: Brow definer mechanical pencil is waterproof, ophthalmologist tested and suitable for sensitive eyes and contact...
- CREATE YOUR PERFECT EYE MAKEUP LOOK: With our collection of Voluminous mascaras, achieve sleek lines with smudge proof eyeliner, define your brows and discover...
Eyeliner for travel
I don’t take eyeliner with me in my travel case. I don’t see the need for it. If I want to do something like a small winged liner, I can use a dark brown shadow with a little angled brush, or I can use my soft black eyebrow pencil.
If you wear eyeliner everyday and can’t be away from it, these are a few I love to use in my daily life.
- High intensity pigments
- Long lasting formula
- Smudge proof
If you are new to liner and want something that is really easy to clean up if you ruin your line (and I ruin my own all the time!) this is the one for you.
- Award winning
- Vegan and cruelty free
- Highly pigmented
I love the brush head on this liner. It doesn’t feather into eye wrinkles and it stays put all day. (It does leak when it travels–all liquid liners do because of the change in pressure. If you really want a liquid liner, just pack some extra wipes to clean it up.)
Bronzer or contour?
Our makeup bag is getting heavy! Do you have a special occasion? A lot of pictures where you need to look more chiseled? Are you sure you really need it?
Bronzer and contour are different things that get lumped into the same category (I kind of hate that I am doing it right now!). Contour helps define face shape, bronzer makes you look like you have some color from the sun.
In today’s makeup world a lot of people use them interchangeably. They really aren’t interchangeable, though. For example, someone may apply bronzer under the cheekbones and it looks like a weird orangey shadow, or apply contour on top of the cheekbones which makes them disappear into the face….I’m going down a rabbit’s hole….that’s for a different article!
Bring each of them if you can’t live without them. I don’t unless we are planning on family pics at a certain time of the day that warrants them.
The smallest and best bronzer I can recommend is this
- guarantee Product Delivery of goods imported from all over the world. Please read the details prior to purchase To request a dispute occurs. Thank You
Is it my favorite bronzer? No. Is it a good bronzer? If you have fair skin. Is it the smallest one I know? Yes!
If contour is a must take this guy
It isn’t cheap, but good contour never is. This one blends into your skin like a dream and never looks harsh or streaky. I don’t know much about drugstore contours because I always find them too warm and weird looking, so if you have one that you love let me know!
Mascara options for travel
Mascara is a place that you can save some money and get some great drugstore buys!
I keep these 2 in my pro kit:
- False lash effect, volumizing mascara
- Sculpting fiber formula
- Fuller, longer, curled lashes
This is an oldie but a goodie! I like to use the waterproof because it helps keep lashes curled better than the original. This will make you look like you have 2 times the lash volume than you actually have.
- LASH SENSATIONAL WATERPROOF MASCARA: Exclusive fanning brush with ten layers of bristles captures lashed from root to tip for a full-fan effect. Suitable for...
- DEFINE YOUR EYE WITH MASCARA: No eye look is complete without Maybelline Mascara—amp up the drama with The Falsies Mascara, keep it classic with iconic...
- MAYBELLINE IS THE EYE EXPERT: Whatever your signature eye look, natural or dramatic, Maybelline helps create looks that draw eyes with a broad selection of...
I like either the waterproof or the original in this one. The brush really separates lashes and lengthens them.
My personal every day mascara is this one:
My lashes have never looked better in my life than when I wear this mascara. It’s one of the few that looks the same at 10 at night as it did when I put it on in the morning. It is more expensive, but I find that I can generally get it for $10-$15 if I watch Ulta’s sales and Sephora’s Christmas sales.
Best lipstick for travel
I go one of two ways when I travel: I wear a long-wearing lipstick so I can forget about it all day (but I do pay the price the next day with really dry lips.) or I wear lip gloss or lip balm and keep it in my pocket. Generally I alternate depending on how dry it is and how well I am staying hydrated.
If I want to wear a lipstick that will last 12 hours I only recommend one, and it’s a drugstore pick!
- Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick leaves your lips with a flawless matte finish that will last all day and up to 16hrs
- Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick features a unique arrow applicator for a more precise liquid lipstick application
- Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick is long-lasting, your intense lipstick shade can last up to 16 hours
There is nothing that I have ever tried that stays on like Maybeline Superstay Lip Ink. I have fallen asleep with it on at night and it has worn through the next day. Honestly this stuff is insane. Plus it isn’t a very drying formula as long as you put on a thin layer. My 2 favorite colors are ringleader and lover. I haven’t found a red of theirs that stays as well as the pinks, but I keep hoping.
