Whether you’re heading home for the holidays or jetting off on vacation, you likely want to bring along some of the beauty products that help you feel your best. The only problem? Not everything you love is packaged under 3.4 ounces—meaning it can be stowed in your carry-on—and the last thing you want to add to your travel stress is tragically parting with a beloved product in the security line.
But here’s the good news: There are lots of made-for-travel products on the market these days. From makeup to skin-care, these little sanity savers can make a big difference in your travel experience. Before you pack your next carry-on, check out what top makeup artists say they won’t travel without.
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Travel Size, $24
This tinted moisturizer was such a big hit—thanks to its sheer coverage and natural finish—that it was only a matter of time before Laura Mercier made it travel-sized. Celebrity makeup artist Min Min Ma loves the light coverage it provides in addition to its moisturizing ability and SPF 20 protection.
Buy it: $24, Laura Mercier
RMS Beauty Signature Set Pop Collection, $44
This tiny RMS Beauty palette is makeup artist Robyn Fisher’s go-to beauty product for traveling. It packs a punch with four cream colors in orangey red, bubblegum pink, shimmery bronze and the brand’s uber-popular Magic Luminizer . “Creams don't crack or break, leaving a crumbled mess, so this one’s a keeper in my book,” she says.
Buy it: $44, Sephora
Wander Beauty Dualist Matte and Illuminating Concealer, $29
You can't get more versatile than a good concealer, which is why it’s a top pick for makeup artist Jenny Patinkin. “Concealer is easily packed in carry-on luggage without fear of spillage and can be used in so many ways other than to hide dark circles or blemishes,” she says. This Wander concealer is matte on one end and illuminating on the other, which makes it ideal to “neutralize discoloration on the lids, fill in indented areas like under the eyes or in the nasal-labial folds, and create the illusion of lift at the outer corners of the eyes and lips,” she says.
Buy it: $29, Sephora
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, $21
Patinkin packs several eyeliner pencils when she travels, thanks to their many uses. “They can be smudged and smoked on the lid instead of powder shadow; a slightly darker shade can create definition in the crease; a dark, tight line under the upper lashes can make the eyes pop; and a soft taupe under the lower lash line can create the illusion that the eye has more height,” she says. “Plus, for me, as a 50-year-old woman with ‘lived-in’ lids, I find that a smudged liner is the most forgiving, flattering thing I can apply on my eyes.”
Buy it: $21, Urban Decay
Inika Certified Organic Lip and Cheek Cream, $35
When it comes to selecting travel-friendly beauty products, makeup artist Shira Aaron prioritizes multitaskers like this lip and cheek cream from Inika Organic. “The moisturizing formula is enriched with certified organic sweet almond oil and vitamin E that easily glides on your skin when you want a rosy cheek or long-lasting pop of color on your lips,” she says.
Buy it: $35, Inika Organic
BKR Tutu Water Bottle, $48
It’s not the first thing you’d imagine a makeup artist packs for a trip, but Annie Tevelin, founder of SkinOwl, swears by this water bottle. “ Staying hydrated starts from within, so I try to fight puffiness in the under-eye area before it starts by filling up my water bottle with H2O immediately after passing through security,” she tells SELF.
Buy it: $48, BKR
Musely Hydrogel Eye Mask Bye Bye Eye Bags, $4
Makeup artist Erin B. Guth never travels without a handful of eye masks to help fight the lack of moisture in airplane cabins . “Using an eye mask while in transit or on the first night of arrival is an excellent tool to battle these negative effects,” she says. “Musely’s Hydrogel Eye Mask comes in handy single packets that are flat enough to fit in a book, and are packed with prickly pear seed oil, grape seed oil and cucumber fruit extract, which combine to combat dehydration and environmental damage.”
Buy it: $4, Musely
lilah b. Mini Aglow Face Mist, $16
Face mists are clutch when your skin is craving a spritz of nourishment after a long day of travel. This mist by lilah b. is the only one Ma carries in her kit, as she says it “works great as both a toner or as an in-between refresher.” In addition to perking up your epidermis, you can also use a face mist as part of your makeup look. “I sometimes spray it onto an eyeshadow brush to make a shadow more pigmented or spritz a little onto a finished look to add a dewy, natural glow,” she says.
Buy it: $16, lilah b.
Skyn Iceland Blemish Dots, $20
To fight the pesky pimples that always seems to crop up at the wrong time, makeup artist Mary Wiles travels with these adhesive gel patches containing tea tree oil and salicylic acid. Adhere one to your blemish and leave it on for a few hours to work its magic. “They start working immediately to stop any spots in their track—clearing pores, absorbing impurities and fighting redness,” she says. (Also, we all know airports and airplanes are covered in germs , so stop touching your face mid-flight!)
Buy it: $20, Skyn Iceland
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, $21
Doing your brows while you travel doesn't require packing powders and brushes. Instead, opt for Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. “These pencils are slim, wind up (so no sharpener is needed) and have a spoolie on one end for combing the brows after filling them in,” says Fisher. She loves their smooth texture, long-lasting ability and the color payoff.
Buy it: $21, Anastasia Beverly Hills
