How to Pack Beauty Products Like a Pro: Your Head-to-Toe Vacation Checklist
Packing, it should be known, is editing. You are carefully selecting the belongings that you've deemed most suitable (and most stylish) for a trip where you will be away from home and the comfort of all your many possessions. For fashion, you can prepare for good weather or bad fairly easy. But when it comes to beauty, the forecast is only so revealing when it comes to possible breakouts, bad hair days, or chipped nails.
So when you prepare your things for a summer weekend, we want you to play the role of editor. Don't worry about which mascara—just take your favorite and pack a lash curler. And as for your hair? A multi-purpose oil, a texture spray, and a good conditioner are key.
Decision-making is hard, especially when all those other travel arrangements are falling together. So to help you, we consulted some very influential beauty insiders, who make the process not only fun, but maybe even a bit inspiring. Click through the slides to find out what they (and we) are packing for our upcoming adventures, then tell us (or better yet—show us!) what you'll be toting around in the comments below.
Photos courtesy of Sonia Kashuk, One Truffle1/6Sisterhood of the Traveling Bags
Before we get right down to the fun stuff (AKA amazing products), we better figure out what all the goods are going in! Sonia Kashuk, the woman behind the eponymous beauty brand, recommends her consistently best-selling Totally Orderly Cosmetic Bag. It’s a great purchase for its price, has a compartment for essentially everything, and is generally sized so there’s no need to stuff those backup mascaras anywhere else.
The TSA requires a clear container for all liquids when traveling. OneTruffle’s Large Clarity Clutch is a clear envelope that fits an entire arsenal if you prepare accordingly. (Plus, since it’s transparent, you don’t need to rummage around cavernous handbag pockets to find that pesky eye pencil.) Once you land, make a cute little display with your wallet, sunglasses, and a few lip glosses and—voila! You also have a fun new purse.
Photos courtesy of Sephora, Nordstrom, Jason Kibbler2/6Courtesy of our favorite It girls and industry insiders.
Photos courtesy of Sephora, Nordstrom. Dr. Hauschka, Birchbox, Dermalogica3/6Skin Care Essentials
It’s no secret that the summer can take a serious toll on your complexion. That means vacation is not the time to skip out on regular cleansing and diligent spot treating. "It’s really important to give the skin a multi-miracle cleanse at the end of the day," insists makeup guru Charlotte Tilbury. "The sunscreen and sweat can build up and clog the pores." We love starting our ritual with Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water Cloths, which will remove makeup and oil-based sunscreens so you can get right down to the nitty gritty. Keep your regimen up-to-speed with Clinique Acne Solutions Kit, which comes with a travel-size foaming wash, toner, and clearing mask so you can keep pimples at bay for all those sun-soaked selfies. Finish off with a bit of Ren Keep Young and Beautiful Eye Cream and a lightweight moisturizer, like Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream, and you’re good to go.
Tilbury is (smartly) never without an SPF 50. For a non-greasy, non-irritating facial sunscreen, try Dermalogica Solar Defense Booster SPF50. As for the body, Supergoop! Sunscreen Oil SPF 50 imparts a healthy sheen along with water-resistant, broad-spectrum coverage.
Another purse staple for the warmer weather would be Avene Thermal Spring Water, which boosts the complexion with a hydrating mist. You can use it as a toner, or as a finishing spray for your makeup.
Jet-setting hair stylist Jen Atkin recommends a good lip routine for frequent flyers. "When you’re changing climates, you have to battle dryness more vigorously," she says. "I love The Lip Scrub by Sarah Happ." Follow up with a dose of moisture using Nu Rêve de Miel Ultra Nourishing Lip Balm.
Photos courtesy of Net-a-Porter, Nordstrom, Maybelline, Real Techniques4/6The Makeup Kit
"When packing for vacation, less is always more," says beauty insider and all around it-girl Hannah Bronfman. "With makeup, you only need one of each key product. The only exception I make is with foundation—I always bring a few shades to mix in little plastic containers from Muji." This is a pretty genius tip if you’re expecting to get a significant tan, but if you’re more of the one-and-done type, we recommend Amore Pacific SPF50 Color Control Cushion Compact, since it’s sun protection and foundation. Bronfman and fellow multi-hyphenate Chelsea Leyland both love By Terry Touche Veloutée Concealer for covering blemishes and under eyes, plus it comes with a built-in brush for blending, making it a genius pick for travel. If you prefer to bring your own brushes, however, YouTube pros Samantha and Nicola Chapman developed the Real Techniques Mini Trio Brush Set as the perfect solution for on-the-go artistry.
