Makeup Travel Essentials and Tips for Your Summer Trip

The Must-Have Beauty Products You Need for Your Summer Trip + Makeup Packing Tips

Summer is here! And for many of us, that means it is time to travel!

If you’re a parent, summer vacation has officially begun for students, and if you’re still a student – yay, it’s summer vacation!

And even if you’re neither a parent or student, I think we can all agree that summer still gives us the travel bug.

With the great weather of summer, it just seems like a waste not to take advantage of it and explore someplace new!

I definitely have the travel bug! In fact, in less than a week, I’ll be off to Japan and Korea! And that is the main inspiration for writing this post.

One of the things I dread the most about traveling is packing for it.

How can anyone limit themselves to only a few choices?! I need options, people!

And that is never truer than it is with packing makeup and other beauty products. I have the hardest time with packing makeup for a trip, because I don’t know how I’ll feel on a given day!

I might feel like doing a super bold blue eyeshadow look one day and feel like doing a warm sunset eyeshadow look the next! You just never know!

But, I realize that I’m super extravagant with my makeup and packing for a trip is probably not the time to be extravagant.

Which is why I have a handful of must-have products I never think twice about packing AND trusty packing tips that allow me to eliminate options, making my packing process a lot quicker.

And that’s what I’ll be sharing with you today!

Whether you’ll be traveling across the world, across the state, or across the street this summer, these makeup packing tips will definitely come in handy!

(So be sure to read until the end for the tips!)

Since it is summer right now, I’ll be focusing on packing makeup for hot weather, even if I know not everyone is experiencing hot weather right now (looking at you, Australia, and the rest of the southern hemisphere).

Without further ado, let’s get started!

Affiliate links may be used in this post, which I may receive a commission from, at no extra cost to you. You can read my full disclosure here.

If you’re planning on making a makeup purchase soon, don’t forget to use Ebates (now called Rakuten)!

Summer Beauty Travel Essentials

**products with an asterisk next to them are the products I’m actually packing for my upcoming trip!

Sunscreen

Protecting your skin from the sun is always a super important step in your makeup routine, even when it’s not hot and sunny outside.

But ESPECIALLY when it’s hot and sunny outside, you definitely should be protecting your skin from the sun with SPF in some form.

Also, when traveling, a lot of time is spent outside sight-seeing and doing various activities, so you’ll likely be getting even more sun than you usually do.

Here are some great sunscreens:

For face:

• Supergoop! – Unseen Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40
• Coola – Mineral Face SPF Matte Tint

For Body:

• Supergoop! – Everyday Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50
• Sun Bum – Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50

To Reapply on Top of Foundation:

• Supergoop! – Invincible Setting Powder SPF 45
• Coola – Makeup Setting Spray SPF 30

Primer that Extends Wear of Makeup

Traveling usually means full days filled with activities from morning to night, which means your makeup can possible be on for a very long time!

Using a primer is one of the best ways to ensure your makeup lasts its longest. With the right primer, the wear of your foundation can be extended for hours!

When traveling during the summertime, your destination is likely to be hot. (Japan and Korea are going to be SO hot and humid when I’m there.) Makeup always wears off faster in the heat, so we need all the help we can get!

The right primer definitely depends on your skin type, but a good rule-of-thumb for hot weather is to use an oil-free primer. Since makeup already tends to get oilier quicker in the summer, we don’t want to add more oil!

And if you tend to get really oily, try using a mattifying primer.

Here are some great options:

• Tatcha – The Silk Canvas Protective Primer ** (seen in my Holy Grails)
• Hourglass – Veil Mineral Primer (seen in July 2018 Favorites)

I actually use the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base at all times of the year and while traveling, layered with the Tatcha Silk Canvas Primer on top.

This primer is probably not for everyone as it’s very moisturizing. But, as someone with dry skin, I need a moisturizing primer even during the summer.

If you have dry skin, I highly recommend this combo! My foundation always last all day with this combo.

