Your flights are booked, your itinerary is set, your luggage is filled to the brim with your ideal outfits—all that’s left to pack are your travel makeup essentials for a fun holiday ahead. Whether you’re adhering to TSA guidelines or just want to pack lightly, most of us will not be taking our complete makeup collection along for the ride—making the unavoidable task of paring down your beauty stash an important one.
A beauty tip? Visualize the entire routine you’ll practice once you land from start to finish. You’ll want at least one complexion product to even skin tone and veil imperfections, along with multitasking pigments to bring warmth and subtle color to the face—plus, whatever you use to awaken your gaze, like eyeliner or mascara. And if your plans call for glam, eyeshadows and lipsticks are worthwhile additions, too. Below, I’ve created the ultimate makeup packing guide for your summer holiday and beyond.
Trusted Organizers
First things first, determine what travel makeup organizers work best for you. Maybe you already own the best toiletry bag that can fit both your skin-care and makeup necessities, or perhaps you’d prefer to store them separately. A water-resistant case has spacious compartments, transparent pockets, and even a detachable wet pouch—perfect to secure in your carry-on. Otherwise, consider a zippered pouch, which is wide enough to fit all your cosmetics, yet still compact to pop in your purse or personal item for easy access.
Skin Prep
Experts routinely emphasize the importance of skin prep for glowing skin with or without makeup. My takeaway? Rely on nourishing formulas and face primers to prep your base. First reach for an exceptionally hydrating and soothing serum , then a cream to restore moisture and ready skin for makeup.
Flawless Complexion
Selecting your vacation complexion products is arguably the hardest part, with so many different types of foundations and tints to choose from—not to mention your own skin color potentially changing after spending time in the sun. You can't go wrong with Rare Beauty’s tinted moisturizer that even boasts sun protection plus soothing agents like lotus, gardenia, and white water lily, whereas someone after a more skin-like finish will appreciate the ever-evolving world of complexion balms.