Besides talking about traveling, nothing excites me more than anything and everything about beauty. When it comes to traveling, I like to keep what’s in my travel makeup bag to a bare minimum. All the products I mention here, I use daily, and they are some of the best travel makeup essentials to pack.
Since you’re reading about makeup, I am pretty sure you will enjoy these hilarious makeup captions as well!
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What To Pack In Your Travel Makeup Bag
Unfortunately, you can’t just throw anything in your carry-on. There are some rules to follow! Before we go into what’s in my travel makeup bag, let’s discuss the rules if you don’t plan on checking your makeup.
What are the Rules For Packing Makeup
You have to follow some rules if you’re only flying with a carry-on. Don’t worry, I have a post on what to pack in your carry-on and how to survive long flights in economy that has some good info before you hop on the plane!
But if you are one of those travelers, all gels, liquids, creams, and aerosols have to be TSA-approved. If they don’t meet the requirements, you will not have the option to check them or toss them in the trash.
Liquid items must fit into small travel containers that don’t exceed more than 100ml (3.4 ounces) and fit into a 1-quart-sized resealable bag. Most full-sized makeup products contain more than what is TSA-approved, so it’s important to follow these guidelines.
However, if you have some favorite makeup essentials already, check if they have a travel size. One of the handy travel hacks I use is keeping the container when it’s done, so I can keep reusing it for all my trips.
Another option is buying reusable TSA-approved travel bottles and small travel containers. They are great for putting in a little product without having to spend extra money on travel-sized products. You can purchase one online here. I have a few myself.
What’s In My Travel Makeup Bag For The Face
Now we’ve got the rules down, let’s get to the details about what is in my cosmetic bag and all the makeup to pack for traveling.Â
Since you’re reading on makeup to pack for your travels, you may enjoy reading what’s in my makeup bag.
Primer
Milk Hydro Grip Primer has always been my go-to for priming my face before applying my foundation. It works so well that it won Allure’s Best of Beauty Award in 2019.
This product works well in all environments, which is why I love it so much! My skin stays super hydrated, and my foundation looks flawless all day.
Foundation
BareMinerals Complexion Rescue tinted moisturizer has a very light texture and doesn’t feel heavy on my face. It works well for light coverage since vacationing, I like to avoid wearing a lot of makeup anyway, and stay consistent with my skincare routine. This tinted moisturizer already has SPF 30, which is one less thing to pack for your trip.
This container is a plastic tube and not glass, which makes it easy and breezy for packing. Avoid packing the full-sized foundation bottles that are in glass containers with you checked or in your carry-on. There is always the possibility that the glass could break during transit. No one wants to clean a huge mess in their makeup bag.
Concealer
We all party too hard, indulge in too many cocktails, and/or get fewer zzz’s during vacation. Easily wipe away those dark circles under your eyes with Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat High Cover Radiant Concealer.
This concealer is the HOLY GRAIL of all under-eye problems and will keep you looking fresh for all the pictures you will be taking. This thin tube is very easy to slip into my travel makeup bag too!
Powder
One incredible translucent setting powder is Veil by Hourglass. It’s a super fine powder that is great for setting foundation all day. You may need a few pats from blotting paper if you have an oily T-zone like me.
Bronzer
My favorite bronzer is the Smashbox The Cali Contour Palette. It comes with both bronzing and highlighting powders. However, I prefer easy travel makeup and tend to steer clear of taking large palettes. Heaven forbid it breaks during transit or on vacation!
So, my go-to bronzer for travel is from the Sephora Collection. It is travel size – so it’s super easy to pack and does the trick of giving me a glow!
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Blush
I love blush and have too many colors to choose from in my makeup bag at home.
My go-tos have always been from the Sephora Collection; they’re cheap, and I tend to splurge on other makeup essentials. However, one of my travel makeup hacks is to forget the blush and use lipstick. It is one less thing to worry about packing in my travel makeup bag.
You sure you are taking the steps properly clean your face. Find out what life changing facial cleansing tool got my face squeeky clean and I can’t live without.
Highlighter
I am a sucker for highlighters because I am obsessed with glowing. In my makeup bag, you can find quite a few to choose from. For vacation, I always pack one, though.
