Happy vacation season, y’all. Chances are that, right about now, you’re either in the midst of packing or fantasizing about what you will pack once the blessed day arrives. Editing down your wardrobe is a tough process. Ditto goes for your beauty arsenal.
Plus, when it comes to packing beauty products, not only must you decide which gels, sprays and creams are essential, you’ve also got to make sure they come in 3.4-ounce, TSA-approved packaging (at least the ones that make the carry-on cut).
Throwing everything in your checked bag is tempting, but trust us, given the havoc that recycled plane air wreaks on skin — and our general fear of lost luggage — you’re going to want to keep certain travel beauty essentials on your person. Above, we’ve rounded up 18 beauty products that we absolutely will not travel without. Use this list as a template, save yourself precious time and space.
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #1
Air travel is notoriously hard on skin. A solid all-over moisturizer (that doesn't have a lot going on) is an absolute must. This one relies on lanolin, a natural moisturizer derived from sheep's wool.
Lano All Over Everywhere Multi-Cream, $16.95 at Ulta
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #2
Equip yourself with a hydrating, plumping lip balm. Dior's rose-scented classic has never let us down. Pair it with a KNC Beauty collagen lip mask if you're feeling particularly decadent.
Dior Crème de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm, $30 at Sephora
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #3
You say international flight, we say impromptu spa session. Once you reach cruising altitude, treat yourself to a hydrating face mask. It's soothing and it'll safeguard your skin against dry recycled air.
Karuna Hydrating+ Face Mask, $8 at Sephora
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #4
A couple of spritzes of hydrating facial mist will leave you feeling instantly fresh. This Allure Best of Beauty 2016 winner is a little on the pricey side, but with good reason. Its star ingredient, Pitera, is rich in skin-restoring vitamins, minerals, amino acid and organic acids. Plus, it's formulated to slip past makeup (hence the qualifier "mid-day").
SK-II Mid-Day Essence Spray, $80 at Nordstrom
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #5
Not to get too graphic, but this NASA-approved spray will keep your nasal passages moist and happy during flight. (Well-hydrated nasal passages equal intact membranes equal lowered risk of viruses entering your system.)
Ponaris Nasal Emollient, $25.80 at Amazon
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #6
Always bring your favorite sun protection with you. (Checked luggage can go astray and you never know what will be available at your destination.) For island getaways, you'll need some hardcore, water-resistant white stuff, but for daily use, we like Glossier's newly debuted Invisible Shield, which is lightweight, effective and doesn't smell one bit like sunscreen. It's a game changer.
Glossier Invisible Shield SPF 35, $34 at Glossier
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #7
By now, we don't have to tell you the benefits of daily exfoliation. Dermalogica's award-winning daily exfoliator will protect your skin from the ravages of pollution (hello, activated binchotan charcoal powder) and leave it looking and feeling smooth, bright and refreshed. Plus, it's a powder, so no TSA hassle here. (Side note: Do not use with plane bathroom water. Ick.)
Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant, $58 at Ulta
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #8
These triple-duty wipes are great for detoxing your skin after a long flight — or a long day. Use them to remove makeup and cleanse and/or tone skin.
Alba Botanica 3-in-1 Clean Towelettes, $2 at Amazon
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #9
Those with more sensitive or acne-prone skin may prefer a simple (get it?) micellar wipe. Micellar water, which consists mainly of purified water and glycerin, gently hydrates while removing makeup and sebum. Beachgoers, take note: These are also great for use between sunscreen reapplications.
Simple Kind to Skin Micellar Makeup Remover Wipes, $5.99 at Target
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #10
We know, we sound like a broken record, but moisture loss is the enemy! Named the Best Facial Oil of 2013 by Harper's Bazaar, this lightweight (apricot kernel- and sunflower seed-derived) oil will hydrate, decongest and perk up your skin. Keep it by your side always.
Soveral Forever Young Rejuvenating Face Oil, $68 at Net-a-Porter
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #11
You're midair. You have multiple hours to kill and access to the most unforgiving lighting ever. Waste not! Get those eyebrows in tip-top shape.
Anastasia Beverly Hills 5-Item Brow Kit, $65 at Urban Outfitters
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #12
An industry favorite, RMS Beauty's Living Luminizer highlighter has a hydrating coconut oil base that makes it especially great for dry, post-plane skin. It's also incredibly easy to blend.
RMS Beauty Living Luminizer, $38 at Sephora
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #13
A flushed cheek looks great on everyone. This (socially conscious!) semi-sheer lip and cheek tint will give you a healthy just-ran-a-mile glow even when you've been sedentary for hours. Dab some on just before deplaning.
Make Universal Stick, $24 at Make
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #14
Some feel comfortable flying with full-on Instagram makeup, others prefer a bare face. Either way, a dot of gloss on the eyelids and cheekbones adds instant dewiness to your look — no pigmentation, no pressure.
Milk Makeup Face Gloss, $20 at Milk Makeup
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #15
Good news. Jen Atkin's well-marketed, highly photogenic hair care line now offers travel-size products. And guess what? They're actually all they're cracked up to be. This particular kit includes rose-scented hair oil, dry shampoo foam and a finishing crème, perfect for hydrating, degreasing and smoothing your hair on the fly. (Disclaimer: Go easy on the dry shampoo — it's got a pretty high alcohol content, so a little goes a long way.)
Ouai Morning After Kit, $22 at Sephora
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #16
During the summer months, a natural deodorant that actually works (and doesn't stain your clothes) is an absolute must. Soapwalla has found the perfect formula (it's a mix of vegetable powders, clay and essential oils). Keep it on your person during travel. Flying can be stressful AF.
Soapwalla Organic/Vegan Deodorant Cream, $19 at Amazon
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #17
Why don't all hotels provide mouthwash? Don't they know that furry teeth feeling is the worst?
Listerine Cool Mint Antiseptic Mouthwash, $1.47 at Target
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Travel Beauty Bag Essentials #18
Are you, like Kim Kardashian, currently rocking a stick-straight, ultra flatironed lewk? Here's a trusty mini straightener that'll keep your vacation hair sharp.
Bed Head Attitude Overhaul Mini Ceramic Travel Straightener, $19.99 at Target
