Now that you’ve read about What’s In My Everyday Makeup Bag, I’m also sharing with you how my travel makeup bag differs. Of course, when I travel I’ll need a lot more items than what’s in my everyday makeup bag. I usually bring one larger size makeup bag or 2 separate makeup bags when I travel in addition to my travel toiletry bag. I also have a travel makeup case but it doesn’t seem to fit my makeup as compactly as I’d like with a more flexible makeup bag. Packing my makeup in smaller makeup bags also allows me to save room and to easily maneuver packing it into my suitcase. It’s better to be prepared than to notice you’re missing items halfway through your trip and have to go out of your way and spend money to buy that item. That is, if you can even find that item depending on the country you travel to.
I like to have the right beauty products for everyday makeup looks and glam looks should the occasion arise. In addition to what I already take in my everyday makeup bag, these are the items that I add to my travel makeup bag to make sure I’m fully prepared on my trip:
Foundation
I bring both liquid and powder foundations when I travel and usually use a medium to full coverage powder foundation for everyday use. I find that it absorbs oil better than liquid, and it is not as heavy. Powder foundation is also more natural on the skin and I don’t have to worry about smudging as much as liquid foundation. I use liquid foundation for glam looks to ensure I have absolute full coverage, or for those times when I just feel like dressing up a bit more during the day when I go sightseeing or exploring in a new country or city. Currently, I’m using the Too Faced Cocoa Powder Foundation. This is actually discontinued, but I have 2 in backstock so once they’re done, I’ll switch back to my KVD Beauty Lock-It Powder Foundation. For liquid foundation, I’m using Makeup Forever Mat Velvet+ which is also discontinued (seems like I’m having bad luck with products I choose), and have the Huda Beauty Faux Filter Luminous Matte Foundation as backup.
Setting Powder/Setting Spray
When I travel, I like to make sure my makeup stays on as I go about my day. I don’t really do touch-ups except for my eyeliner or possibly lipstick so that I can spend more time enjoying my travels and worry about one thing less. Setting powder helps with the absorption of extra oil, reducing shine, and making my foundation and concealer last longer. I use setting spray on top of the setting powder when I do a full face makeup look. It also helps with reducing makeup transfer. For the setting powder, I usually use the Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder. I also get a lot of sample size setting powders from Sephora free samples/gifts and I tend to bring these with me while I travel. For the setting spray, I’m using the CoverFx High Performance Setting Spray or the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray. I also have these in smaller sizes so it helps lighten the amount of cosmetics I bring on my trips. (I am still in the process of determining my favorite one setting powder and setting spray though).
Bronzer
Bronzer is a must-have for me, especially on vacation. This helps give dimension to my face as well as help blend my foundation with my skin tone should I get more tanned. With bronzer, if the skin color on your face gets darker, you won’t have to buy a new foundation on your trip and can do some damage control, especially in the forehead area. Right now, I’m using the Kylie Cosmetics Bronzer in Almond but I won’t be reprchasing this. I prefer the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer or Nars Laguna Bronzer much more. When I have bronzers in travel size, I opt to pack these in my travel makeup bag to help with carrying less with me.
Highlighter
I love having that glow so packing a highlighter with me is a must. It just really brings my look together with the bronzer as a final touch. And it just looks so good in photos! My go-to is the Becca Cosmetics x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop. I also have this in a mini size so this has come in handy for my travels. I bring the Kylie Cosmetics Fiji Loose Powder Highlighter with me when I’m out of the Champagne Pop, but it seems to be discontinued now on her site. Read the 2021 Sephora Spring Saving Event post on my repurchase of this highlighter and the notice of Becca Cosmetics shutting down in September 2021 due to the pandemic – so stock up now!
Eyeshadow
The past 2-3 years, I had the Urban Decay Naked Palette and Urban Decay Urban Addictions Palette (Sephora 500 point gift) with me. Since the Urban Decay Naked Palette is now too neutral (and a bit boring to be honest) for me, I will be bringing the Morphe Cosmetics x Jaclyn Hill Palette with me from now on. Playing with eyeshadow is so fun for me, especially when I travel, I need some more color and options to get more creative and fun with my looks. I like change and having options and I think this palette is great for multiple types of makeup looks. Although this packaging is larger and won’t fit in my makeup bag, at least it’s very slim and flat and can fit between my clothes easily.
