The Holidays are less than ninety days away, and many of us are planning to travel. But, unfortunately, there is almost always a slight inconvenience that we forget to pack something we need. For example, I almost always forget my face mask, blanket, and pillow. Usually, it is the things I forget that I always need the most. So, unless I am flying first class, I need my blanket and pillow to combat those darn uncomfortable seats. And having a curated collection of MUST-HAVE travel beauty essentials makes me feel confident that I can take care of my skin even when traveling.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of the most popular times to travel.
And Although I do not think I will be traveling this Thanksgiving, and Christmas is way better in NYC, I will not be traveling then either. Instead, I will be traveling late in October and early in November. So while I am in home mode, I am also in travel planning mode. And the Art of Preparation has taught me that being prepared for my trip means I am less stressed and overwhelmed.

Most of us do not travel with our entire beauty collection, so now is the best time to pare down your beauty assortment to curate your MUST-HAVES beauty essentials.

So if you are planning a solo trip, an all-girls adventure, or a romantic staycation, this article is for you. These MUST-HAVE travel beauty essentials are not only an excellent idea for you—but they are also a fabulous option to gift your adventurous gal pal.

Below is our list of MUST-HAVE Travel Essentials, and it is the Beauty Edition.

This curated list of MUST-HAVE beauty essentials will work for you whether you are traveling for business, on vacation, or planning a Staycation. As always, make adjustments where you see fit. And if you have a favorite product with a travel option, that is your best choice.

I am low maintenance when it comes to makeup, so my travel choices for makeup need to perform double duties. And I am high maintenance when it comes to skincare. So editing my beauty products can become quite a challenge. However, determining what I will need on hand when I reach my destination a few weeks in advance guarantees I get the products I need, but I can also include those costs in my budget ahead of time.

Organizers

First, it is time to determine what travel makeup/beauty organizer works best for you. I prefer to store my essentials separately in two organizers—one that fits my skincare essentials and the other for makeup. But you may decide to use one that fits them both.

Here are a few of my favorites

• AWAY The Cosmetics Bag

• Longchamp Le Pliage Top Handle Cosmetic Bag

• BAGSMART Toiletry Bag

• NISHEL Travel Toiletry Bag

Skin-Care

Glowing healthy skin with or without makeup starts with skin care. So relying on a good gentle cleanser and a nourishing moisturizer is the first step in any routine, travel, or home.

Some prefer a kit that includes a face wash, toner, and moisturizer. This will be an excellent option if you have beautiful, healthy skin that does not require much maintenance. The great news is that Sephora has recently launched various brand’s Limited Edition Exclusive sets featuring mini products only available during the holidays. Many are fantastic skincare sets.

Here are a few of my favorites

• TATCHA Dewy Skin Essentials Set

• GLOW RECIPE Hey You, You’re Dew-ing Great Hydration Kit

• YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE Cleanse Your Way: Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser Duo

• DRUNK ELEPHANT Drunk Break: Wake-up Haul Day Kit

• FARMACY Winter Greens Pore-Clearing Duo

• BELIF On-the-glow hydration travel kit

• TATCHA Balancing Cleanse + Hydrate Duo

• DRUNK ELEPHANT The LittlesT Skincare Travel Set

• BIOSSANCE Rapid Radiance Se

• TULA SKINCARE On The Go Best Sellers Travel Kit

• OLEHENRIKSEN Mini 3 Mega Wonders

• ITEM BEAUTY BY ADDISON RAE Mini Clean Up Well Skincare Starter Set

Here is what I am taking

Remember I said my skincare routine is high maintenance; therefore, you should evaluate your needs. For example, maybe you only need to cleanse, toner, hydrate, and protect, or perhaps you need to cleanse, tone, treat, hydrate, and protect.

Cleanse + tone + treat + exfoliate + hydrate + protect

AM routine includes cleansing, essence, treatment, hydration [face + eyes + lips], and protection.

PM routine includes double cleansing, an essence, treating, facial spray, hydration [face + eyes + lips], and oil.

Cleansing Oil|Balm

• FARMACY Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm

• FARMACY Holiday Party Green Clean Trio

• SULWHASOO Mini Gentle Cleansing Oil Makeup Remover

Facewash

• DERMALOGICA Mini Special Cleansing Gel

Essence

• SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence)

Micellar Water

• Bioderma Hydrabio H20 Micellar Water

Facial Mist

• CAUDALIE Grape Water Moisturizing Face Mist

I use this throughout the day as well to refresh.

Treat

Niacinamide [AM]

• THE ORDINARY Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Oil Control Serum

Vitamin C [AM]

• VICHY LIFTACTIV VITAMIN C SERUM

Hyaluronic Acid [PM]

• THE ORDINARY Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum

Retinol [PM]

• Mini Retinol + Repeat Travel Kit

Exfoliate PM [2X WKLY]

• DR. DENNIS GROSS SKINCARE Mini Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel

Hydration

Eye [AM + PM]

• ORIGINS MINI GINZING™ VITAMIN C EYE CREAM TO BRIGHTEN AND DEPUFF

Lips [AM + PM]

• SUMMER FRIDAYS Lip Butter Balm

Oil [PM]

• BIOSSANCE SQUALANE + VITAMIN C ROSE OIL

Sunscreen [AM]

• SUPERGOOP! Mini Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 PA+++

• SUPERGOOP! Mini Glowscreen Sunscreen SPF 40 PA+++ with Hyaluronic Acid + Niacinamide

I love and alternate using both.