(Read: Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base Review)

Trusted Foundation That’ll Last All Day

With all of the new makeup releases that seem to be happening every day, it can be tempting to try everything that’s new and shiny.

But, the time to do that is definitely not when you’re traveling! When deciding on which foundation to take with you on a trip, choose the one that you can count on.

You want to enjoy every moment of your trip and the last thing you want to worry about is whether your foundation is still on your face!

For me, all of the foundations I’ve listed below are my long-wearing foundation favorites. I know that I can wear any of these foundations and it’ll still look great at the end of the day.

However, I don’t recommend the NARS foundation if you have oily skin. It has a natural finish and you’ll probably get shiny with it versus using a matte foundation.

Best Long-Wear Foundations:

• Fenty – Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation (one of the most long-wearing foundations I’ve tried! Seen in November 2017 Favorites)
• NARS – Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation ** (seen in my Holy Grails)
• L’Oreal – Infallible Fresh Wear 24 HR Foundation (seen in Best Drugstore Foundations for Dry Skin)
• Maybelline – Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation (seen in Best Long-Wear Drugstore Foundations for Summer)

Your Favorite Concealer

I absolutely cannot live without using concealer to cover my dark under-eye circles and to highlight certain areas of my face (make certain areas appear brighter).

But, if you don’t use concealer on a regular basis, feel free to totally skip this step!

If you are a fellow avid concealer wearer, just like the foundation you choose to pack, choose the concealer that you trust will last all day!

Some concealers will crease throughout the day. Some will start to look cakey the longer you wear it. And some will fade and leave you with nothing on by the end of the day!

Choose the one you know won’t let you down!

And for me, that’s the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer. The others listed below are very solid concealers, too. Just not as “trusted” as good ol’ Shape Tape (in my opinion).

My Favorite Concealers:

• Tarte – Shape Tape Concealer ** (seen in Makeup Worth Your Money)
• L’Oreal – Infallible Full Wear Concealer (seen in Best Drugstore Makeup Products Under $15)
• e.l.f. – 16 HR Camo Concealer (seen in April 2019 Favorites)

OR Multi-Purpose Foundation Stick

To save even more space in your beauty bag and not have to pack a foundation and a concealer, you can opt for a multi-function stick foundation that can also work as a spot concealer!

I love using a stick foundation for its quick and easy application, especially when I’m short on time!

Just swipe it across your face and blend out with a dense kabuki brush! (I like the Morphe Y-6). So easy!

And in areas you want a little more coverage, the stick foundation makes it easy to precisely apply more coverage to that area.

Think of using a cover stick concealer! It’s just like that. 

Using a stick foundation is great when traveling because it’s so fast to apply.

Schedules can be tight while traveling (especially if you’re in a group or on a tour), and you totally don’t want to be that person that everyone has to wait for!

I’m totally that person LOL.

My favorite stick foundations are:

• Hourglass – Vanish Stick (read my full review)
• Maybelline – Super Stay Multi-Use Foundation Stick (seen in Drugstore Makeup Starter Kit)

I also really like the Makeup Revolution Fast Base Foundation Stick, but the finish is more on the radiant side, and it isn’t as long-wearing as the other two.

So, I wouldn’t recommend it as a long-wear foundation. But, it’s beautiful!

Setting Powder to Lock Your Makeup In Place

Whenever using any kind of cream/liquid base makeup (foundation/concealer), it’s super important to set it in place to prevent it from sliding around, wearing off, and transferring to your clothes.

Not only does setting powder lock in your makeup, it drastically extends the wear of your makeup.

To ensure my makeup stays put for the longest it possibly can, I like to press loose powder into my skin using a damp beauty sponge everywhere on my face until every single spot is dry to the touch.

You can even use the baking method to really set your makeup in place. (Read more about baking in How to Use Loose Setting Powder)

These two setting powders never EVER let me down:

• Maybelline – Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder ** (seen in Drugstore Makeup Holy Grails)
• Laura Mercier – Translucent Loose Setting Powder (seen in Drugstore Dupes)

Every other face product is kind of optional – it’s totally up to you if you want to wear bronzer/blush/highlighter.

