Travel Beauty Essentials - what are your must-have beauty products when traveling?

[itsfi]

Makeup, skincare, body care, hair care, etc. - what are your must-haves when traveling?

Whether your approach to packing for a trip is a minimalist, moderate or maximalist one, whether you're going for work or play, by train, plane or car, or whether your vacation plans involve playing in the sun & sand, or with skis & snow, or anything between, let us know your travel essentials. 

Also, be sure to check out The Travel Beauty Thread 

[1emma19]

For me, i’s usually a gentle cleanser, a simple hydrating serum, a barrier moisturizer, & SPF (non-negotiable!). For makeup, I keep it super light like a tinted base, cream blush, brow gel, & a lip product (that doubles as blush). For body care just a good hydrating lotion. Hair-wise a mini shampoo & conditioner. But for work usually just SPF, moisturizer & lip tint/blush (because I'm always in a hurry)...

[danielledanielle]

@1emma19 , it's great to have a squad of HGs? Any specific faves at the moment? 

[itsfi]

This hit my radar this morning. Drops April 1. May be just the thing I've been asking for - by the looks of it, I like that some of the containers are collapsible 👍 and it appears as if there's some opacity to the bottles themselves (or maybe some of them?) which would help to know how much product is remaining / has been used. That latter one is something I commonly note as something I'd like to see in larger products so I'd welcome it here, if that is in fact how it's designed. *adds to list (but can I wait for the spring savings event ... 🤔)

SEPHORA COLLECTION Reusable Travel Container Set 

Cross-post to Product Releases: 2026 

[danielledanielle]

I like to take my mains/HG in little containers or finish up items ( Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Fenty Treatz Hydrating + Strengthening Lip Oil Cherry is officially done ✅)

TSA compliant-ish?

[missjeanie]

@danielledanielle Your TSA bag looks like you pack way better than I do!  Mine was stuffed to the brim on my last trip lol.  Smart to use up products though... more room on the way back home for some newness!

[itsfi]

I mean, if they let you pass through with it, then it complied. That's how I'm going to see it @danielledanielle! I love the Fenty cherry oil. 🙌 I made myself (yes, made) pick up a different flavor when I finished up the cherry oil last month. 

You're so much better at packing than I am. Business or business-related travel I'm good with packing minimally. Outside of that, I usually overpack, even after taking out 1/3 of what I already packed, so kudos to you!

[danielledanielle]

@itsfi , oh...I definitely over packed.  That's just skincare.

• Skincare ✅
• Clothing ✅
• Makeup (too much, I need options tho)
• Tools (too many brushes) 

[missjeanie]

 @itsfi I finally have been traveling and have some of my minis from the week to post.

 

 

Spoiler

I love a skin/body/hair care mini when I’m traveling to cut down on luggage space and keep liquids lower if I’m flying. 
- Shampoo and conditioner foils are great for me as I wash my hair daily. I usually take brands I’m familiar with and I like that I can usually squeeze two washes from each foil. 
- Eye masks in a single pack are perfect to start the day when you may be in a different climate than you’re used to or are not quite getting the same amount or quality of sleep that you’d usually enjoy. These SC Caffeine eye masks are a fav of several BIC beauties and they are a great addition to a travel case with minimal space taken!
- I find soaps in hotels quite drying on my skin so love the mini L’Occitane body washes.
- I’ve been loving a mist in my routine at home and am going from freezing temperatures to a very warm climate so having a mist that I can use both in place of a serum under makeup and through the day. The Leneige is light and has a lovely mister. The Tower28 is more aggressive in its spritz but I like having it on hand when I’m warm and around a lot of people. 
-The Farmacy green clean is fab to get the days SPF and sweat off. I chose the Glow Recipe cleanser to use as a gentle second cleanse. 
-The Dr Jart Vital Hydra Solution has been a surprise winner for me in the warmer weather! Easy to wear, doesn’t feel heavy, and is very hydrating.
-For facial spf this week I found a mini tube of the Aestura spf and have fallen in love. It’s lightweight, hydrating, and moisturizing, with no white cast, and it sinks in beautifully. Zero issues with makeup wearing over it. As an spf topper the Vacation Super Spritz has been in my handbag all week. The mister is great, it gives a nice light glow, and I love being able to top up my spf through the day. There is a beach scent if you’re opposed to that in facial products! 
 

[itsfi]

Beautiful skincare lineup @missjeanie. If you didn't have products in the queue to be used, which of these lovelies would you repurchase?

[missjeanie]

@itsfi I could actually see myself picking up a few of these in full size.

*I already own the T28 in full size and can easily see myself picking up more as I use up what I have. 

*I have used both the Moroccon Oil and Amika before in full size.  While I enjoy testing new S&C (I'm more likely to pick up something new) I would happily use both again and given a good sale I'd purchase again.

*The Leneige spray is lovely and it's on my list to grab a full size after trying out the mini.

*The Bumble and Bumble primer spray is nice.  I've bought many a full size in the past, and still have one, maybe 2... I wouldn't buy again however as I have too many similar items to use up and I'd likely try something new next time I do need to purchase. 

