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Every girly girl or aesthetic traveler knows that packing the right makeup for trips is a must. That’s why I had to devote an entire blog post to all my must-have, TSA-approved makeup products that I bring with me when I travel.
In fact, having my makeup on point when I go on vacation is such a priority for me that I have my own separate packing list dedicated to what lipstick, eyeshadow palettes, and powders I’m bringing.
If you’re like “that’s very boujee of you,” well, it is, I am, and you’re right. But I have a feeling you get me, since you’re on this page ;).
In this blog post, I’ll be showing you all my favorite makeup products that I take with me when I travel. I’m talking the essentials here – the products I can’t possibly live without!
The majority of these things I also use in everyday life – but when I go on trips, I make an extra effort to take my most favorite, statement-making products that I know will elevate my aesthetic. After all, is there any better way to romanticize your life than knowing you are in a whimsical new city or a foreign country looking your absolute best?
FYI: In some of these sections, I have listed 2+ products that I rotate between. I only take 1 of them with me in my travel bag, but know that I love and swear by both!
The Best (TSA Approved!) Makeup to Pack in Your Travel Bag
Jump to Section
MY FAVORITE TRAVEL MAKEUP BAG
How I Pack My Travel Makeup Bag
Does TSA Count Foundation as a Liquid?
What is the 3-1-1 Rule?
MAKEUP FOR FACE
Sunscreen
Foundation/Concealer
Setting Powder
Contouring
Blush
Highlighter
MAKEUP FOR EYES
Eye Primer
Eyeliners, Mascara, & Brows
Eyeshadow Palettes
MAKEUP FOR LIPS
Lipstick
Lip Gloss
Lip Liners
My Favorite Travel Makeup Bag
First things first – you need a solid travel makeup bag. I found the one that I linked here on Amazon and it is my absolute favorite. It folds up nice and flat so it’s easy to pack while still being able to fit a ton of things inside.
This bag saves me so much time when I pack because I use it to double as my everyday makeup bag as well. You just have to throw in a few extra things, and you’re ready to go!
(the sticker on the left does NOT come with the bag!)
It’s important to remember that TSA requires liquids to be in a clear, quart-sized container. Since foundation and sunscreen are considered liquids, I take this bag whenever I don’t have to worry about going through security. If you are packing a carry-on only, you could take your foundation, sunscreen, and any other liquids out and put it in this smaller clear bag that I have linked here while keeping the rest of your items in your larger makeup bag.
How I Pack My Travel Makeup Bag
Like I said in the above section, I don’t use this makeup bag just for travel – I keep all of my daily makeup essentials inside it too. When it’s time to go on a trip, I only have to throw in or take out a couple things depending on what I need.
For example, I don’t always rock a red lip in everyday life, but on vacation, a lot of times it’s a must. I don’t keep red lipstick in my makeup bag, but when I’m packing for a trip, I’ll go to my vanity and grab whichever red shades I need and toss them inside. I already have things like mascara and foundation in my bag, so the amount of extra packing effort is minimal.
Pro Tip: Speaking of foundation, I always have 2 different color foundations on hand, depending on if I’m tan or not. Same goes for setting powder. Before leaving for a trip, I always make sure I have the correct foundation and setting powder color inside my bag.
Does TSA Count Foundation as Liquid?
The short answer is YES. Foundation, concealer, cream, and lotion are all considered liquids by TSA standards and have to follow the 3-1-1 rule.
What is the 3-1-1 Rule for Traveling with Liquids?
- All liquids must be 3.4 ounces or less per container
- All liquids must be packed in ONE quart size, clear, plastic, zip top bag
- Only ONE clear, quart-sized bag per passenger.
The Best Travel Makeup for Face
Prepping Your Skin
First things first: You need sunscreen
This sunscreen by Supergoop is my favorite because it not only protects your skin, but it gives you a dewy glow AND acts as a makeup primer. I love this because I don’t have to pack a separate makeup primer in my suitcase. Find you a product that does it all. I’m obsessed.
The Best Foundations and Concealers
I am a firm believer that you should invest in a good foundation for so many reasons.