It’s definitely okay if you want to go without any of those items to save some space in your makeup bag and to save some time getting ready in the morning!

But, if you’re like me and you’re full glam even while traveling, I got you covered with recommendations!

Bronzer That Can Double as Contour

To cut down on the amount of products you need to pack, choose a bronzer that you can also use as a contour shade when applying a more concentrated amount in a certain area.

For example, I like to use a big fluffy brush (Morphe M527) to apply bronzer for a diffused application and I like to use a smaller, denser brush (Morphe Y-10) to contour.

When looking for a bronzer to both bronze and contour, look for a neutral shade that isn’t too warm nor too cool.

Applying a warm bronzer as contour can make it look really strange, since contour is supposed to mimic a natural shadow. And applying a shade that’s too cool-toned as bronzer, can make your face look gray and muddy. 

My choices for dual-purposes bronzers are:

• Benefit – Hoola Matte Bronzer ** (seen in my Everyday Makeup Routine)
• Milani – Silky Matte Bronzer (seen in Best Drugstore Face Products Under $10)

Versatile Blush That Goes With Everything

I would say if you were to choose only one product out of bronzer, blush, and highlighter, I would choose blush.

It just adds so much life to the face! And I’m okay with not looking sun-kissed with super sculpted features.

When traveling, I always take only one shade of blush that I know will look good with whatever I’m wearing and whatever eye look I have on.

For me, that shade is a pinky peach with a hint of shimmer to give the skin a natural-looking radiance.

I definitely wouldn’t go for something too bright or too deep because I want a shade that flatters my skin tone in a natural way. Like the natural flush you get after exercising!

Of course, the right shade for you depends on your skin tone, but you can’t go wrong with these formulas:

• NARS – Blush (I like the shade Orgasm)
• Milani – Baked Blush ** (I like the shade Luminoso)

Versatile Highlighter You Can Wear Every Day

Highlighter is another product that I have tons of different shades in my collection, but I always only take one with me while traveling.

The perfect versatile highlighter that goes with everything is a natural shade. That means not a pink highlighter, not a purple highlighter, not a blue highlighter, or any other crazy highlighter shades!

It just makes sense to take one highlighter that you can use every single day. And for me, that shade is a champagne gold. It looks beautiful no matter what eye makeup I have on!

Just like blush, the perfect shade for you will depend on your skin tone (it’ll likely be some form of gold), but these are my go-tos:

• Ofra – Rodeo Drive Highlighter ** (seen in Makeup Worth Your Money)
• Maybelline – Master Chrome Highlighter (seen in Best Drugstore Makeup to Buy on Amazon)

OR An All-In-One Palette

If you decide you are going to take bronzer, blush, and highlighter with you, it may make sense to take a compact palette that has everything you need in it!

It’ll make it easier to keep track of things (going from multiple products to just one) and it’ll probably save you some space, too.

Here are some great options:

• Tarte – Tarteist PRO Glow Highlight & Blush Palette
• Tarte – PRO Glow To Go Highlight & Contour Palette (no blush)
• Urban Decay – Naked Flushed Palette
• Maybelline – FaceStudio Master Contour

Never-Fail Mascara, Liner, and Brow Product

Not much to say here other than: take one product in each of these categories that you know you love and can trust!

I totally forego liquid liners on trips, but if you can’t live without your winged liner, definitely take one that’s waterproof and you know will last from morning to night!

I’d trust these products with my life:

• L’Oreal – Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara ** (seen in Best Drugstore Makeup Under $10)
• Marc Jacobs – Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner ** (seen in Best Luxury Makeup – Mid 2019)
• Anastasia Beverly Hills – Brow Definer ** (seen in Quick, Easy Makeup)

Even though I don’t use liquid liner on trips, my choice liquid liner is the NYX Epic Ink Liner.

Compact Eyeshadow Palette You Can Create Multiple Looks With

This is probably the toughest for me out of this entire list because I’m constantly using different palettes! Sometimes I’ll even use multiple palettes for ONE look.

