Travel makeup can be as minimal as you want it to be. If you can get by with a tan and some mascara that is totally fantastic. For the rest of us these are my travel makeup bag essentials.
First things first you need a make up bag. For years I made do with gift with purchase toiletry bags. You know the ones you don’t really love but hey they work to lug your tooth brushes. I finally purchased a gorgeous leather set (seen above) and I couldn’t be happier. I also really like this one too!
This time around I used the smaller bag for my skin care and the larger one for my makeup. If I was going away for the weekend (maybe packing for the cottage) I could get away with using the smaller one for make up and skin care and the larger one for hair products. Either way you have options.
Travel Makeup Bag Essentials
- Bumble and Bumble Curl Cream – my hair takes to curl really easily. Living in Canada means my hair has wave but it is easily controlled with a round brush and a blow dryer. On vacation in the Caribbean however the humidity is off the charts and trying to style my hair the same as at home is impossible. Instead I encourage the cuGrl with a curl cream and air dry my hair. Instead of lugging a big bottle I transferred some to these travel bottles.
- Bumble and Bumble Prep – this is the one thing I put in my hair every day. It goes where ever I go. It is my bare minimum for a good hair day.
- Drunk Elephant the Littles Kit – I picked this up during the Sephora sale. These are bigger than a sample size but small enough to take an extensive skin care regime without really taking up much space. I don’t want to go into too much detail about the line just yet. I am planning a post about the hits and misses of Drunk Elephant. But if I were to recommend one product right now it would be the C Firma Day Serum. Also included in this kit is a mineral sunscreen.
- Peke & Juju bar travel duo – I ordered these as part of my Drunk Elephant testing. I haven’t tried these yet!
- Leather Travel Case Set – I mentioned above that this set is fantastic. The larger bag has plenty of room. In fact the smaller one is spacious too, perfect for a weekend away.
- Becca Highlighter – I am addicted to that glowy look that a highlighter can bring. Also if you want to cut down on eye products it can double as eye shadow.
- Sunlit Bronzer – Bronzer might not be as needed when down south but it is a must at home. I put it on the hollows of my cheeks as well as the temples and jawline. It also works in the crease of the eye as an eye shadow alternative.
- Caviar Stick Eye colour – These are another space and time saver. I love the creamy stick shadows for quick eye makeup.
- Monsieur Big Mascara – If you want big thick lashes this mascara is fantastic. I will say though you have to watch the product because it can be clumpy. I find that the first eye goes on well but if I put the wand back in the tube the second eye can be a bit tricky due to too much product on the wand. The never ending mascara issue!
- Velvet shadow stick – If I had to pick between this and the Laura Mercier option I prefer the Nars one. It just glides easier.
- Tinted Moisturizer – I use this to even out my skin tone. I love that it doesn’t feel like makeup on my face.
- Dior Addict lip glow – I picked up two of these on the Sephora sale. A friend of mine had raved about them years ago. It took me this long to listen and now I am wondering why. They are intensely moisturizing and create the perfect shade of pink for your lips.
- Velvet Matte Lip pencil – I love these pencils. They give the perfect matte pout. I packed Red Square because I love that orangey red for summery weather.
- Mineral Blush – Finishing off the face with this great buildable blush. It feels velvety smooth and gives the perfect pinky peach hue.
- Bronze & Glow contour brush – The rest of my makeup bag is full of the brushes I need to create the looks I want. Need a blush and bronzer brush. Love these two in ones.
- Shadow & Crease brush – These two are almost all you need to create the perfect smokey eye.
- Smokey eye brush – You need a precision brush to place the darker shades at the outside corner of the eye.
- Mattemoiselle plus matte lipstick – I usually pack a few shades of lipstick. A pink and a red leaves you with options.
Other than what is listed above I also pack my round brush. There is always one day where I think a blow dry is a good idea but it is so hard to manage! I have also packed a number of different mineral sunscreens. I will be sharing a best of post after our vacation.
What are your Travel Makeup bag essentials? Is there something you pack that you must have and can’t leave home without?