Picture a 19th-century noblewoman waiting to board a steamer bound for faraway lands.
Can you see her? Standing there on the dock surrounded by wardrobe trunks and chest cases containing all of her earthly possessions?
You can?
Awesome. Because she looks exactly like I did up until a few years ago whenever I traveled anywhere. 🙂
Yep! I used to pack sooo much stuff, “just in case,” but those “cases” rarely happened, and I’d usually come home with half of the things I brought still untouched.
Thankfully, possibly because I discovered the joy of traveling with only my carry-on bag, I’ve finally learnt how to streamline and pack the bare minimum.
Case in point: I just spent a few days in Edinburgh, Scotland, and only brought along a minimal makeup stash (at least by a beauty lover’s standard).
I knew I wouldn’t want to waste the little time I’d have to explore the city on my weekend away doing my makeup, so I streamlined my beauty arsenal.
Would you like to have a look inside my travel makeup bag?
Foundation: Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet
With its matte yet luminous finish, I ❤ Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet foundation every day of the year, but its plastic packaging makes it especially convenient for traveling.
Concealers: Bobbi Brown Corrector, Deborah Radiance Creator, and Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage
Concealers are where I just can’t downsize. I need two — Bobbi Brown Corrector in Peach and Deborah Radiance Creator in 01 Light — for my dark under-eye area (thank you, genetics) and one — Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage in SC-3 — to hide any blemishes (thank you, hormones).
Powder: puroBIO Indissoluble Compact Powder
Normally I use two different powders for my under-eye area and the rest of my face, but for the sake of traveling light I only packed puroBIO Indissoluble Compact Powder in 01 (I reviewed it here on my blog, if you’re interested).
I’m glad to report I survived! (But I may or may not have purchased an emergency Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder while in Edinburgh…)
Blush: Max Factor Crème Puff Blush in Nude Mauve
I didn’t take any bronzers or highlighters with me, only this little baked blush from Max Factor. It’s a great multitasker, as it subtly sculpts while giving cheeks a hint of a radiant flush.
Brows: KIKO Eyebrow Fibers Coloured Mascara in 06 Black
Streamlining brow products for me only means one thing: brow mascara. I love that it fills in, defines and sets in one quick step. I really like this one from KIKO, but I wish it had a smaller brush.
Eyeshadow: KIKO Cream Crush Lasting Colour Eyeshadow in 03 Mat Light Mahogany
KIKO’s Cream Crush Eyeshadow is a new discovery of mine, and I’m completely in love with it! I really like its bouncy texture, and it’s easy to apply and blend using just fingers.
This particular matte pinkish brown shade doesn’t look like much in the jar, but it is GORGEOUS on eyes.
Eyeliners: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Black & Essence Long-Lasting Eye Pencil in Hot Scorch
I’ll reach for eyeliners when I want a flattering makeup look that’s still quick to do, and for my trip to Edinburgh I took Essence Long-Lasting Eye Pencil in 19 Hot Scorch for daytime and STILA Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Black for night.
Mascara: PUPA Milano Vamp! in 100 Black
Mascara is the one makeup product that I feel I always need. My favorite of the past few months has been PUPA Milano Vamp! Mascara in 100 Black. I find it very similar to Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara in the sense that it gives very voluminous, dramatic lashes, but it’s less than half the price (at least here in Italy).
Tinted Lip Balm: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Berry
While in Edinburgh, my daytime makeup uniform consisted of either the Essence eyeliner or KIKO eyeshadow on my eyes and this mini FRESH Sugar Lip Treatment in Berry on my lips. I love how moisturizing it is, and the pretty tint lasts. It’s definitely my all-time favorite tinted lip balm.
Lipstick: Maybelline SuperStay 14HR Lipstick in Fuchsia Forever
Even though I LOVE lipsticks, I forced myself to only pack one. I picked Maybelline SuperStay 14HR Lipstick in Fuchsia Forever (which you may remember from 4 lipsticks I love that no one ever talks about), not only because of its amazing staying power, but also because it’s a shade I like wearing equally well during day and night.
So, have I inspired you to downsize your makeup while traveling, or do you still feel the need to pack eight lipsticks and 15 eyeshadows? 😉
I have downsized my travel makeup bag lately by trying to apply the
“capsule” idea to makeup, but I still pack a lot more than that. Palettes are my travel buddies!