A good, full coverage foundation will hide any skin impurities you have, and it will also act as a good base layer for any products that you layer on top of it. If you have a foundation that is cakey, drying, or not a good formula, anything you put on top of it will suffer.
That being said, I am a Dior girl to my core. I have tried many different foundations over the years and I’m completely obsessed with this one. Is it pricey? Yes. Is it worth it? IMO, also yes. When I go on trips, I ALWAYS pack my Dior.
If you don’t want a full-blown foundation but instead prefer a skin tint or tinted moisturizer, I really like Eaze Drop by Fenty Beauty.
Speaking of Fenty Beauty, their We’re Even concealer is my current obsession. I have also used Tarte Shape Tape and the Dior concealer, but I have found that sometimes the Dior one will irritate my under eye area.
The Best Setting Powders
Regular Setting Powders
I always use a powder to lightly set the foundation on my face. My favorite setting powder is MAC Mineralize Skinfinish. I have this powder in 3 different shades, depending on if I have used self-tanner or not.
Translucent Powders
Sometimes though, you need a powder that can really sustain the heat and/or last all day. If I’m going somewhere and it’s calling for high temperatures, I always make sure to pack a translucent powder in my bag because it really holds your makeup together. I apply this using a damp beauty sponge and then blend it in with a brush.
- Pro Tip: If you want to REALLY make sure your makeup lasts, apply your translucent powder with a sponge and let it sit on your skin WITHOUT blending it in until it feels warm. The warmth of your face will set your makeup base, ensuring flawless makeup all day. This concept was made popular by drag queens and is referred to as “baking your face.”
My two favorite translucent powders are:
- MAC Studio Fix Pro Set + Blur Weightless Loose Powder
- Laura Mercier Talc-Free Translucent Powder
The Best Products for Contouring/Highlighting, Bronzers, and Blush
Contouring Products
For contouring on the go, I rotate between 2 products:
- Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer
- NARS Laguna Talc-Free Bronzing Powder
Although I have used cream contour sticks, the Fenty Beauty and NARS bronzers are in a powder form which allows me to apply them quicker. I like to always have a contouring powder on hand because I don’t have to be as precise with blending it.
The Best Blush
When it comes to blush, I have two go-to products:
- Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Devine Powder blush
- Powder Blush by NARS
I personally have always been a fan of powder over liquid blushes just because I feel like liquid blushes get too messy. However, NARS also has a product called “The Multiple” which is a cream that can be applied to lips, eyes, and cheeks. I have used this and liked it, but just know that it offers less pigmentation than their powder blush.
The Best Highlighters
- Pro Tip: I always apply my highlighters with a damp beauty blender because it makes them pop that much more.
My go-to everyday highlighter that I’m obsessed with is the Vanilla Quartz shade by Smashbox/Becca. However, ever since COVID, I have only been able to find it on Amazon because it is not one of the shades they mass produce anymore.
I have had so many people stop me when I’ve been out and ask me what highlighter I use. If you are reading this and you work for Smashbox/Becca, this is my cry for help. I need you to restock this on every platform. TIA <3
The other highlighter that I’m obsessed with is Diamond Bomb by Fenty Beauty. Imagine someone taking the most iridescent, snow-like glitter and sprinkling it on your face. It’s beyond gorgeous. I like to wear this one alone or layer this with my Becca highlighter that I mentioned above. It comes in a white and pink shade, but the white shade, How Many Carats, is my favorite.
The Best Travel Makeup for Eyes
My Favorite Eyeshadow Primer
My absolute favorite eyeshadow primers are the MAC PaintPots. I have these in 4 different shades and love them all because they go on smooth and create a great base for your shadow.
If you want something that is more of a “true” neutral, you can always use your concealer as an eyeshadow base and then set it with powder before applying your shadow.
Eyeliners, Mascara, & Brows
Mascara & Primer
A lot of days, I will simply just wear mascara and go. My favorite combo is Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara and a primer. I’m not overly picky with my primer, but my current go-to is the Subversion Lash Primer from Urban Decay.
