Follow this edit to create an easy-to-pack travel makeup and beauty capsule collection.
Travel-sized makeup and minimalist beauty products make packing for a trip so much more efficient. They allow you to save space in your luggage and make finding things in an often cluttered makeup bag a stress-free, streamlined experience.
A few years ago, I spent six months backpacking through South East Asia and brought so many items that I never ended up using. Having a few extra things on a trip usually isn’t a big deal, but when you’re carrying everything on your back for six months, any extra weight really adds up. Towards the end of that trip, I was so tired of the extra weight that I replaced most of my makeup with travel-size products.
The products I purchased completely transformed my makeup routine into a much easier process, and I’ve continued to use these minimalist travel makeup and beauty products for the past three years.
Since that trip, I’ve narrowed down my travel makeup case even further to create the most streamlined, get-up-and-go makeup kit possible. These products take me from day to night, through humid and dry climates, and despite their compact sizes, allow for versatile makeup looks.
Here is my edit of 12 of the best minimalist travel makeup and beauty products that won’t weigh you down.
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1. Tarteist PRO To-Go Travel Eyeshadow Palette
This mini palette holds six shades with shimmer and matte finishes. The colours are mostly neutral, but the palette offers a pop of purple and gold for good measure. This travel-sized eyeshadow palette will easily take your makeup look from day to night.
2. Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
Compact shampoo and conditioner bars are a game-changer for travel, especially when packing for a long term trip. These compact bars are a quarter of the size of regular shampoo and conditioner bottles, and they typically last two to three months.
On top of that, they are much more eco-friendly. The bars can be stored in reusable containers, which reduces plastic waste. As an added bonus, your shampoo and conditioner will be two fewer beauty products that you’ll have to worry about leaking on the airplane.
3. Lip, Cheek & Eye Tint
Multi-purpose products are a must if you’re looking to save space and weight in your luggage. This 3-way tint from INC. REDIBLE comes in several flattering shades.
4. Travel Size Mascara
Another product that’s worth downsizing is mascara. The travel size makes it easy to pop in a clutch on a night out, and it saves more space in your makeup case. This version from Marc Jacobs also comes with a travel-size bronzer.
5. Brow Palette
If you like to have perfect brows at all times, a brow palette will probably be on your packing list. The nice thing about this product is that it can easily be multi-purpose, and can also be used as an eyeshadow palette, or eyeliner.
6. Travel Size Sunscreen
By now we have all heard how important it is to protect your skin from the sun. This is especially important when you’re traveling, as you often spend more time exploring outdoors than usual.
A travel-sized bottle is a great option for reapplying your sunscreen on the go after you’ve left your hotel. You don’t always have room (or want to) lug around a big bottle of sunscreen in your backpack.
7. Multi-Purpose Eyeshadow Applicator
We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again. To save space when packing for travel, it’s all about multipurpose products. This applicator has a double-ended brush, which saves room in your bag and can be used to create a smokey eye, winged eyeliner, etc.
8. The Ordinary 0.5% Retinol Oil
This 0.5% Retinol oil is a great product to prevent your skin from getting congested after travel. Apply a few drops before bed, and it will help to stave off any acne induced by road trip snacking.
9. The Ordinary Serum Foundation
I’ve been using this foundation almost exclusively for the last three years because it has great coverage, is super lightweight, and doesn’t have the cakey effect that many foundations have. Thanks to this, it’s an optimal product for all-day travel makeup.
At 30ml the bottle is small, but the coverage is so good that it typically lasts me a few months.
10. SPF Sunscreen Lip Balm
Protecting your lips during travel with an SPF balm is equally as important. Luckily for us, this product is already travel size.
11. Lightweight Moisturizer
We all know how drying travel can be to the skin, whether you’re going by car or by plane. This moisturizer by The Ordinary is lightweight and keeps my skin feeling fresh. I apply it after The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid at night to wake up to my skin feeling extra hydrated.
12. Travel Makeup Case
Last but not least is a travel makeup case to keep your beauty products organized while on the go. A transparent makeup kit or one with multiple compartments makes it easy to see everything that you have. Here are a few options:
Looking for more tips on packing for travel? Check out our post on how to pack for six months of travel blogging and backpacking here.
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