The 15 Skincare and Makeup Products I Always Travel With

I’ve been blessed with a career that has me traveling all year long. But one of the downsides of traveling is that it can seriously screw with your skin — especially if you have sensitive skin like mine. That beach glow doesn’t always last on the plane ride back home and for a number of reasons. For starters, the air on a plane is incredibly dehydrating and you’ll especially feel it if you’re taking long flights of five hours or more. Being jet lag or skipping on sleep during your trip can also have a huge impact on your skin, leaving it dry and dull. All the drinking and eating you’re doing can play a role too. And I’ll be honest — for a while I found myself not keeping up with my skincare routine during my travels. Well, that’s all changed now and I’ve nailed down a routine that has me coming back with a glow from every trip. My trick: making sure I get a few of my favorite beauty products in travel-size — even if I do choose to check my bag.

wp_*posts

Bring a good cleanser.

I don’t play games when it comes to washing my face. I have sensitive/combination skin that’s prone to redness and breakout,s so I don’t skip out on washing my face twice a day — even when I’m traveling. Cleansing oils are key when it comes to removing excess dirt, oils, and makeup while also leaving my skin deeply nourished and hydrated. I have a few cleansing oils in my rotation but one of my favorites is definitely the Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil. It’s normally a bit pricey but the travel-size one only cost 15 bucks.

Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil, $15, tatcha.com

wp_*posts

Remove your makeup — no matter what!

The key to beautiful, clear skin is making sure you get every inch of dirt off your face before bed. Before cleansing with my cleansing oil, I usually make sure to wipe my face down with the Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water. It even gets waterproof eye makeup out in seconds. The travel-size usually lasts me a good week or two.

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water, $4, target.com

wp_*posts

Wipe your face on the plane.

If you’re heading to the airport with makeup on — which I occasionally do — you want to make sure you cleanse your face once you get on the plane. The bathroom situation on planes isn’t always the most comfortable and there isn’t a lot of space in there to do a full face wash over the sink, so I always pack a few of these Neutrogena Cleansing Facial Wipes. They are tiny enough to throw in your purse — or even your fanny pack — and get the job done.

Neutrogena Cleansing Facial Wipes Individually Wrapped, $6, target.com

wp_*posts

Get yourself a good moisturizer with SPF.

To keep access oils at bay while also protecting my skin from the sun, I make sure to pack the Mario Badescu Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30. It’s light-weight and can easily be worn under makeup. It leaves my face hydrated for hours and is tiny enough to take on a carry-on bag — even my purse!

Mario Badescu Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30, $28, mariobadescu.com

wp_*posts

Bring your mini-musts.

I’m a big fan of the Laneige Pore Care Trial Kit. I use it as my skincare travel set. The Multi-Cleanser leaves skin squeaky clean. I normally use it following an oil cleanser. The Power Essential Skin Toner is especially great if you have combination to oily skin. It reduces access oils while leaving skin smooth and polished. I normally reserve the Water Bank Hydrating Gel as my night cream. The Mini Pore Blur Perfector works as a great primer before applying tinted moisturizer or foundation, and the Mini Pore Waterclay Mask is great for keeping skin clear throughout your trip.

Laneige Pore Care Trial Kit, $25, laneige.com

wp_*posts

Bring a facial mist.

One of the best ways to keep your skin hydrated — especially while flying — is to have a facial spray mist on you. I’m obsessed with the Mario Badescu Facial Sprays and have a hard time choosing which one to get. This set is perfect because it comes with all three and in travel sizes!

Mario Badescu Facial Spray Trio, $15, mariobadescu.com

wp_*posts

Don’t skip out on the vitamin C.

Regardless of whether I’m home in NYC or traveling, I never go a day without applying vitamin C serum to my face. It keeps my face smooth, hydrated, and glowy. It also works to reduce redness on my cheeks while fading dark spots. I apply Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Serum to my face every morning and night and my skin loves me for it. It’s also tiny enough to travel with, which is a major plus.

Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Serum, $23, sokoglam.com

wp_*posts

Don’t let your eyes get puffy.

The lack of sleep that I often experience while traveling can sometimes leave my eyes looking a tad bit puffy, which is why I never go anywhere now without the Nyakio Quinoa Depuffing and Firming Eye Cream. Not only does the formula itself work wonders but the cooling ceramic tip applicator instantly helps to minimize puffiness.

Nyakio Quinoa Depuffing and Firming Eye Cream, $20, ultabeauty.com

wp_*posts

Body Cream is a must.

The Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is a cult fave but I especially love their newer formula the Coco Cabana Cream. This oil-in-water cream leaves skin deeply hydrated regardless of the weather. It’s made with coconut and sugar and literally smells like dessert. I get it in the travel-size whenever I’m traveling.

Sol De Janeiro Coco Cabana Cream, $20, soldejaneiro.com

wp_*posts

Setting sprays are crucial.

Especially if you’re traveling to a humid and tropical place, you absolutely need to pack a good setting spray. The Urban Decay All Night Long Setting Spray is hands down one of my faves. It literally keeps makeup intact all day long. I’m so grateful that it comes in a travel-size bottle now.

Urban Decay All Night Long Setting Spray, $15, urbandecay.comwp_*posts

You can go even cheaper with your setting spray.

My mind is blown at how good and effective the NYX Matte Finish Fini Mat Spray works. It’s now available in a convenient travel sized mini that will cost you less than five bucks. Seriously, don’t sleep on this cost-efficient yet fully functional formula!

NYX Matte Finish Fini Mat Spray, $4, nyxcosmetics.com

wp_*posts

Get your bronze on.

I’m very simple with my spring and summer makeup. All I wear is tinted moisturizer, a tad bit of concealer where needed, a touch of highlighting bronzer on my cheeks and down the bridge of my nose to make me look instantly sun-kissed. The Fenty Beauty Lil’ Bronze Duo is fire. It features a mini Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer that does exactly that — adds instant warmth to your face — along with the Mini Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick that adds a luminous glow. It’s makeup that will leave you looking like the gorgeous goddess that you are.

Fenty Beauty Lil’ Bronze Duo, $24, sephora.com

wp_*posts

I don’t do waterproof mascara.

People are always surprised when I tell them this but waterproof mascara is awful for your lashes and since I plan on keeping mines long and thick for life — that’s my goal anyway — I stay away from formulas that could dry them out and cause shedding. Instead, I opt for a mascara that’s going to provide both length and volume and not clump or smudge by the end of the day. Believe it or not, the L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara provides those incredible results and stays put even when it’s incredibly humid out. I’m forever sold on this formula!

L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara, $8, target.com 

wp_*posts

Hydrate your eyes on the plane.

These gentle pads soothe and hydrate the delicate area that surrounds the under eye area. It also reduces the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines and wrinkles. The heat-activated technology helps with absorption, leaving skin so smooth and soft. It’s a travel must!

Tarte Pack Your Bags Undereye Patches, $22, tartecosmetics.com

wp_*posts

Bring a spot treatment.

Between flying and all the junk food you might find yourself eating, it’s quite possible you can wake up one morning with a pimple. As a result, I make sure to always come prepared. The COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch is a thin clear hydrocolloid patch that works as an overnight fixer to treat and banish an occasional breakout or two. The best part is because it’s invisible, you can even use it during the day under makeup to keep the skin protected.

COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch, $5, sokoglam.com