But, I know that when traveling, it is not the time to be super extra with your eyeshadow!

With that being said, the perfect travel palette is something compact that includes enough shades that you can create multiple looks with.

Or, at the very least, a complete eye look that you’ll be happy doing every day of your trip.

I have two go-to palettes that I choose from to take on trips – the ColourPop Double Entendre Palette and the Makeup Revolution Reloaded Fever Palette.

I’ve been very happy on all trip that I’ve taken either of these palettes! I was able to create everyday neutral looks as well as bold looks for nights out!

My recommended travel palettes:

• ColourPop – Double Entendre ** (see my full review)
• Makeup Revolution – Reloaded Fever (seen in Best Drugstore Makeup Under $10)
• Tarte – Tartelette in Bloom (This palette was actually the ONLY palette I used for a very long time. It’s the perfect everyday neutral palette.)
• Urban Decay – Naked 2 Basics
• NYX – Warm Neutrals

Easy to Apply, Versatile Lip Product

I’m not a huge lipstick girl to begin with, so it’s fairly easy for me to pare down on lip products when packing for a trip.

In fact, my preferred lip product to wear on a daily basis is lip balm!

And I think that’s the perfect lip product to take on a trip.

In a subtle shade, it can go with any look you create, it moisturizes your lips, which is important if you’ll be out in the sun a lot, and it’s so easy to apply!

There is no need for lip liner, no need to worry about it bleeding out of the edges of your lips, and no need to worry about it transferring onto your teeth!

And the best part – it’s super easy to just throw in your bag for easy re-application throughout the day. You don’t even need a mirror to reapply!

Great lip balms to try:

• NARS – Orgasm Afterglow Lip Balm ** (seen in July 2018 Favorites)
• Givenchy – Le Rouge Perfecto Beautifying Li Balm ** (seen in Quick, Easy Makeup)
• Sun Bum – Sunscreen Lip Balm (seen in Summer Drugstore Beauty Essentials)
• Kopari Beauty – Coconut Lip Glossy (if you prefer a little more shine on your lips)

Bold Lip Product for Nights Out/Fancy Events

Even though lip balm is my preferred lip product for my everyday makeup, there are some times I want to kick it up a notch!

A nice bold lip color will really amp up any look. Even if you’ve been out all day and have a nice dinner to go to, but don’t have time to redo your makeup, applying a bold lip color will totally change your entire look!

It’s always good to have a classic red or deep red lipstick that you can turn to in these situations.

Great bold lip options are:

• MAC – Lipstick Cream
• Maybelline – SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lip Color

Setting Spray to Lock Everything In

Just like setting powder, setting spray is a super important part of your makeup routine to really lock everything into place.

Especially when we have our makeup on for a long period of time and we’re out and about doing fun activities, setting spray will give you that extra layer of makeup protection to ensure it’ll last as long as it possibly can.

It also helps make your makeup sweat-proof and transfer-proof!

A few great setting sprays are:

• Urban Decay – All Nighter Long-Lasting Setting Spray **
• Urban Decay – De-Slick Oil-Control Setting Spray
• Milani – Make it Last Setting Spray
• Caudalie – Beauty Elixir **

Tips for Packing Beauty Items:

1. Get samples from Sephora/Ulta/any other beauty store

If you start preparing for your trip enough in advance, take a trip down to your favorite beauty store and ask for samples of some products.

I only have experience doing this at Sephora, but they will give you a small sample for just about anything you ask for!

Pro tip: If you’re going on a trip that will require more than one “sample size” of any product, make multiple trips to the store. 😉 Or get your husband/boyfriend/friend/mom/anyone else to get a sample for you, too!

2. Get Travel-Sized Products (if the price makes sense)

Travel-sized products are often way overpriced for what you get. You may be paying half the cost of a full-sized product, but end up getting only a quarter of the amount.

However, it is definitely possible to find travel-sized (mini-sized) products that are worth the cost, you just have to do a little searching and always compare the cost per ounce price to that of the full-sized version.