Oh yeah, I remember you wrote about that. On a longer trip I’d usually pack more than that, as well, but I was only away for 3 days…
When I travel I usually limit myself to three lipsticks, one small shadow palette (or three single shadows), one brow pencil, mascara, liner, a small group of brushes and some type of foundation product plus Cle de Peau stick concealer, because it’s compact. It’s the perfume and skincare that fills up my bag.
I really love the red lipstick you’re wearing in the photo. What color and brand is it?
It’s NABLA Diva Crime Lipstick in Alter Ego. Great formula!
I wrote about it in my brand spotlight, which is currently featured at the top of the page, in the header.
Oh man. My husband and I are visiting family in Ecuador for four weeks and I am bringing sooo much more make up than that! lol! At least twelve eyeshadows, and 4 lipsticks? Maybe more? Lol. There has been debate of bringing false lashes.
Well, I was only away for 3 days… I’d definitely bring way more than that if I were traveling for a month! More than 4 lipsticks, for sure! 😉
That’s a real streamlined one! Even I don’t like spending my time doing makeup. Besides, I am usually too excited while travelling. The basics are really well thought of.
It’s definitely the least makeup I’ve ever packed, but not having to think about what to put on my face for a few days was refreshing.
That’s pretty minimal for a beauty lover, yes! I am the same. Even though I am a beauty addict I tend to pack light when I’m traveling and I don’t usually bring a lot make-up. The puroBIO Indissoluble Compact Powder looks good, gonna check it out.
It’s great, I’ve been using it all the time lately!
I’m so impressed! I used to be so bad about packing everything “just in case.” I’ve worked to do a lot better over the last few years, but I still have an urge to over-pack. I think part of it is my anxiety disorder. Fortunately, I rarely fly (the last time was 2006), so I don’t have to worry about being airline regulations compliant.
For 2-3 day trips I pack samples of skincare, samples of face & eye primers, foundation, pressed powder, a few basic brushes, setting spray, a mini brown eyeliner pencil, a mini black eyeliner pencil, a black mascara, and a neutral lip color. I take a face palette such as Urban Decay Naked on the Run. If I know I’ll be going out to a fancy dinner, or other event, then I’ll also pack a bright lipstick and maybe a couple non-neutral eyeshadow singles.
Longer trips are tougher for me. I get bored wearing the same makeup every day for very long, and I tend to have a wider variety of activities. For trips of a week or longe, I take my basic brushes, skincare samples, face & eye primers, setting spray, foundation, pressed powder, Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette (I use it for contour, highlighter and brows), one of my Too Faced chocolate bar palettes, my Tarte Pin-Up Girl Blush Palette, a brown eyeliner pencil, a black eyeliner pencil, a couple colored eyeliner pencils, a black mascara, a neutral lipstick, and a couple of bright lipsticks.
Most of the times I travel, I fly, so I’m kind of forced to travel light, but I’ve learnt to embrace that! 😉
It must be kind of freeing, in a way.
I pack a similar amount of stuff for day or weekend trips, but still a little more for longer stays.
A neutral brown eye makeup plus a different lip for every day is my most streamlined solution.
For longer trips I tend to pack more lip options, as well. They’re the quickest way to completely change a look!
Nope, still gotta bring an eyeshadow palette!!
Haha, fair enough!
Fresh Berry is my favorite too! I use a ton of it. It’s almost the exact color of my lips when they are at their freshest and most moisturized so it doesn’t look like makeup at all.
Looking at your list you and Ruth Crilly from A Model Recommends could be twinsies!
Your travel bag is so high class 😀 I would be terrified that something would burst or spill! But I love all of the products you packed, it’s a well-rounded selection!
That is a streamlined makeup bag. And color me impressed. I generally pack everything but the kitchen sink. If I could incorporate it into my beauty routine, I’d bring it too! 🙂
I’m not too bad at traveling lightly with makeup, but skincare products, I pack everything! Biggest fear of traveling is the TSA taking my skincare routine!
Thanks for sharing your top picks. Looks really similar to mine.
Meh… I like to think I can streamline my makeup when going on trips, but I always freak myself out and bring a whole bunch of other junk thinking that I might need it… I never do.
This really inspired me. I bring way too much makeup when I travel, especially since I rarely wear makeup. Don’t mention the skincare, it is massive too…
I will go to Greece for one week in June. I am already planning what to bring because I really want o bring as little as possible. I am so tired of being scared of exceeding the weight limitations all the time I travel.
Often, I am tired when I actually do the packing and just throw in everything because I am to tired to think rationally and make proper desicions.