If I am wearing a gloss with some color this is my favorite:
- Shade Description: Victorian rose
- A full-pigment, weightless formula with lacquer, metallic and sparkle finishes that delivers the intensity of a stain and the shine of a gloss.
- Comfortable wearability; Mirror-like glossy finish
This is my holy grail gloss. There is something about it that is thick enough that I can eat with it on and it doesn’t come off. It isn’t sticky and it looks beautiful. I have 4-5 of these tucked in every purse and pocket I own, but the color vintage is my very favorite.
I sometimes wear it with a lip pencil, but it doesn’t need it, and I don’t take a lip pencil in my travel bag.
Best travel sized makeup brushes
When we first started traveling all the time, I tried dozens of different travel sized makeup brushes, trying to find the perfect ones. I have found that travel sized makeup brushes annoy me. They are too small, and I end up being heavy handed because I can’t hold them where I want to.
I’ve given up on tiny makeup brushes. I have just pared down brushes to what I absolutely need. Even the full sized brushes take up the same amount of room as the collection of travel sized ones I hated and didn’t use!
I take 2 eyeshadow brushes, a tapered brush for powder, a small blending/foundation brush and an eyelash curler. Nothing more.
I use my small blending brush for foundation, a fluffy shadow brush and a detailed shadow brush for my eyes, and a tapered/angled brush to tap on powder or add a bit of bronzer. I use my fingers to apply blush and the lipstick applicator for lipstick.
Here are some of my favorite brushes both drugstore and higher end
Foundation brushes
Real Techniques makes beautiful brushes that can be washed and take a beating and still maintain their shape and bristles. I like this one quite well, although I don’t like the thick handle!
- it cosmetics heavenly luxe buffing airbrush for foundation
This is the brush I use to put on my foundation most days. I love how streak-free it is and how quickly it moves product around. It isn’t as resilient as the Real Techniques brush, but it is fuller and softer.
Eyeshadow brushes
Don’t take your favorite most expensive eyeshadow brushes. I have made that mistake before and got my precious bristles caught in a zipper, and it was never the same!
Mid-priced eye brushes
This medium-priced crease brush is one I have on hand in my pro kit always! I think I own 20-30 of them.
It is from an independent company called Beau Gachis.
I love them to build up a transition shade, or do an all over color. They are the perfect amount of flexible and full.
This is the detail brush I prefer
- PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP BRUSH: ADD DEPTH + DIMENSION using the soft, pointed tip to add color to the crease.
- QUALITY MATERIAL: Synthetic EXTRA-SOFT FIBERS, vegan, antimicrobial and hypoallergenic to protect your skin.
- MULTI-FUNCTIONAL: VERY TAPERED MAKEUP BRUSH HEAD with a pointed tip to pick up and apply color. SHEER-TO-MEDIUM COVERAGE with your favorite powder products
I like that it comes to a point and doesn’t have a lot of wiggle in it.
Inexpensive eye brushes
Once again, Real Techniques brushes are winners! I love this duo.
- EYESHADOW BRUSH SET: This makeup brush set is designed for easy cream, powder & liquid eyeshadow application. Use the base shadow brush for application, and the...
- BRUSHES FOR MAKEUP: Quality makeup brushes are important and have been made popular by Real Technique, MUAs & other beauty gurus because they pick up &...
- PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP BRUSHES: From foundation to liner our brushes & beauty sponges flawlessly apply primer, concealer, eyeshadow & more. Keep your brushes germ...
This is all you need to do a full eyeshadow look. I wish the fluffy one was a little longer and a little more rounded, but you can make it work!
Tapered brushes for powders
The brush I use is a Japonesque brush that is no longer being manufactured. So I will post some similarly shaped brushes by reputable brush makers below.
- New, with cap and factory sealed. 100% Authentic
- no streaks
- no clown cheeks
- natural looking flush
- DEFINE YOUR FEATURES - Our Sculpting Face Brush fits the contours of your face precision makeup application and beautifully defined features with a natural...
- EXPERTLY DESIGNED - The contoured and curved shape of this synthetic-bristled brush hugs the face to help expertly sculpt and blend product, contour cheekbones,...
- HOW TO USE - Swirl brush over contouring makeup and blend onto skin using back and forth motions. Start at the center of the face and work outwards for more...