I’m obsessed with glowing and have too many highlighters for home, so when traveling, I choose one. My favorites are Fenty Beauty the Mean Money and Hustle Baby palette, Artist Couture Haute Damn, and Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Skin Highlighting Trio. I always go with the smallest palette for light packing.Â
Setting Spray
I cannot live without MAC’s Prep+Prime Fix + sprays. This is the HOLY GRAIL for setting makeup. Fix + setting spray is perfect for traveling since you’re pretty much out of the room all day and keeps your face in place!Â
Don’t let travel wreak havoc on your skin. Keep your skin glowing and check out how to take care of your skin while traveling.
Travel Makeup Essentials For The Eyes
Eye Primer
MAC’s paint pot does wonders in keeping eyeshadow intact and from creasing. The container is glass, but it is so small and really hard, so it shouldn’t break in your travel makeup bag.
Eyeshadow
As much as I love eyeshadows, I really do, but I leave them at home. To get some color on your lids, try using bronzer instead. You can get a darker shade for nights out by slightly moistening the eyeshadow brush, then adding a dab of bronzer. Voila!
Brows
Benefit is an awesome brand for all your brow needs. Benefit’s Browvo! Conditioning Primer keeps my brows in place for shaping with myPrecisely Brow Pencil. Both are small and easy to throw in your travel makeup bag.
Lightly brushing your brows after shaping with Femme Couture Arch Brow Grooming Wax will keep all those eyebrow hairs in place.
Eyebrow Highlighter
The High Brow by Benefit works wonders in highlighting my brow bone and adding some brightness. It’s great to make your eyes pop and look awake and not jet-lagged. Throw that one in your travel makeup bag too!
Mascara
Okay, here is where I get a little bit stingy with packing. I want wispy lashes and for them to pop. These two little tubes, Tarte’s Opening Act Lash Primer and Kat Von D Go Big Or Go Home Volumizing Mascara, help give me the appearance of falsies.
What’s In My Travel Makeup Bag For The Lips
Lip Primer
It is really important to keep your skin hydrated while traveling, and your lips as well. Adding Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask to my daily skincare routine, my lips have stayed moist and free from chapping.
This lip primer is a miracle worker for succulent lips. I don’t leave home without it, ever!
Interested in trying some new skincare products? Check out these Amazon beauty products that will transform your skin!
Lipstick
Going to confess my lipstick obsession, they have a bag of their own from my caboodle. I don’t pack them all obviously, but I make sure to bring at least two, either nude, coral, or red.
My favorite nude is Kiss from Anastasia, and for a pop of color, Kat Von D’s liquid lipsticks deliver. Keep it simple and stick with two completely different colors.Â
What’s In My Travel Makeup Bag For Tools
Beauty Blender
The Beauty Blender is my all-time favorite to pack in my cosmetic bag when traveling. It pretty much does the job for most of the tools that you can leave at home.
Eyelash Curler
My favorite curler is from Kevin Aucoin, and it is a travel essential in my travel makeup bag so I don’t have flat lashes.
Bronzer Brush
Always pack a bronzing brush so you can get precision with your bronzer. My favorite is the Sephora Collection Pro Demi Fan #72 brush; unfortunately, it’s not available anymore.
Highlighter
My highlighter brush go-to is from the Sephora Collection Total Brush Set. It is very light and thin, and the brush tip isn’t so bushy, which is perfect for packing.Â
Eyeshadow Brushes
For traveling, I take only two eyeshadow brushes from the Sephora Collection Total Brush Set. One is to set my primer with powder, and if I decide to apply bronzer to my lids.
On the hunt for some new face scrubs? I have 6 best exfoliating face masks that will get you glowing skin.
Sharpener
I always make sure my eyebrow wax and highlighter are sharpened, but you never know if a mishap will occur. The NARS pencil sharpener is small and compact, and easy to pack in your travel makeup bag.
TRAVEL BAG MAKEUP PACKING LIST
Well, that’s what’s in my travel makeup bag: all the travel makeup essentials to pack for your next trip. Hopefully, these tips and makeup essentials will do you well on your journey. Have any travel makeup bag essentials you pack? Let me know in the comments below.
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