Some of my Travel Beauty Recommendations (and Tips and Tricks)

Whether for an overnight stay or for a weeks-long excursion, packing beauty products for travel is an exciting process but also an intense exercise in curation. The way I see it, it is about striving for the perfect balance between having all the things you want to feel comfortable and create your best look, but also to not carry too much with you (that may very well end up going unused). Here are some of the products or product types that I rely on the most away from home.

e.l.f. Jet Set Hydration Kit ($15 USD) : This gorgeous little travel skincare kit was the main inspiration to write this article. It includes convenient yet substantial travel sizes (all TSA compliant) of all of the Hello Hydration skincare line in e.l.f. Though it is called the "hydration" line, the products seem compatible with most every skin type at least for solid basics. They do not feel heavy at all (even the nighttime moisturizer) and the mild gel cleanser works very well into a foam that can likely cut through most base makeup and SPF. In fact, the full size of this cleanser might just be my new recommendation for drugstore face washes. It is comfortable to use and effective and does not irritate my eyes for at least a minimal eye makeup removal. I do not usually do dramatic eye looks while travelling (more on that later), but if you do, I'd recommend bringing along a small bottle of jojoba oil or olive oil or a travel size cleansing oil (DHC makes a great one of their Deep Cleansing oil) for heavier-duty looks. But in the e.l.f kit, in addition to the cleanser and night cream, there is also a lightweight day moisturizer (no SPF), an eye cream that is both hydrating and mildly firming, and a refreshing cooling stick, which is great carry in your bag to swipe on throughout the day if you're spending a lot of time outdoors while away, especially in a hot climate.

Benefit Benetint Lip & Cheek Tint ($18 USD): Products suitable for both lips and cheeks make packing lightly much easier. One of my favorites of these hybrids is the classic rose-tinted Benefit Benetint stain. Packaged in a nail polish-style bottle, the brush applicator makes applying blush in a controlled manner a breeze and much less messy than liquid blushes that you are meant to dab on with your fingers (and you don't need to bring a blush brush to smooth out mishaps). The brush also is very good at pressing the gel into your lips for a stained effect that looks both natural (the color of Benetint is a pink-ish red on me but can lean more berry on deeper skintones and sometimes a poppy red on light or deep skin with warm undertones) and can be layered up for more impact while also be pretty long lasting since the pigment is melded tightly too the lips but without being heavy or overdrying.

L'oreal Voluminous Mascara ($6-$12 USD approx): I said before that I don't typically do much with my eye makeup on the go as I find it tedious not only to bring brushes as well as shadows to work with but also to even find the time to do my eye makeup. So I have found that a great quality, dramatic-looking mascara indispensable for travel to give my eyes some drama. My stand-by is L'oreal Voluminous mascara, my number-one pick for fluffy buildable dense, dense volume that never gets clumpy or flaky. You can read my full rave about this product here. I typically choose the Carbon Black color when possible to have maximum drama, but there are several softer black shades, a brown, and a black-brown available. Since you can find this at most drugstores globally, the price will vary somewhat, but it is also something relatively easy to pick up if you happen to forget your mascara or run out n your journey.

My philosophy on travel beauty and makeup is to keep it streamlined, simple, and chic. Of course, you want to feel and look your best, but travelling should be mostly about being present and enjoying the moment, so I hope these products and tips will be helpful to you wherever life may take you. Bon Voyage!