If you pack like me, every square inch of suitcase space is used strategically. It’s challenging to fit everything you need for a trip that lasts more than a long weekend into a carry-on piece of luggage. Not to mention, deciding what to take and what to leave is a dilemma of its own: You want to have as many home comforts as possible, and you don’t want to purchase things you already own at expensive destinations.
This applies to not only clothing and accessories but cosmetics and grooming products that take up a lot of space, especially when you pack the full-size items you already have. And of course, full-size products containing liquid, gel, or aerosol will not be in compliance with the TSA’s maximum carry-on allowance of 3.4 ounces. I saw a woman watch her expensive shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and hair mask get thrown away in an airport bag check line and have vowed to never let something similar happen to me.
Toiletries and cosmetics are also rigid, unlike pliable clothing, and when packed too tightly and compressed, they run the risk of popping open or leaking and creating a mess.
You can always pack heavier and check your luggage. However, with today’s airline chaos and disorganization, there is a real risk of lost baggage, as well as the additional fees for checked bags and adding to your travel time by waiting in long baggage claim lines. This can all be avoided if you pack smart and downsize where possible.
It’s shocking how much room in your luggage is freed up simply by reducing the space occupied by beauty and grooming essentials.
A few years ago, I switched to all travel-size cosmetics and toiletries, and it has made my life noticeably easier when packing for a trip. Not only does it free up valuable space in my suitcase, but it also saves me the time of having to decide what to take and how to pack. Everything is already in separate, smaller containers, ready to grab and go in my carry-on bag; it takes all of 30 seconds to pack my essentials.
It may surprise you how many popular and even upscale brands make miniature versions of their products for travel. In many cases, you won’t have to sacrifice quality to reduce size.
Buying travel-size items is also a great way to sample new brands and products without the commitment and price tag of the full-sized versions.
With travel season in full swing, this is the perfect time to showcase a sampling of skincare, makeup, and hair products that are all available in minis, TSA-approved, and hopefully make packing for your next trip a whole lot easier.
Skincare
Whether you have your skin is normal to dry or normal to oily, there is a CeraVe Facial Cleanser mini for you. The hydrating cleanser adds—and helps skin retain—moisture with hyaluronic acid, while the foaming cleanser gently removes excess oil with niacinamide. Both protect the skin’s lipid barrier with essential ceramides.
Nivea’s Travel Size Crème Tin is a rich, creamy moisturizer infused with pro-vitamin B5 to intensely hydrate dry skin anywhere on the body or face. You can also use it in a pinch as a natural-looking highlighter on the high points of the face.
Air travel is notoriously stressing and dehydrating the skin, which is why I reach for a refreshing spritz of Claudalie’s Grape Water Moisturizing Facial Mist. It immediately calms, hydrates, and reduces sensitivity with 100% organic plant water that’s rich in minerals, potassium, and moisturizing polysaccharides.
If traveling somewhere tropical, you’re going to need sun protection from one of the most trusted brands, Sun Bum. The SPF 70 Premium Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion comes in a mini 3-ounce size that provides broad spectrum protection from UVA/UVB rays while enriching the skin with free radical-neutralizing vitamin E. Plus, it can be used on both the face and body.
Get ultra-smooth, hairless skin anywhere you need it with Billy Jealousy’s Hydroplane Super-Slick Shave Cream. This shave balm conditions the skin while preventing nicks and irritation with a water-activated foamless formula.
Brighten and polish your smile while away with the Marvis Aquatic Mint Toothpaste. The compact texture provides maximum protection, fresh breath, and an invigorating cool mint flavor.
Rough night out? Use Patchology’s FlashPatch Rejuvenating Eye Gels, and in just five minutes, no one will ever know. Caffeine, hydrolyzed collagen, and hyaluronic acid help improve hydration, brightness, elasticity, tone, and texture of the delicate undereye skin while reducing puffiness and inflammation.
Too much sun? Saltwater? Chlorine? Quench your skin’s thirst with a soothing layer of Thymes’ Eucalyptus Body Lotion. This unisex body lotion not only intensely moisturizes with shea butter, jojoba oil, honey, and aloe, but also protects the skin with vitamin E.
Technically not a travel size, but at under 1 ounce, I had to include the Langeige Lip Sleeping Mask. Like our skin, our lips can dry out in different climates. This leave-on lip 
mask soothes and moisturizes the lips overnight while you sleep. Moisture Wrap technology forms a protective film with hyaluronic acid, as well as minerals that lock in moisture and active ingredients, leaving you reaching for lip balm less frequently the next day.
Revitalize your complexion overnight with Dermalogica’s Sound Sleep Cocoon; a gel-cream moisturizer that transforms all skin types with a boost of hydration, radiance, and vitality while reducing signs of fatigue. A unique blend of aromatherapy also promotes deep, restful sleep.
Makeup
Show off a flawless, poreless, shine-free, smooth, even complexion for those vacation pix when you use the Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refining Primer. This lightweight, velvety cream instantly improves the skin’s texture while diffusing lines and imperfections for a lasting, flawless finish. Perfect for all skin types, this primer can be worn alone, under makeup, or over makeup for touch-ups.