And if you’re okay with paying a slight premium for the convenience of having your favorite product in a travel-sized version, by all means, go for it!

3. De-pot Things and Make Your Own Palette

If you have a bunch of individual products and/or favorite shades from multiple palettes you want to take on your trip, try de-potting them from their original casing and creating your own palette.

Shop Empty Palettes: Amazon | ColourPop | Sephora | Ulta

If you don’t know how to de-pot your makeup, try doing a quick YouTube search for great informational videos.

4. Put Liquids that come in Big Bottles into Little Bottles

I’m sure I’m not the only one that buys the biggest size of things to get the most bang for your buck!

That definitely becomes a problem when packing for travel, though.

For items like shampoo, conditioner, makeup remover (I use an oil makeup remover), facial cleanser, and anything else that’s liquid, I always transfer a small amount into travel-sized plastic bottles for traveling.

5. Put Setting Spray in a Small Spray Bottle and Keep in Your Bag

Similar to putting the other liquid items into small bottles, I put setting spray into a small spray bottle to keep in my purse at all times!

Not only does it help extend my makeup throughout the day, it also freshens up my makeup and it feels really refreshing!

6. Carry Blotting Paper and Blotting/Pressed Powder in Your Bag

Blotting paper and blotting/pressed powder are life savers, especially if you tend to get oily throughout the day.

It’s perfect to get rid of excess oil and to touch up your makeup while you’re on-the-go.

Pro tip: If you’re traveling to Japan, the napkins that many restaurants/cafes provide feel very similar to blotting paper. Just stash a few in your bag. 😉

7. Get a Mesh Carrying Case for Your Makeup Sponge

If you plan to travel from city to city, there might be times when you do your makeup, then have to pack up and leave to go to another city.

What happens to your damp makeup sponge?! Do you put it in your luggage when it’s still damp? And risk it getting gross and moldy?

Get a mesh carrying case that you can clip onto your bag so your sponge can air dry during the day!

Also, I ALWAYS take backup sponges, just in case.

Things NOT to Forget:

1. Tweezers/Facial Hair Scissors

It’s a must to keep your eyebrows on point, even while traveling! And no shame here, those nose hairs must be trimmed, too!

2. Razor/Face Razor

A razor is a must-pack if you shave your legs/underarms, but what about a face razor?!

Again, no shame here, I totally shave the peach fuzz off my face with a facial hair razor, and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.

Makeup application is always so flawless and my skin looks so much smoother!

3. Makeup Remover

It’s embarrassing to admit how many times I’ve forgotten to pack makeup remover for a trip.

I’d realize it the first night when I’m ready to remove my makeup, have to remove it with regular soap (NOT recommended), then scramble to find makeup remover the next day (that I like – I’m picky).

4. Makeup Brush/Sponge Cleaner

I guess this one would depend on how long your trip is, but if it’s more than a few days to a week, don’t forget makeup brush/sponge cleaner!

I personally clean my brushes once a week, maybe once every two weeks if I’m lazy, but I clean my sponge every day with a solid brush cleaner.

And I like to take this eyeshadow brush cleaner to quickly switch between shades without doing a thorough clean of my brushes.

And that’s it for this post on what products to pack for traveling and tips on how to pack your beauty products for your next trip!

Are you going on a trip soon? Let me know which one of these tips were the most helpful to you!

Do you have any tips for traveling with makeup that I left out? Please let me know down in the comments!

If you’re planning on making any purchases in preparation for your next trip, don’t forget to use Ebates (now called Rakuten)!

Thanks for reading and until next time! <3

More Beauty Posts:

• Summer Makeup Tips
• Best Bronzers for a Sun-Kissed Glow this Summer
• Full Face of Makeup Kit Under $50 Total
• Best Drugstore Makeup – Mid 2019
• 5-Step Easy Korean Skincare Routine

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The Must-Have Beauty Products You Need for Your Summer Trip + Makeup Packing Tips