Eyeshadow Primer
I cannot go without an eyeshadow primer especially while traveling. This makes my eyeshadow and eyeliner last much longer, especially with my oily eyelids. I would also wear this if I’m only wearing eyeliner, as those tend to smudge on me even if they are supposed to be waterproof. I just like to make sure everything stays in place as I’m out throughout the day on my travels. You can read more details about which ones I use and the new one I just purchased during the Sephora Spring Saving Event.
False Lashes & Lash Glue
I find that false lashes really complete the eyes, and gives the extra oomph needed. My favorite brand so far is Esqido and House of Lashes as they are of high quality, and the band looks very natural but easy to apply. But currently in my travel makeup bag, I’m using Sephora Collections #LashStories (now discontinued) and Shu Uemura False Lashes in Luxe Black. I usually bring one or two pairs of false lashes with me as one is a little more natural, and the other is on the more dramatic side. I just want to be ready for when I do need to dress up a little more. For the lash glue, I’ve used Duo over the years but I recently just bought the Kiss Lash Glue Liner at Ulta Beauty which doubles as a lash glue and eyeliner and it’s much easier to apply and there’s barely any wait time to dry.
Face Mist
I don’t normally buy face mists, but I get them through either free gifts from Sephora when I make a purchase or it comes as part of a package I buy with my skincare products. At the moment, I have the Tarte Cosmetics Rainforest of the Sea 4 in 1 Setting Mist. This setting mist also works as a refreshing mist should you need a boost of hydration and reset your makeup. It also comes in handy when the air is drier on the plane or if you’re in a tropical place.
BeautyBlender
If I had to choose between a BeautyBlender or makeup brushes, I would choose the BeautyBlender. The tip of the BeautyBlender is small enough that it gives me the accuracy I need to blend the concealer under my eyes. It is also of course, easy to blend the foundation on my face with the larger end. It is also super easy to pack although I usually do put this in a smaller plastic baggie first so I don’t smear leftover foundation or concealer onto my other beauty products or the makeup bag itself. Sometimes, I reuse the BeautyBlender in the small packaging it came with so I don’t have to buy a case for it and it has come in super handy.
Makeup Brushes
If I have room, I will definitely bring a foundation or buffing brush to help me apply my foundation faster than the BeautyBlender. I also bring a bronzing brush, a highlighter brush, and eyeshadow brushes as well. Currently, I bring the following brushes with me when I travel: e.l.f. Blending Brush, e.l.f. Ultimate Blending Brush, e.l.f. Highlighter Brush, Quo All Over Shadow Brush, and Sephora Crease Shadow Brush.
Read What’s In My Everyday Makeup Bag to see the rest of the beauty products I bring with me in my travel makeup bag.
Moisturizing Balm
The flat, compact size Honest Beauty Magic Balm is really useful as it’s a beauty balm that helps with instantly moisturizing dry areas and is easy to store in your travel makeup bag. You can use this balm from head to toe so it’s very convenient and can be used for many purposes. It also keeps you moisturized for 8 hours long and has shea butter and botanical oils.
4 Tips On Packing Your Travel Makeup Bag:
1 – If you have travel sizes or sample sizes of your makeup, pack those. Just make sure the sizes will last you throughout your trip. This is because you can save on the amount of weight you’ll be packing, and as soon as you finish them on your trip, you can actually throw them out while on your trip to lighten your luggage. I also prefer packing light, or disposable items since a majority of the time, I only use a carry-on.
2 – If you’re like me and save your best for last, then bring your least favorite makeup brushes and eyeshadow palettes with you on your travels (unless it’s a specific brush or palette you really need). I do this because things can get hectic when traveling, and I don’t want to ruin or leave anything I absolutely love behind by accident. Eyeshadows can get pricey or it may be a limited edition palette and you wouldn’t want anything happening to your favorite makeup on your trip. I also have a bunch of different makeup brushes at home that I don’t absolutely love, but still works. I bring these on my trip should I ever need to lighten my luggage some more and if they’re not in the best shape, I don’t mind tossing them on the trip. And it’s also such a drag if I forget my favorite brushes on a trip and have to repurchase them when I’m back home. When I pack for trips, I try to pack items that I don’t mind disposing of.
3 – Bring a larger makeup bag than you normally would use for your everyday makeup bag. That way, you can keep all your makeup together in one place and it’s more organized and easily accessible for when you need it. It’ll basically be your everyday makeup bag and travel makeup bag in one. But also bring a mini empty one should you need to have some makeup on you when you go out during the day. At least when you don’t need it, you can fold it up and pack it away.
4 – If your makeup bag doesn’t have a compartment for your makeup brushes, put them in a clear Ziploc bag so the makeup on these brushes won’t contaminate or dirty the rest of your makeup.