Feel free to go swimming in this award-winning waterproof concealer that delivers up to 24 hours of highly-pigmented full coverage to effectively conceal and color-correct any imperfections. It Cosmetics’ Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer also has the added skincare benefits of anti-aging peptides, hydrating hyaluronic acid, plumping collagen, and vitamin E protection.
No need to pack a separate concealer with PUR’s 4-in-1 Love Your Selfie Longwear Foundation & Concealer Mini. This multi-tasking, skincare-infused liquid formula is buildable and can be applied as a foundation with the pump dispenser or as a concealer to spot-check imperfections with the built-in doe foot applicator.
Formulated with 50% water, Becca’s Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder cools skin on contact, weightlessly and seamlessly sets makeup, and provides all-day moisture without caking. This powder also diffuses over the skin to improve tone while diminishing the appearance of pores and lines.
Get a sunless, fresh-off-the-beach glow without orange undertones with The Balm Cosmetics’ Bahama Mama Bronzer. The natural matte finish allows this bronzer to multi-task as a contour powder, neutral brow filler, and matte eyeshadow, too.
Not only do these Anastasia Beverly Hills Blush Trios come in convenient travel-size compacts, but they also contain three full-pigment shades that can be worn alone, or combined for a variety of looks. The finely milled, blendable powder creates buildable intensity with a seamless finish that lasts all day.
Urban Decay’s On The Run Mini Eyeshadow Palette is travel-ready with eight universal matte and metallic shades, including a transformer shade to add an icy shimmer. These shadows have a velvety texture with rich color payoff and superior blendability.
Benefit Cosmetics’ Goof Proof Brow Pencil Easy Shape & Fill Mini provides 12 hours of waterproof wear. Use the angled tip to fill, shape, and define the brows, then the spoolie end to blend them.
Go from beach to bar with Eyeko’s vegan Beach Waterproof Mascara. The innovative brush coats every lash for a volumized flutter while sweeping them into a natural curl. Fiber-enhanced with coconut oil and 12 fruit extracts, this mascara also conditions the lashes.
Create thin, natural lines or bold, intense cat eyes with the Benefit Cosmetics Roller Liner Liquid Eyeliner Mini. The waterproof formula lasts for up to 24 hours without bleeding or fading. It also features an easy-glide felt tip for super-smooth, precision application that won’t tug or skip.
Take it all off at the end of the day with Neutrogena’s Travel Size Makeup Remover Towelettes. Gently cleanse your skin while removing oil, sweat, makeup (even waterproof), and sunscreen with these pre-moistened, 100% plant-based fiber wipes. They leave no residue, so there’s no need to rinse, but double-cleansing is always a great idea.
Hair
Redken’s One United Multi-Benefit Treatment Spray offers an astonishing 25 benefits to all hair types and textures to promote manageability, health, and beauty. This all-in-one professional product conditions, nourishes, detangles, combats frizz, provides heat protection, reduces dryness, prevents breakage, adds shine, and much more when used as both a leave-in and rinse-out hair treatment.
Humidity is no match for Living Proof’s No Frizz Shampoo & Conditioner. These two products are part of Living Proof’s No Frizz System line and block humidity with a weightless invisible shield that wraps around each strand for smooth, polished, shiny locks that don’t feel heavy or weighed down.
Ideal for all hair types, Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree Styling Gel has a medium, flexible hold that adds body and intense shine to hair. The versatile formula can be applied wet or dry, and it’s vegan as well as paraben and gluten-free.
The Infra Texture Dual Action Hairspray by CHI is a lightweight and fast-drying spray that gives lift, movement, texture, and control to all hair types. It also provides thermal protection against moisture and humidity.
Refresh your style without hopping in the shower with Batiste’s Dry Shampoo. It instantly absorbs dirt, oil, grease, sweat, and odor to revitalize dull, lifeless locks by adding body, volume, shine, and a fresh, clean scent.
The compact size of Conair’s Velvet Touch Cushion Brush (Mid-Size) makes it the perfect travel hairbrush. The flexible cushion base provides stress-free brushing for all hair lengths while the ball-tipped bristles detangle without pulling or snagging.
Get a gorgeous blowout while traveling with Revlon’s 1875W Compact/Folding Handle Travel Hair Dryer, which uses Ionic Technology to reduce frizz and static. The lightweight, compact design has a folding handle, two heat/speed settings, universal worldwide dual voltage, a snap-on smoothing concentrator, and a hanging ring.
At only 6 inches long, the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Mini Straightening Iron makes the perfect travel companion for sleek, smooth, shiny, straight hair with no frizz. It features ceramic plates to distribute heat evenly without damage, a quick heat-up to 430°F, and dual voltage for worldwide use.
If you prefer to use the products you already have, make your own travel-size versions with this 4 Piece Travel Bottle Set from BioSwiss. The set includes spray, twist, and capped bottles in a zippered bag. They are BPA-free and TSA-approved.
Happy Travels!
For questions, concerns, or article ideas, feel free to reach out to our eCosmetics Beauty Editor directly at beauty@ecosmetics.com