Makeup

Almost every brand has travel sizes in primer, concealer, foundation, setting powder, mascara, etc. Still, I do not believe all travel-size makeup products are worth the money unless you get them as a sample. For example, a travel-sized mascara is approximately 15.00, while the full-size is $29.00, depending on the brand of your choice. So when it comes to concealer and mascara, I prefer to purchase the full sizes—almost all of the packaging is sleek and travels well.

Remember, I am low maintenance when it comes to makeup, so be sure to adjust accordingly to suit your needs. When it comes to makeup, I am all about cream blushes, highlighters, and bronzer—I am a complete novice, so cream products work the best for me.

For me, a makeup routine includes prep, correct, eyes, cheeks, lips, set, and protection.

Prep

I am all about skincare, so preping with this moisturizer is an excellent way to prep for your makeup.

• BOBBI BROWN Mini Vitamin Enriched Face Base Priming Moisturizer

And if I do not have this Bobbi Brown essential and use a primer—these are the two I love. I will be traveling with my BOBBI BROWN and MILK primer in the mini.

• TATCHA Mini Liquid Silk Canvas: Featherweight Protective Primer

• MILK MAKEUP Mini Hydro Grip Hydrating Makeup Primer

And here is a value option

• TATCHA Protect + Prime Trio

Correct

• IT COSMETICS Mini Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer

I love this for my undereye if I have not gotten enough sleep and am going to the beach or pool. The one below is what I use whenever I correct under my eyes—which is about twice a week, so I will also walk with this in the full size.

• NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

• IT COSMETICS Mini CC+ Cream with SPF 50+

• CHARLOTTE TILBURY Mini Hollywood Flawless Filter

I love to mix this flawless filter with my CC or BB cream to spot treat, and it leaves a nice natural glow.

Eyes + Cheeks + Lips

• MAKE UP FOR EVER The Professional 24HR Double-Ended Lifting & Volumizing Mascara

My all-time favorite mascaras are Too Faced Better than Sex and DIOR Diorshow 24h Buildable Volume Mascara. Still, I recently tried this Makeup For Ever, which is like having the two I usually use. So, I will be traveling with this, although I am still testing it out.

• BENEFIT COSMETICS Mini Precisely, My Brow Pencil Waterproof Eyebrow Definer

• BENEFIT COSMETICS Mini 24-HR Brow Setter Clear Brow Gel with Lamination Effect

• RARE BEAUTY BY SELENA GOMEZ Soft Pinch Liquid Blush 3 Piece Set

I love these blushes from Rare Beauty—they are very pigmented and work just as well for the eyes as it does as a blush.

• NUDESTIX Mini Soft & Warm Nudes 3-Piece Kit

This is an excellent kit if you want something just for the eyes. For example, I use these as eyeliner and eyeshadow–I have them on hand, so I will be packing them, although I am sure I do not need them.

• NUDESTIX Sunset Nudes 3-piece Set

This is also a great set; it has a blush, eye color, and lip and cheek balm.

• KAJA Play Bento Cream Bronzer, Powder Blush, and Highlighter Sculpting Trio

I need a lip mask for the night and something natural for the day—here are my travel choices.

I love this limited edition set from Summer Friday.

• SUMMER FRIDAYS Lip Butter Balm Set

• DIOR Lip Glow Oil

• LANEIGE Midnight Minis Lip Sleeping Mask Set

Set

• ONE/SIZE BY PATRICK STARRR Mini Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder

• CHARLOTTE TILBURY Mini Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder

I love a good setting spray—mine doubles as an option to reapply sunscreen.

• SUPERGOOP! Mini (Re) Setting Refreshing Mist SPF 40

Tools

Whatever facial tools I use, I almost always try to get them in the mini versions. So this time around, I do not have to purchase anything.

• TWEEZERMAN Micro Mini Pink Perfection Tweezer Set

• MOUNT LAI Mini De-Puffing Jade Facial Roller

• MOUNT LAI Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool

• FOREO LUNA Mini 3

• HOURGLASS Vegan Face & Eye Travel Brush Set

• BEAUTYBLENDER ORIGINAL BEAUTYBLENDER Makeup Sponge

These were a significant investment, but I have had them for some time—a quality purchase worth the investment.

If this is not in your budget, then I would suggest one brush; the one below is a dual-ended option that pairs two types of brushes in one and, of course, the original beauty blender sponge for blending.

• HOURGLASS Ambient® Lighting Edit Brush

And finally, blotting paper because I am an oily girl.

• TATCHA Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers

And there you have it—my MUST-HAVE travel essentials. I know these probably seem like a lot, but there are small items, and they travel well. I will be gone for seven days, so that these products will last for my entire trip. Some of my things will be in my tote bag, while the others will be stored in my carry-on.

Comment below—what are your travel essentials for skincare and makeup? Visit us next week for the hair + body edition.