Whether I’m traveling out of the country, or on the go with local road trips, I found that there are certain must-have travel beauty products that I need to take with me. Bringing these items will also make your trip a lot more convenient and help maintain your skin, hair, and look of the day.
When I travel, I like to bring travel-size items – whether I pack it myself (shampoo and conditioner into empty skincare jars I reuse) or actually purchase the travel-size beauty products because I travel with a carry-on luggage for a majority of my trips. This allows me to travel light and I can throw the empties out while on my trip to lighten my load even more.
As I’ve traveled to different countries throughout the years, explored within my own country, and packed an endless amount of times for them, the following list are the must-have travel beauty products you can bring for any and every vacation you take. These items will ensure that you are not forgetting the most important beauty products that will allow you to be ready for anything – just like when you’re at home and have access to everything you need. One of the most frustrating things when I travel is forgetting something I need. Because who wants to spend the time and money looking for something you already have – plus they might not even have what you need. So never go on a trip without the following beauty products and be prepared for your vacation.
1 – Makeup Removing Wipes
I love bringing makeup removing wipes when I travel since I can literally take the whole day off as soon as I get back from my daily adventures. However, that is not to say that makeup removing wipes are the one thing you should be relying on to clean your face. I just prefer not to have to bring a bottle of makeup remover and cotton when I travel. A wet wipe lets me quickly take everything off quickly and easily before I start my skincare routine with a good cleanser. Another option is to double cleanse with a makeup removing oil or balm to melt off your makeup. Most times for me, removing makeup is such a drag and that’s why I procrastinate on sleeping. Having makeup removing wipes handy while you’re traveling will save you a lot of time. When I’m at home, I use the MakeUp Eraser but it is a little harder traveling with it since sometimes I don’t have enough time to wait for it to dry before I pack it in my suitcase.
2 – Blemish Or Acne Spot Treatment
I usually bring a blemish or acne spot treatment in case of a sudden breakout (aka emergencies). Traveling can really stress the skin out and the different water, climate, food, and bedding can also add to it. There has definitely been times when I travel and get random breakouts. Having a blemish treatment on hand allows me to target the problem spot, prevent it from growing, and actually decrease the spot or remove it completely in a much shorter time than it would on its own. Here are a few different acne spot treatments that work.
3 – Leave-In Conditioner
Environmental stressors such as the sun, air, and water can really damage your hair while traveling. Not to mention the water at your travel destination may not be as of high quality (could be hard water or unsafe to drink) compared to where you’re from. A leave-in conditioner can really help nourish your hair while detangling and protecting it. I find this especially useful after a dip in pool or time at the beach when it could be really windy and the salt water dries my hair out. Depending on which leave-in conditioner you get, it can also provide heat protection if you like to use styling tools. My favorite leave-in conditioner is the Ouai Leave-in Conditioner and the Amika Vault Leave-In Conditioner.
4 – Wet Brush
If I ever don’t bring a leave-in conditioner or hair detangling spray, I always have to have my Wet Brush with me when I’m traveling. I have the knottiest hair ever and every time I try to brush my hair out with my fingers, a whole bunch will come out. And not to mention that it’s painful. As soon as I finish washing my hair, I have to brush it out before it dries and gets all tangled up together. I’ve used many hairbrushes and the Wet Brush is the least painful and the easiest one to work with in terms of detangling. There was one time when I was traveling and completely forgot to bring a hairbrush. It was literally a 2 man job to try to detangle and un-knot my hair after washing it.
5 – Flat Iron
I always bring a flat iron with me when I’m traveling. Whether I use it or not every time is a different story, but at least I have the option to either straighten my already straight hair even more, bring my bed head back to normal, or curl my hair when needed. A flat iron really comes in handy when you want to change up your hairstyle when you go out for the night and want to dress it up a bit. Plus, you can also use it for clothing emergencies to straighten out a wrinkled shirt or whatnot if you don’t have an iron.
For my travels, I usually take the T3 Singlepass Compact Flat Iron. It is a little smaller than a regular size but it heats up quick and is easier to pack. For thicker and harder to tame hair, it might be useful to bring a full size flat iron. I’ve also used Paul Mitchell, FHI, Babyliss, and CHI. I really do prefer the T3, Paul Mitchell and CHI flat irons. Don’t forget to choose one that is ceramic or tourmaline to protect from heat damage and help maintain your hair moisture and shine.
