It’s tempting to put up with moving your makeup around, squeezing it into every little crevice of your suitcase and makeup bag while traveling. But I’m here to tell you: invest in creating a travel size makeup kit now. Yes, even if you have an all-in-one makeup kit — invest in mini makeup products!
Trust me, I get it — you love your MAC makeup, and they don’t have your fav in a travel size. It’s scary to give up your favs. Who has time to research and try out new makeup, then put together a kit when getting ready to travel?
Me. I do. You’re welcome.
If you’re about to get cramped for a trip, these travel size makeup products will make your life easy and, yes, work just as well as your favs.
20% of all affiliate sales are donated to The National LGBTQ+ Task Force. Thank you for your support!
Sunshine Skin Tint SPF 30
If you need a base, choose one that’s easy to control and has SPF in it – kill two birds with one stone, you know? Milk’s Sunshine Skin Tint has SPF 30, but 0 zinc, so you won’t dry out despite the dry air. Instead, it’s filled with hydrating grapeseed, avocado, mandarin, jojoba, and olive oils, as well as squalane to boost your natural moisture.
Secret Camouflage Correct and Brighten Concealer Duo Stick
Laura Mercier comes in clutch, having created a concealer to make last-minute coverups easy. On the Camouflage Correct side, cover up zits, dark spots, and other blemishes; on the Brighten side, take care of dark under eye circles (use an under eye primer first!). Plant-derived squalane hydrates; Laura also included blurring powders and pearls and plant extracts to help blur and brighten.
DOUBLE TAKE CONTOUR STICK
This double product will make others do a… double take. Yeah, I went there. The contouring Sculpt melts into your skin, allowing for easy, natural application – but it still creates a jawline that could kill. Spin it and follow up with Strobe to give you a glow that radiates, and you have a perfectly-contoured face with one small product.
Cheekslime Blush + Lip Tint with Plant Collagen
Don’t pack a lip color and blush – who has room for that on a tiny airplane or train ride? Instead, use a cheek-lip tint! We recommend Cheekslime from LGBTQ+-owned Freck, which has elasticity-encouraging plant collagen, brightening carrot root and ginger root extracts, and hydrating glycerin infused in the formula. There are four pigments, so every skin tone has an option that stands out (or remains subtle yet flattering — it’s buildable!).
Supernatural Stick Highlighter
UOMA’s Double Take is great, but if you have room for one more product, bring a small highlighter along to apply anywhere, anytime. W3LL PEOPLE’s highlighter also nourishes your skin using jojoba oil, green tea, and olive oil for a dewy glow. Use one swipe for subtlety, or build up to disco-ball-status – ideal when you only have one product to take you from meeting rooms to rooftops.
You can use a double-sided pencil, but why not go the extra mile for a compact that gives you options? (Plus, compacts are great for Tetris.) Use the angled brush for a quick shaping, then sponge and brush on pigments to give you your desired color using the three shades. It also comes with a spoolie to brush it out, so you have voluminous, natural brows in one small container, rather than three colors and a separate spoolie you can’t seem to locate.
MINI MASCARA 101 
When I can’t put anything else on, mascara is my go-to. It opens my eyes, gives me a little drama, and indicates that I put some effort into an early morning. Mascara 101 is just as good as Better Than Sex, and it comes in a mini container that fits in the corner of your makeup bag or clutch – perfect for both plane and presentation touch-ups.
dark rum perfume oil.
You know how sitting for hours can give you a weird smell? Yeah, it’s kind of gross to be sharing air with hundreds of strangers, all of whom smell different. This perfume oil rolls on flawlessly, giving hints of rum mixed with leather and creamy milk. Carry it everywhere, and pull it out during that straight-to-the-presentation Uber ride.
TANTI BACI EXTREME CREAM MINI LIPSTICK SET
Different events call for different shades of lipstick, but bringing multiple large containers for only a tiny bit of pigment is irrational. HAUS gives you five mini lipsticks ranging from taupe to scarlet, and they barely take up space in your makeup bag (if you don’t use the one that’s included!). If you realllllly don’t have room, you can still pick your top two that will transition you from dressed-down suit to dressed-up cocktail gown.
Clear Toiletry Bag
There is nothing more frustrating than having to pull out 20 items from a makeup bag to find that one damn product. Stop seeing red and choose a cosmetic bag that’s clear, giving you the ability to see exactly where your mascara is hiding. Your seat neighbor will appreciate you not using the entire table during your search.
What mini makeup products do you have in your personal travel kit? Tips for making it easier to pack? Share your secrets with us in the comments!