The Best (TSA Approved!) Makeup to Pack in Your Travel Bag – Updated 2026

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Wondering what’s the best TSA-approved makeup to bring with you when you travel? If we haven’t met, I’m Gina, and I’m an aesthetic traveler who loves makeup just as much as I love airport proseccos and direct flights. Throughout my life, people have asked me what makeup products I use so much that I knew I had to keep a blog post dedicated to my everyday makeup routine on this site. (And yes, my everyday makeup products are the same ones I bring with me when I travel!) As always, all the products I mention in this post are linked.

For my travelers who love an early morning flight, I also included my 5 minute face routine at the bottom (seriously – these 4 products will give you the BEST “no makeup” skin). If you have any questions – or, just want makeup advice! – feel free to use the Contact Me form at the bottom or message me on Instagram.

But First – You Need a (TSA-Approved!) Travel Makeup Bag

A life-hack for anyone who travels is to have your travel makeup bag double as your everyday makeup bag. I found the one that I linked here on Amazon and it’s been 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. And because I also use it as my everyday makeup bag, it saves me so much time when it comes to packing. Often times, I just swap a few things in and out and I’m ready to go.

The Best Base Makeup Products for Face

I get asked about what makeup products I use all the time, so this section is dedicated to my daily beauty routine. All the products I list in here are the products I use in everyday life AND when I travel. Got an early flight? Jump to my (less than) 5 minute face routine here!

Sunscreen, Primer, and Foundation

First things first: always start with sunscreen. I love Supergoop! Glow Screen because it gives my skin a nice dewey finish that looks really nice under my foundation. It comes in 4 shades so you can pick the one that flatters your skin the most (my favorite is Sunrise). This sunscreen can double as a primer, but I like to use Milk Hydro Grip because it gives my makeup extra staying power – a must for all-day exploring, especially in places with hot weather!

Color Corrector, Concealer, and Powder

I don’t know about you, but my dark circles are one of the biggest telltale signs that I live life in the fast lane. That’s why I always apply a color corrector AND a concealer under my eyes so I can hide the fact that I spend a decent amount of time sleeping in airplanes. My go-to color corrector is Bobbi Brown because it’s a stick, not a liquid. I can throw it in my purse if I want to touch up later and not have to worry about it exploding and making a mess. Add some Tarte Shape Tape concealer, and they’ll think you slept 9 hours at the Plaza Hotel. Lastly, I apply Laura Mercier’s Ultra Blur translucent powder around my T-zone and over my eyes to set my makeup and use as a clear “base” for my eyeshadow.

My Go-To Makeup Products for Eyes

A lot of times, concealer + translucent powder is enough of an eye primer for me, but if I really want to make sure my eye makeup sticks, I’ll use one of MAC’s paint pots in a neutral shade. Painterly, Soft Ochre, and Layin’ Low are good mattes, or go with Bare Study if you want some shimmer. I also love to take a few single-pod MAC eyeshadows with me since they’re small and easy to pack (my absolute favorite shade is Amber Lights). If you prefer a palette, Patrick Ta has 3 great neutral options that go with evvvverything.

For eyeliners, I love Kat Von D’s liquid black liner. Hourglass has great pencil liners that come in really flattering shades (the downside: they get kinda dry if you don’t use them often – but the shades are worth it IMO). Lastly, I’m still a fan of Lancome Cils Booster XL primer + Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara…some things just never change.

Makeup Products for Contouring, Highlighting, and Blush

At the time of this post, “minimalist makeup” is in – so if you’re partaking in the trend, the only product in this list that may be on your radar is likely blush. Makeup trends come and go, but damn I miss the 2016 Instagram Baddie era when everyone went hard with their makeup, especially the contour/highlight. IYKYK, and if you don’t, I’m sorry you missed out. It was a TIME.

Contouring and Bronzer Products

I am a fan of a cream/powder combo when it comes to contouring. When you apply a cream and then set with a powder, it makes your makeup last longer. My current faves are Makeup By Mario’s cream contour stick and Fenty Beauty’s powder bronzer.

Cream and Liquid Blush

Let’s be clear: you don’t need to take both of these when you travel, but these are the blushes I rotate between when I’m home. If you’re a makeup beginner, I’d go with MAC because it’s foolproof. The Hourglass one requires a little more patience and blending, but it’s beautiful when it goes on. Apply ONE DROP on your blush brush and finish blending with a beauty blender.

Highlighters for Face and Eyes

My favorite highlighter of all time for a good “base” highlight is Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in shade Vanilla Quartz. Unfortunately, this shade became discontinued during COVID, and in 2025 I could no longer find it on Amazon. Not to be dramatic, but my life’s ruined. I’m kidding. Kind of. Becca’s highlighters are still bomb, so I’m linking it below, along with 2 different Fenty Beauty highlighters that I like to rotate between and apply overtop of my base highlight. The Fenty products give a subtle sparkle and add a little extra pop that is chef’s kiss. Sometimes I’ll apply them to the corner of my eyes or even overtop of my eyeshadow.

• Pro Tip: I always apply my highlighters with a damp beauty blender because it makes them pop that much more.

Lipstick, Lip Gloss, and Lip Liner

Any of my best friends will tell you there was a time in my life where I had no less than 10 lip products in my purse at all times. I wish I was exaggerating, or even slightly embarrassed, but I have zero shame in one of my most core obsessions. /shrug

Fast forward a few years, and I’ve reigned myself in to a few “holy grail” products that I love. Nowadays, my go-to lip regimen typically includes a pink/brown lip liner combo and a gloss. For liners, I use Pink Venus by Charlotte Tilbury then apply Patrick Ta’s She’s Proud liner on the outer edges of my lips. IMO, this shade is the perfect brown because it gives just enough depth and isn’t too overpowering. For gloss, I rotate between Dior’s peachy shade 030 and Fenty Beauty Lip Oil in Fu$$y.

Shop My Go-To Lip Regimen

What’s The Best Makeup Setting Spray?

You know you have to lock it all in when you’re done. I’ve tried a few setting sprays over the years and still find myself going back to MAC Fix+ Stay Over. I have this in regular and travel-size, and of course, bring the travel size one with me when I go on trips.

My Ultimate (Less Than!) 5 Minute Makeup Routine for Early Morning Flights

I am notorious for doing the “roll out” the morning of an early flight: that is, waking up at the last possible minute, throwing on my clothes, and doing my 5 minute makeup routine before leaving. Seriously though, I call it my 5 minute makeup routine, but it really takes me less than 2 minutes! We love the convenience.

These 4-5 products are my “holy grail” items that I use whenever I want to leave the house with no makeup but don’t want to look like the walking dead. When I wear these, I get SO. MANY. COMPLIMENTS. on my skin (and you will too!).

My Favorite Products for a 5 Minute Face to Get That “No-Makeup Makeup” Look

I apply the above products in the order that they’re shown, starting with SuperGoop Glow Screen in shade Sunrise. I then apply the Dior Forever Glow Star Filter in shade #3, which is my absolute cannot-live-without product for perfect, dewy skin. Yes, it’s expensive, but I would pay more. If I’m tan or have self-tanner on, I also mix the Drunk Elephant bronzing drops in with the Dior; otherwise I leave this step out.

Next, I put the Bobbi Brown color-correcting stick in shade Light Peach underneath my eyes (if your dark circles are really bad, you may also need to use the Bobbi Brown concealer stick, but I find I can get by with just this). And last, swipe on Fenty Luminizing Lip Oil in shade Fu$$y and boom – you’re ready to go!

That’s it. Perfect, luminous skin in less than 2 minutes. If you try this routine and these products, let me know what you think in the comments!