*The Aestura SPF is on my list as well.  Its such a lightweight formula that sinks into my skin and plays nicely with cosmetics.  10/10, just need to be better about buying SPF at the right time to avoid expiry dates.

*The L'Occiatane body wash is always on my winter list, I however buy a larger size and keep refilling this mini.

*I'm not mad at the Vacation SPF mist and could see myself grabbing another if I need a mist.  I like having the mist in my purse to touch up as I'm out and about. The spritz on this one is lovely.

[itsfi]

Ahhhh, great mini review, thanks so much for doing that @missjeanie. Okay, I'm going to fast track that Bumble & Bumble spray. I have a full size from UBW but I'm just gonna say that it looks way cuter in the mini version in your photo. 😉 

We have similar faves 👊 particularly for skincare, tints and body care items. Your hair is so much more lush, thick and healthier than mine but I'm making a note to look for that amika s&c in my bag o' foils - I feel like I recently did a declutter of the hair care samples in my stash and I'm pretty sure I have a foil packet, maybe two, of that one in there. 😬

Oh my goodness, completely hear you on SPF expiry dates. It's taken me a couple of years of being really really good about not picking up too much more sunscreens and reining it in with skin tints/foundations that contain sunscreen, but I'm on my last bottle of sunscreen with a 2026 expiration date - 8.2026. Hoping to get through that well before then. 🤞 But I do need a good SPF for reapplication so I will be reaching for and opening up some compacts and mists soon for that.. 

[danielledanielle]

I love the #Dr. Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution™ Water Cream Glow Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid 1.69 oz / 50 mL ! I wish they'd bring those little minis to market @missjeanie 

[missjeanie]

@danielledanielle This one was a surprise win for me!  I'm normally into a much heavier duty cream product, but I've found a couple gel creams the last few years that are wonderful for me in the warmer weather.  I never would have thought it a few years back, but I could see myself purchasing this one in a full size.  I do enjoy the little mini's though.  I love getting a whole handful of them as GWP to be able to find these little gems. 

[SportyGirly125]

I have been using this for over a week and even brought it on my trip. 

[itsfi]

Body Care Essentials

Weather Forecast: Warm ☀️ - there's a heat advisory - Highs: mid-80°s to low 90°s / Lows: 60°F 

A medley of full size, travel / mini sizes and foil samples as far as my body care essentials.

I was away for a quick, last minute, weekend getaway and these body care items held up just fine which bodes well for my upcoming trip - the weather was similar to where I'll be next but cooler in the evenings.  

• CORPUS Naturals Deodorant Spray - Pomelo - Their deoderants come in a spray and gel-stick form and a variety of scents. They're  free of aluminum, baking soda, talc, phthalates, and synthetic fragrance, and they don't irritate my skin and that's always a plus. 😀  I've been using and liking the CORPUS Naturals line of products for a while now, switching recently to the spray. The scent on their deoderants are soft, light. I would repurchase, maybe in a different scent to try out another scent. I also would like to try the new line of deoderant I see that Sephora is / will be carrying - AKT London The Deodorant Discovery Body Set - looks interesting; I'm intrigued. 🤔 Anyone have any experience with it?

• OUAI Mini St. Barts Gentle Body Wash 89ml / 3 oz (SEPHORiA 2023 Atlanta, Georgia) - my travel body washes are usually whatever full size I have in my rotation that I decant into a travel size container or whatever travel size or foils I have in the house (typically L'Occitane, Aesop, Ouai, or Sol de Janeiro). I recently picked up the Hanni Rich Rinse Moisture Serum Body Wash 11 oz/325 mL and may end up taking that with me as well in a travel bottle.

• Hanni Splash Salve In-Shower Body Moisture Treatment 8.8 oz / 250 mL 
• Hanni Water Balm Instant Hydration Body Moisturizer Mist 6.76 oz / 200 mL 
• (Not pictured): Hanni Shave Pillow Moisturizing Body Gel 3 oz / 88 mL (all Hanni products but the body wash are travel sizes that were part of a set they offered last year)
• (Not pictured): Salux nylon shower scarf
• INNBeauty Project Bright & Smooth Body Serum - Is this being discontinued? I haven't seen it on Sephora or the brand site for some timw (one reason why it's part of the winter's shop your stash challenge) but I've recently seen foil samples available online as part of the 2 rewards you can choose at checkout. 🤔 I am determined to work through my foils @ather! and hopefully won't have very many more of products that have since been discontinued. 🙁  

[ather]

@itsfi  Sounds like you had a nice weekend getaway!!! Warm weather sounds dreamy right now!!! That Hanni line is so good!!! 😊 it’s great you got a set of minis so you can bring them along!! Your skin will be perfect! 

[itsfi]

So far, none of the dryness or random dry patches I usually experience after being on planes and in air conditioned buildings/room for long periods of time @ather.That being said, I was happy to be in air conditioned buildings/rooms this time. 😀 They said there would be a heat wave - they were not wrong. 