I love my It cosmetic brushes and the 2 Bare Minerals brushes I have, so I imagine those will be the same in quality and close in shape.
I haven’t tried any of the new ELF brushes, but I have heard really good things about them.
A word about eyelash curlers
Eyelash curlers are a hidden gem in any makeup kit. Curled eyelashes make you look awake, make your lashes look longer and help keep your mascara from clumping up.
Most people who don’t like them haven’t found the right curler. It is really important to consider your eye shape when you select and eyelash curler. I used to pinch my eyelids with the curler all the time before I found my favorite Shiseido curler.
You see, I have fairly large and rounded eyes, and curlers would always come in at the sides before my eyes did, and I’d pinch them every time.
Now I keep 3 curlers in my pro kit.
Shiseido for round or big eyes.
These Tweezermen for Almond eyes
- Color: Copper
- Item Condition: 100% authentic, new and unused. Tweezerman Rose Gold Classic Lash Curler Model No. 1035-RGR.
- Tweezerman Rose Gold Classic Lash Curler Model No. 1035-RGR: Buy Tweezerman Eyelash Curlers - Our expertly crafted best-seller in a stylish Rose Gold finish...
The Shu Umera for deeply set eyes or smaller eyes.
- it is best product.
- you should try it.
- Delivery times : 14-24 days
Other travel makeup essentials
Makeup mirror
I use a small round mirror that I bought at a closeout sale at a department store in Canada. But I think I am going to buy this one soon because it lights up!!
- ❤PORTABLE FOLDING COSMETIC MIRROR - Comes with 8 dimmable LED lights. The brightness of mirror lights is adjustable by finger touch. One polished glass and...
- ❤PREMIUM QUALITY - Made of durable lightweight plastics shell and structure to protect the mirror very well. Foldable two-sided mirror with magnetic opening.
- ❤VERY COVENIENT STORAGE - This LED lighted compact mirror is 5" x 3.3" x 0.4"(12.9*8.5cm). Fits in any handbag, purse and makeup bag for easy storage.
Makeup bag
I have used so many different bags over the years, and they all have pluses and minuses. Right now I am using a bag that is padded like this one:
- ✅ MULTIPLE STORAGE COMPARTMENTS - One main compartment with 5 small pockets neatly organizes your makeup. Main pocket in decent size holds many small items....
- ✅ HIGH QUALITY - Thick fabric, nice lining, reliable double zippers, zip-top closure.
- ✅ WATER-RESISTENT - Water-resistent and durable fabric protects your gear from spills, easy to wipe down.
It’s not particularly cute or special, but it is a good size and it wipes down for easy cleaning. Find something the right size and make it work for you.
Makeup wipes
In my every day life I use this guy to remove my makeup
- Gently removes impurities while also nourishing the skin
- Perfect for all skin types, even the most sensitive ones
- the skin feeling healthy and smooth.
But when I am traveling I do what is easy and keep makeup wipes on hand. These are just the best! Nothing else comes anywhere close to being as gentle or as good.
- Twin pack of 25 count soft, pre-moistened Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Face Wipes to remove makeup and effectively cleanse skin in one easy step
- Makeup remover facial towelettes work to dissolve all traces of dirt, oil and makeup on skin, for superior cleansing and makeup removing power at your...
- Removes even stubborn waterproof mascara—with these eye makeup remover wipes which are specially formulated to be gentle on the eyes, so they're suitable...
Easy makeup for traveling
Now that I have told you every last thing you can pack in your makeup kit for travel, here is a word of advice. I tend to be very quick and easy on the makeup when I am traveling. Don’t get me wrong, I love a full glam look, but travel is about the experience and leaving behind the daily grind.
Even though I love makeup it can be part of the daily grind. I tend to make sure I am wearing sun protection, mascara with curled lashes and something to moisturize my lips. Not a whole lot more. Of course, pictures do come up, but I want my kids to see that we were happy all together, not that their mom didn’t have an eyebrow out of place.
As my blog has grown it has necessitated doing more makeup during travel than I did previously, but overall I keep it an under 10 minute process. Today I’m going to show you my under 10 minute makeup routine with my actual travel makeup!( The video is more like 30 minutes because I talk technique and products too much!)
I hope it helps all of you to gain some confidence, know where to wisely spend your money, and gain a couple of new tips along the way! Plus it will help you decide what to pack in your travel makeup kit.
Like this article? Pin it for Later!
Last update on 2020-10-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Leave a Reply