My Favorite Eyeliners
My favorite eyeliners are liquid liners. I especially like Kat Von D’s Tattoo Vegan Liner because it’s waterproof and long-lasting.
If I am wearing a pencil liner, I usually go for either the Drama LiquiPencil liners from Lancôme or the MAC Colour Excess gel pencil eyeliner.
Makeup for Eyebrows
I have naturally dark eyebrows, so I don’t need to do much to shape them. I have found that applying the tinted brow gel from Anastasia, letting it dry, and then filling in the sparse areas with this eyeliner pencil from Maybelline does the trick!
The Best Eyeshadow Palettes
Although there are a TON of travel-size eyeshadow palettes on the market, I find myself bringing my regular size palettes that I use when I go on trips. I will usually pack these in a smaller compartment in my suitcase as opposed to my travel makeup bag to save room.
My favorite eyeshadow palettes are the ones from Anastasia Beverly Hills (ABH) and Morphe. However, at the time of this post, the ones I use are no longer sold in Ulta or Sephora. However, one of my all-time favorites from ABH – the OG Modern Renaissance palette – can still be purchased on the ABH website.
The Best Travel Makeup for Lips
Everyone who has ever known me in my life knows that I have at least 239416 lip products with me at all times. And that’s only a slight exaggeration.
However, I have a few “holy grail” favorites that I absolutely love and can’t live without that I will list below:
The Best, Must-Have Lipsticks
Anastasia Beverly Hills
My absolute favorite lipstick is a shade called Hush Pink by Anastasia Beverly Hills (ABH). It is an absolutely perfect shade of baby pink with a hint of peach. I also love the formula because it is long lasting but not drying.
ABH also makes one of my favorite red colors in the same formula called American Doll. This is a true red color with very neutral undertones. I always bring this color if I know I need a red lip to compliment my outfit.
Pat McGrath Labs
I love the formula of Pat McGrath because her lipsticks go on so smooth without being drying. I especially love her MatteTrance collection. My favorite PML lipstick shades include:
- Peep Show (a soft pink/peach nude)
- Divine Rose (a nude pink)
- Flesh 3 (a deep brown rose)
MAC Lipstick
For MAC, I’ve recently become obsessed with their Locked Kiss 24 Hour Lipstick. I have this in a red shade called “Renegade” which is a fiery orange-red and one that I especially love to wear if I need a red lip in the summertime. And of course, you can’t beat the color range that MAC has with any of their products, but especially their lipsticks IMO.
The Best Lip Glosses
My favorite lip glosses are – no surprise – the ones by Fenty Beauty. I’m a sucker for Fu$$y, Fenty Glow, and a shade they no longer produce anymore called Diamond Milk (similar to their white Diamond Bomb highlighter). If you work for Fenty Beauty, I’m going to issue another cry for help: please re-stock Diamond Milk ASAP <3.
The one thing I don’t love about the Fenty lipglosses is that the packaging is a little bulky. If I am carrying a lot of these shades with me, I will usually pack them into a compartment in my carry-on tote bag.
The Best Lip Liner Pencils
It took me awhile to get into lip pencils; I have always been more of a lipstick/lipgloss kinda girl…but now that I have discovered my favorites, there’s no going back. Even better: lip liners last all day, have less smudge/transfer risk than lipstick, and easily fit in your makeup bag or purse.
My absolute favorite lip pencils are the ones by Huda Beauty. I have these in at least 5 different shades. I love them because they go on super smooth, and they also twist up so you don’t need to sharpen them.
Lastly, you can never go wrong with MAC lip liners. I have a few go-to red shades from MAC that I love. FYI: MAC lip liners DO require a sharpener.
The Best Setting Spray
You know you have to lock it all in when you’re done. My favorite setting spray is MAC Fix+ Stay Over setting spray. I have this in regular AND travel-size, and of course, bring the travel size one with me when I go on trips.
Is it just me, or does MAC setting spray make you feel expensive? It’s like the smell of it immediately takes you to the dark store interior that’s practically Candy Land for adults. You know what I’m saying? Of course you do ;).