[ather]

@itsfi  Oh no!!! Was the heatwave unbearable? I’m glad you were able to cool down in the air conditioning! 

[itsfi]

Hair Care Essentials

Time of Travel: Winter/Spring 2026

Climate: Subtropical, Mediterranean; generally pleasant, sunny days with slight possibility for light rain. Warm-ish (highs usually in high 60s/low 70s and lows in low-to-mid 50s). Can get humid this time of year.

Let me just start off with ... this seems to me like it might be a little too much for travel hair care. Time permitting, I will try to do one last inspection of my travel items a few days before I head out, to make sure I have everything or haven't missed anything. That happens more with non-business- related travel since I'm usually packing for more than just being in meetings. Thinking, maybe I'll leave a couple of hair care items here. We'll see. For now, my hair care travel team includes:

• BondiBoost Mini Interchangeable 2-in-1 Hair Straightener Brush and Curling Iron null - this is a good size for me for travel and at home as well. Love that it comes with a travel case and heat mat.

• If my memory is correct, I think I was talking with @ather  about this on the Foil Challenge thread, but I love taking foils samples with me when it comes to shampoo and conditioner. Years ago, it seemed that whenever I experienced leakage in my toiletries bag, 9.5 out of 10 times, it was from a travel size shampoo and conditioner. Taking foils solved that problem for me straightaway. I can also get a good couple of uses out of a single foil. This coming trip, I'm going with Pureology Mini Strength Cure Shampoo for Damaged Hair 1.7 oz / 50 mL Pureology Mini Strength Cure Conditioner for Damaged Hair 1.7 oz / 50 mL ## and Oribe Mini Hair Alchemy Strengthening Shampoo 2.5 oz / 75 mL Oribe Mini Hair Alchemy Strengthening Conditioner 1.7 oz / 50 mL, both of which I have in full sizes at home and know perform well for m

Ceremonia, Davines, JVN, Kerastase, Oribe, Oway, Pureology, Shu Uemura take up the bulk of the hair care space in my beauty closet (with a one-off tried-and-true product from Coola, Ouai and Vegamour tossed in there). So most of these hair treatment and styling products are familiar to me and a couple are new. 

• Oribe Mini Impermeable Anti-Humidity Hair Spray 2.2 oz/ 75 mL - just in case. I'll check the weather report the night before I take off but this one may end up staying at home.

• Oribe Mini Dry Texturizing Spray 2.2 oz/ 75 mL is a GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) product and will help to give my hair some grip, texture and extra volume and zhuzh, and can serve as a dry shampoo in a pinch as well. I thought about taking the Chris McMillan The Mini Dry Texture and Volume Spray 2.2 oz/61 g with me but I haven't had enough time to play with it

Speaking of Mr. McMillan eponymous line, 

• Chris McMillan The Mini Glassy Smooth Blowdry Spray for Frizz 1.7 oz/50 ml - I may be able to leave this home as well. But do I want to?

• Chris McMillan The Mini Major Shine Hairspray for Buildable Hold 2.2 oz/ 63 g - so happy that the Chris McMillan The Classics Hair Styling Minis Value Set set included a TSA friendly travel size hairspray. I was looking for a mini of one of Davines hair sprays or of the ColorWow Texas Hold 'Em, but no such luck. This will do just fine. 👌

I was very happy to see Sephora carrying Davines. It's one of the primary brands that my hairdresser uses and it's nice to have a backup source for product if he's low or out of stock of something. Couldn't resist picking up the mini version of the Davines Beautiful Things Repairing Leave in Hair Mask 3.0 fl oz. /89 ml  when it was a promo gwp. Lightweight, leaves my hair soft and it smells really good too.

Matrix Food For Soft Multi-Use Hair Oil Serum (Ulta Beauty World 2025) has been a pleasant surprise for me. I most familiar with matrix's Biolage line of shampoo and conditioners and was curious to try out this serum. I love hair oils, serums and masks but don't often deviate from what I know or am familiar with so it was a nice treat to receive this through Ulta Beauty World. A very nice treat. Spreads easily through my hair, detangling and smoothing it as I massage it through from mid length to the ends. It doesn't leave my hair looking or feeling greasy or weighed down, which is always a plus. I've heard from @missjeanie that it makes quite the killer combo coupled with the mask from the same line so that hair cocktail is on my "to try" list later this month.

Coola Scalp & Hair Mist has been a staple in my collection for years; great for sun protection when I'm outside for long periods of times. I'm not sure how much I'll be outside during my next trip so this one may end up holding down the fort while I'm away.

Not pictured: I'll also be taking my Drybar Baby Buttercup Blow-Dryer (gratis), Aveda paddle brush, and a round brush with me. 

[ather]

@itsfi  so jealous!!! I hope you have a fantastic trip!!! Can’t wait to hear all about it!!  

Yes. I agree sample shampoo and conditioner is a must for travel. I agree. My shampoo always seems to open and make a mess!!! Glad that you have a solution!!!!