Traveling is fun. It’s the best investment you can make, and surely an experience you won’t easily forget, even when it’s done for business. However, traveling can also be quite stressful, especially if you consider that you need to cram your whole life into one suitcase.
Packing that beautiful dress and your favorite foundation seems like something you must do, but it is also a recipe for disaster. Makeup can spill, break, and become your dress’s worst nightmare if they’re in the same bag. To top it off, airlines are so tough when it comes to liquids, that you might think that traveling with makeup isn’t worth it.
Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks that can help you travel light and still take everything you need to look fabulous, even when you’re globetrotting and vacationing in gorgeous destinations.
How to Pack Makeup for Travel
The first thing you should think about when traveling with makeup is how you’re going to pack it. You should not have all your foundations, highlighters, and eyeshadows scattered around your bag or suitcase. Instead, put it all in a reliable makeup bag. Find a makeup bag made of clear plastic so you can easily clean any spillage that occurs. A clear bag will also let you see what you have on the go. Plus, it’s easier to fit it in the mandatory clear plastic bag for the airport, so even the agent can see what you have without rummaging through your stuff.
Secondly, since you are trying to cut down on the amount of stuff you bring, think about some items you can reuse for other purposes. For example, a nice lipstick can serve as a blush as well, a shimmery eyeshadow will be a perfect highlighter, and a concealer can replace your eye primer.
You also need something to take all that makeup off with. We all know that face cleansers come in large packages, which you can’t bring in a carryon. So, instead of taking your usual cleanser, opt for good face wipes. Even though you should not make this your usual routine (face wipes aren’t good enough at removing all makeup and dirt from your face), you will be safe for a few days. Just make sure to splash your face with water after using them.
Tips for Air Travel
As you know, air travel is tricky, especially if you are going on a short trip and are only taking carry-on luggage with you. The rules are the rules, and if you do not follow them, you might have to part with that special product you love because it is too big to take on board.
However, this can be easily avoided if you repackage your makeup into smaller bottles. You can purchase cheap sets of travel size bottles for your makeup and cosmetics and pour your necessities in them. They can then be easily packaged into a Ziploc bag and taken on a plane, regardless of the airline you’re flying with.
Another great tip is to carry compacts instead of liquids. This way you will not have to deal with the hassle of pouring foundation from one container to another. Plus, compact products are easier to handle when you are in a rush. It is important to cushion your compacts though, with a sponge or a cotton ball. Many products will come with cotton pads to prevent breakage.
If possible, avoid bringing your expensive eyeshadow palettes. They can easily break in your suitcase or your carry-on, and they are often too bulky and precious for traveling. Instead, bring a single eyeshadow or two, or just skip the whole routine and go with eyeliner and mascara only.
It is better to bring several lipsticks since they are small and easier to pack, and can double for use as other products as well. Some of them can even be used on the eyes if the formula is vegan and eye-safe, so make sure to check before putting them on your lids.
Finally, make sure to protect your products in your bag. When you travel, your bag takes a lot of hits, especially when you are on a plane and bumping it on every corner. Use your clothes to protect your makeup bag and individually wrap your most precious products. This way, you are creating a cushion and preventing unnecessary breakage.
If you are carrying loose powder, tape the lids so the powder doesn’t dust all over your stuff. Wrap your nail polishes in cling film to help fasten the lids, and secure the caps of lip glosses and liquid lipsticks with rubber bands, like your grandma used to secure the lids of jam jars.
The Essentials Checklist
Make sure that you have all of the essentials you’ll need when packing for your trip. Your preferred items might be different depending on the type of trip you’re taking—you’ll likely want different makeup looks for a business trip and a week-long beach vacation—but either way, you should be prepared with the basics.
We recommend always traveling with these makeup essentials:
- Sunscreen
- Concealer
- Lipstick
- Mascara
- Eyeliner
- Cream blush
- Compact powder
- Foundation or BB cream
- Lip pencil
- Eyeshadow singles
- Makeup remover wipes
