How to Pack Makeup for Travelling

I travel quite frequently and over time I have become more efficient when packing my makeup. Many people pack way too much thinking that they need more than they do and then end up not using half of what they bring.

In this post I am going to share some of my tips for packing makeup for travel.

Things to consider before you pack:

The first thing you should consider is where you are going and how long you are going for. You should also consider what you will be doing when you get there. For example, if you are only going away for a weekend you need a lot less makeup than you would for a vacation of 2-3 weeks. If you are going to be in a very warm climate you may need to bring longer lasting makeup, and if you are going to be attending formal events you need to consider bringing relevant items.

Warm Climates:

When I go to warmer climates like the Caribbean and the Middle East I pack makeup that is long lasting and contains added SPF protection like my MAC foundation. I also pack a moisturizer with sunscreen. You want to make sure any sunscreen you are applying under your makeup is not sticky, greasy or oily, it should be made to use on the face.

If you are going to be swimming and poolside you may want to consider not wearing makeup at all. Going bare face however may not be an option for everyone so when getting wet water proof mascara and eye liner is a good idea.

I usually pack a good face primer to help keep my concealer, foundation and setting powder intact and a good makeup setting spray that will help combat the heat, humidity and water activities. I find that makeup setting sprays are a lot more effective than face primers when it comes to keeping my makeup from melting off my face. I have the Urban Decay all nighter makeup setting spray.

I also recommend packing some blotting papers because even those who don't have oily skin can look a bit shiny in the humidity. I also pack a translucent mattifying powder to help keep my face from looking sweaty.

If I am traveling to a cooler climate these items may be less necessary.

Carry it on you!

I always pack my makeup in my carry-on luggage. I have experienced luggage delays where I did not have my bags for days and I was thankful that I had all my makeup with me. If your luggage is lost for a few days it saves a lot of time and money if you don’t have to replace all your makeup. I usually pack my liquid makeup in a clear zip lock bag as per airline protocol and I pack all of my other makeup in a large makeup bag.

Sometimes I use a large flat makeup bag such as this one so that it lies flat in my suitcase and is non bulky. 

Other times I use something more structured such as my Betsy Johnson makeup bag

 Packing your brushes:

I like to pack my makeup brushes so that they do not get crushed and misshapen which can happen during travel. This makeup brush travel case from Sigma is perfect for protecting your brushes and also acts as a brush holder when you reach your destination! Brush rolls also work well for travel.

How to pack the essentials:

The first thing I think about when I pack my makeup is how I apply my makeup. I usually apply moisturizer, eye shadow primer, face primer, eye shadow, eye liner, mascara, concealer, foundation and the list goes on. So I pack my makeup in the natural order that I apply it to my face. I also pack all the brushes I use to apply my makeup in the order I need them. This way I don’t forget any makeup or tools.

Remember to narrow down your items. Take a couple eye shadow brushes not 10, take one blush that will satisfy all your needs, one multipurpose mascara and eye liner etc.

 Eye shadow:

When you travel you don’t want to over pack so I usually take one palette with lots of different eye shadow colors from neutrals to brights such as my Coastal Scents palette. If I know I won’t have time to do anything fancy I will take my Naked 2 palette. Take 1 or 2 palettes that are versatile and can create many different looks. For short weekend trips all you really need is one palette.

Lipstick:

Lipstick is difficult for me because I always have to resist the urge to bring every color I own. If you are going to a sunny destination choose 2-3 bright colors in different shades. If it is fall or winter I usually opt for dark reds and wine colors. And remember lipsticks that contain a lot of oils tend to melt in the sun which is not great in tropical climates. In this case I usually opt for a bright lip gloss instead.

 Other considerations:

Make sure to take a good sunscreen, face cleanser and some makeup wipes as a part of your makeup collection. Don't forget to bring products for your skin type like acne creams, something for heat rash or sun burn. 

I hope this was helpful! If you have any other makeup tips leave them in the comment section below. Thanks for reading!