The Ultimate Guide to Travel Makeup Essentials

Welcome to Travel Week! Fashion people are always on the move, and the industry has been venturing into tourism and hospitality more than ever. So with summer-getaway season in full swing, we’re bringing you five days of expert-led product recommendations, outfit ideas, wellness tips, packing advice and more. We hope you stay a while.

Few aspects of packing for a trip are quite as daunting as condensing a vast makeup collection into a tiny little kit. Fortunately, the beauty industry offers hundreds of travel-optimized products, tools and devices that maximize luggage space without compromising on results.

According to Maria Salcedo, senior vice president of merchandising at Ulta Beauty, one of the most popular trends when it comes to travel-optimized beauty is the surge of mini versions of luxury products. She points out that prestige cosmetics often garner the strongest guest engagement as shoppers "look to experiment, test and learn about new beauty finds before investing." Notable brands such as Lancôme, Hourglass and Laura Mercier are among the prominent players in the travel-size section.

To help you navigate through all the options and make confident purchases, Fashionista curated a comprehensive guide featuring input from celebrity makeup artists, board-certified dermatologists and leading beauty influencers. Keep scrolling for a comprehensive breakdown of the top makeup travel essentials — from multipurpose products to makeup palettes, dual-ended brushes and everything in between — to pack for your next getaway.

Best Multipurpose Makeup for Travel

Multipurpose makeup products are highly coveted among avid travelers because they offer — as the name implies — multiple uses and benefits in a single item. Instead of carrying a separate lipstick, blush and eyeshadow, you can achieve a wide variety of full-face looks with one multitasking makeup stick. There are also eyeliners that double as a lip liners (and even blush!) in a pinch, not to mention complexion products infused with sunscreen and a range of other skin-care benefits.

Eyebrow expert and beauty brand founder Joey Healy recommends two timeless multipurpose makeup products, both of which are stick formulations: the Westman Atelier Foundation Stick and Nars The Multiple. According to Healy, the foundation stick is wonderfully versatile, allowing you to build coverage and meet all your complexion needs. Similarly, he lauds Nars The Multiple as a true "classic" that effortlessly transitions into lipstick, blush and can even offer a wash of color on eyelids as well.

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Best Travel Makeup Brushes

While some travelers go for space-saving makeup brushes specially designed for travel, such as dual-ended or retractable ones with covers, there's no reason you can't transport a complete brush collection if that's your thing. Beauty and wellness content creator Chizi Duru encourages it, with one vital caveat: Make sure they're stored separately from other products that could potentially leak and damage or contaminate them.

Duru recommends the 10-piece Sephora Ready to Roll Brush Set, ideal for those who want to have a full range of brushes while traveling. The set comes with a "beautiful black roll-up case" that she describes as easily packable.

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Best Makeup Removers for Travel

Your giant bottle of micellar water might have to skip the trip, but that's not to say that you should replace it with a pack of makeup wipes. In fact, many dermatologists advise against them, and not only because most of them aren't biodegradable and are thus rather wasteful. As convenient as they may be, they're also far less effective than washing your face with water and a traditional cleanser, says Dr. Karan Lal, a board-certified dermatologist based in Scottsdale, Ariz. According to the expert, makeup wipes primarily remove the top layer of surface makeup, but don't allow for a deeper cleanse that reaches down into pores where makeup accumulates.

The good news is that there are plenty of exciting alternatives to explore: You can try a super-portable stick solid cleanser or a makeup-dissolving mist that swiftly removes even waterproof formulas. There are even reusable makeup-remover pads that you can throw into the laundry when you get home, so they're good as new in no time. And for those with a soft spot for single-use wipes, we even found a highly-rated biodegradable option. Just pretty please, use them to remove your mascara, and then wash your face with an actual cleanser, okay?

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Best Travel Makeup Palettes

Professional makeup artist Elizabeth Seropian recommends looking for a few key features when shopping for a comprehensive makeup palette. For starters, she says it should offer a versatile range of shades so you have the tools to bring various looks to life while on vacation. (A mix of matte and shimmer finishes is always a safe bet.) She adds that the convenience of a built-in mirror is underrated, yet can't be overstated, since it allows for on-the-go touch-ups and serves as a saving grace in the face of unfavorable hotel bathroom lighting. And finally: Your travel-friendly palette should be lightweight to avoid adding unnecessary weight to luggage.

One highly recommended approach, supported by celebrity makeup artist and brand founder Jenny Patinkin, is to create your own custom makeup palette. This option is gaining popularity among brands prioritizing sustainable solutions because you can personalize it with the specific products and shades you reach for most frequently, so less product (and carryon real estate!) goes to waste.

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Best Travel Makeup Bags

Understanding the type of traveler you are is important when choosing a makeup bag, says Duru. Are you a committed minimalist who adheres to TSA-approved clear bags? Do you require space for taller bottles, or prefer a machine-washable option?

Content creator and frequent traveler Morgan Riddle always reaches for the Relavel Travel Makeup Train Case from Amazon. "With different compartments, my makeup isn't jumbled together in one big bag," she says. "It keeps everything separate, and there's even a dedicated makeup brush holder to ensure brushes stay clean and untouched by other products."

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