"Always curl your lashes to create a coquettish kick," says Tilbury. "That way, you can enhance your eyes without wearing too much makeup. If you do opt for mascara, seal it with a waterproof formula." Try Surratt Relevée Lash Curler and Maybelline Pumped Up! Colossal Waterproof Mascara, in that order. "Then, add a layer of cream shadow for dimension," Tilbury instructs. We love the iridescent bronze shimmer of Chanel Illusion d’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Mirage. Eyeliner optional—but if you must, grab a water-resistant formula, like All-Nighter by Urban Decay.
Bronzer is always smart to pack for vacation so you can fix patchy self-tans or amp up your complexion with a faux glow before hitting the beach. Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Bronzing Veil has a subtle shimmer that creates a radiant look which is good for legs, arms, and face.
Lastly, a pop of color is the perfect complement to a vacation glow. NARS Satin Lip Pencils impart a dewy sheen and a generous dose of color. Try blending it into your cheeks with your fingers instead of blush—you’ll be surprised at how fresh-faced you’ll look!
Bronfman recommends keeping everything in place with Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray. It’s totally sweat-proof, so you’ll stay fresh even in tropical temperatures.
Photos courtesy of Nordstrom, Net-a-Porter, Barneys, Diptyque, Nordstrom5/6The Extras
Here’s the cold hard truth: A beauty junkie’s packing is never done. "If I’m traveling for work, my makeup kit is packed in six suitcases," Tilbury says. "For holiday, I usually take around 2." If you’re the kind of girl who has both a "day" and a "night" foundation, you get where she’s coming from.
Some people don’t understand that beauty is like fashion—the opportunities can be endless. So if you have the space to indulge, we say, "Why not?" Ms. Atkin recommends popping a mini-candle in your suitcase so that you’ll never have to worry about stale hotel room smells. (Try Diptyque Tubéreuse for a garden-fresh scent.)
The ultra-lu among us would also be wise to slip a sheet of Frédéric Malle Saint des Saints Rubber Incense inside their suitcases. These little rubber pads are scented with a decadent perfume, so when you zip open your luggage after a long flight, you’ll be greeted with a gorgeous fragrance. (Plus, your clothes will carry a whisper of it all vacation long. Pretty nice, huh?)
Manicurist Jin Soon Choi insists that a good hand cream with SPF, like Eve Lom Hand Cream SPF 10, is another must-have for travel. (We’d tend to agree.) She also recommends bringing her very own Jin Soon Top Gloss & Coat to create the illusion of a fresh-from-the-salon manicure. (You can even pop one layer on bare nails for a shiny, healthy look.)
And finally, a good vacation is nothing without the memories. So pack a little journal, like Smythson Superstar Notebook, to remind you of those fantastic indie beauty treasures you found at the pharmacy, or the name of the spa you visited with your mom. You never know if you’ll be back, but you’ll be glad to have it in writing if you do.
Photos courtesy of Oribe, Sephora, Leonor Greyl6/6Mane Must-Haves
Here’s a helpful hint: Don’t trust that your hotel will have good toiletries in the shower. Packing quality shampoo and conditioner will save you major headaches when you’re trying to convert crunchy, sandy hair into soft, touchable waves. Bumble and Bumble Surf Set takes all the guess work out of vacation maintenance—they’re designed to impart a loose, tousled effect on all hair types that’s both gentle and luxurious. Salt spray optional.
Both Atkin and Kashuk are never seen traveling without a stash of Oribe’s legendary stylers for more glamorous summer evenings. Oribe Purse Size Collection comes with an anti-humidity product, a hair perfume, a texturizer, and a soft-hold hairspray.
If your hair tends to get super dry after a day on the beach, Atkin insists on Leonor Greyl Huile Secret de Beauté. "You can use it on both your body and face," she says. Put a couple drops in your palms, rub together, then rake it through your lengths, starting at the ends. It will hydrate, provide shine, and even soften and separate your style.