6 – Dry Shampoo
When traveling, sometimes it isn’t all about relaxation. Most of the time, I’m constantly on the go exploring the new country I’m in. A definite must-have travel beauty product for me is dry shampoo. It instantly refreshes my hair when I don’t have time for a full out shampoo and condition in the shower. If the day isn’t too hot or I haven’t been in the water and am quite clean, I like to go for my dry shampoo to give my hair some more volume and remove any extra oils. Generally, I need to wash my hair every other day. But when I’m traveling, I can wash it almost every day because of the excursions and activities I do. When it’s a little less active for me, I use a dry shampoo in between my washes. My favorite dry shampoo is the IGK First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo. It also comes in travel sizes which are very convenient.
7 – Body Lotion And/Or Aloe
If you’re like me and like to join a lot of excursions and do a lot out of outdoor activities, having body lotion and/or aloe will is important. Again, the type of water at your travel destination can dry your skin out and you will want to have lotion to protect and hydrate your skin. I used to use Bath and Body Works and Victoria Secret lotions years ago, but I’ve switched to using something more natural with better ingredients. I love using Hempz and they have delicious scents. I was aware of this brand when I was working at Beauty Supply Outlet in my old days and have used it occasionally, but now have switched over completely.
Aloe is kind of like a 2 in 1. You get a moisturizer and a skin-healing product. If you’re going to a sunny destination, aloe is a must since there is a chance you may get a sunburn, even if you are careful and wear sunscreen. I like using Nature Republic Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel.
8 – Sunscreen
A must-have travel beauty product no matter the occasion is sunscreen. We’re told that we need to wear it indoors, outdoors, when it’s cloudy, because of blue light, and to reapply every 2 hours. Environmental factors, especially the sun, can damage our skin and cause premature aging. If you’re on my blog and are a beauty lover as well, I’m sure you’re here to learn about the best ways to take care of your skin. And sunscreen will probably be one of the top ways to do so. I’ve written a blog post on A Guide To Sunscreen Use And Choosing The Safest One For You. You can find all the details you need to know about sunscreen and which to purchase in order to provide the sun protection you need.
9 – Lip Balm/Lip Mask
This addiction started when I was young, but I can’t ever go without my lip balm. My lips just never feel normal and get super dry when I don’t use it so it’s a definite must-have travel beauty product that I have to take with me. I like using a lip balm with an SPF in it for sun protection since I tend to get a lot of sunspots there unfortunately. I also put lip balm on before my lipstick because it helps with moisturizing my lips since the Kylie Cosmetics matte liquid lipsticks I’m currently using can be pretty drying. At night, I like to use the La Neige Lip Sleeping Mask a couple times a week for extra hydration, to help with lines, and any dry areas on the corner of my lips.
10 – Under-Eye Patches
I usually only bring a couple of these under-eye patches that are individually wrapped for my travels. I don’t always get a lot of sleep on my travels and can wake up with dark circles and puffy eyes and these greatly help with that. When I’m traveling, I normally use the Tarte Pack Your Bags Undereye Patches or the Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels. You only need to put them on for about 10 minutes and it instantly decreases dark circles and puffiness. When I’m at home, these are the 2 items I usually use to instantly help with dark eyes.
11 – Setting Spray
When traveling, I’m out exploring from morning until night most of the time. This means that if I’m not doing any activities that require being in the water, I’ll be wearing makeup. And I need a good setting spray to make sure my makeup can last all day. Using a setting spray has made a huge difference for me in terms of how my makeup looks by the end of the day and it helps with any cracks in the foundation. I’ve tried many setting sprays but the best one I have used so far is the It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Setting Spray +. Here’s also tips on How To Make Sure Your Makeup Lasts All Day.
12 – Perfume
Last but not least, my must-have travel beauty product that I need to bring on every vacation is travel sized perfume. I have a lot of sample size perfume from my many purchases at Sephora and other stores. This also allows me to test out any new full-size perfume that I’d like to purchase in the future. Deodorant is important, but using perfume gives you that final touch and adds a little bit of a luxurious feel. Choosing a nice scent invigorates your senses and helps lift the mood.
If you don’t have sample perfumes to bring on your vacation, you can purchase a travel size version of your favorite perfume or even buy an atomizer to put your current perfume in. I wouldn’t recommend bringing your full-size perfume in the case that it’s your only one, and you wouldn’t want to accidentally leave it behind on your trip or break it when traveling. You can also Shop My Favorite Perfumes for more recommendations.
For other ideas on how to pack for your travels, here’s What’s In My Everyday Makeup Bag, What’s In My Travel Makeup Bag, and What’s In My Travel Toiletry Bag.