My travel makeup bag…

I can’t claim to be the best packer, but I can say that I’ve made significant strides in overcoming the need to pack my entire apartment for a trip. When it comes to rounding up my makeup and skin products, I stress. For one, sifting through all the different products and shades while you’re still trying to figure out what exactly you’ll be doing on your trip is just not fun. Second, I used to think this whole “all your liquids have to fit inside this little baggy if you want to take in on board or else we’re gonna throw it away right in front of you and crying won’t help” was just crap. But I realized that it forces me to pick and choose what I really need. And for my current trip to Miami, it kinda looks like this:

My travel makeup bag

{What? I’m a beauty writer. Leave me alone} Anyway, since it’s a combo of some of my old and new faves, I thought I’d share.

Travel face products

Left to Right:
1. CERAVE AM and PM moisturizers (in little travel capsules), $14 each
2. MAKE UP FOR EVER Uplight Face Illuminizer Gel, $29
3. MARIO BADESCU Enzyme Cleansing Gel, $12 for 8 oz.
4. SMASHBOX Photo Finish Primer, $16 for .5 fl oz.
5. MD SOLAR SCIENCES Tinted Mineral Screen sunblock, $24
6. MEHRON Celebré HD Pro Cream Foundations, $9 each

I already told you all how much I love Mario Badescu and CeraVe face products. I think these little travel capsules are so clutch for a short trip. You can fit a lot of cream in it and it’ll last you longer than you think. I was sent Make Up For Ever‘s Uplight to experiment with and what I found was the only illuminizer I ever liked using (that doesn’t look tacky, doesn’t crease, and since it’s water-based, won’t irritate my skin). More on this soon! I usually like to take one primer with me too, something I can wear under my makeup to help it last longer and look more even. I decided to go with Smashbox Photo Finish (good for pics!), and the small size was perfect for traveling. I also recently got introduced to MD SolarSciences when they sent me their Tinted Mineral Gel. It’s perfect for Miami because it’s not greasy AT ALL, water-resistant, goes on super smooth, and doesn’t make anything I put on top all gooky. I’m pretty particular about my sunblock, and I’m putting this up there with Neutrogena (another fave of mine).

Oh and Mehron! I was introduced to the brand by makeup artist James Vincent, who was raving about these cream foundations (only $9) at The Makeup Show’s blogger preview and how they’re the best thing ever. I bought a couple at The Makeup Show, two different shades (one lighter, one darker), and kind of mix the two depending on where I need coverage. It blends well and it’s buildable in case you need a little extra coverage in certain places (so it’s kind of a concealer/foundation in one). I wouldn’t recommend it if you have particularly dry skin, but it works for my combo skin. What’s also cool is that it’s not a liquid so you can stick it in your regular makeup bag instead of a baggy so they won’t be annoying about it at the airport.

Travel eye products

Top to Bottom:
1. SENNA Form A Brow, $45
2. MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Eyes eye pencil in Mat Black, $18
3. ANASTASIA Brow Duality, $21
4. L’ORÉAL PARIS Voluminous Original mascara, $5

Ok, I don’t REALLY need help with filling in my brows or anything, but I like this because you can add a very very subtle shape (and learning how a little goes a long way from Elke von Frudenberg of The Model Brow, I figured everyone should have a brow kit in case). Also the brown shadows in this kit by Senna double as smokey shadows you can apply around your eyes (like I did last night). I also like Anastasia’s Brow Duality because you can add a little highlight right under your brow to give it a lift. I use the pink one because it looks more natural during the day, and switch to the gold at night when I could use a little sheen. Make Up For Ever‘s Aqua Eyes pencil is just a staple in my makeup bag because it’s the easiest way for me to apply and it stays put for most of the night. When I add it to my inner rim, it can smudge a bit at the end of the night, but you can’t expect it to stay like a gel liner. The original Voluminous mascara from L’Oreal Paris is just one of my all-time favorites — one swipe for a little definition, two for drama.

Travel cheek products

Clockwise from top:
1. COVERGIRL & OLAY Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush in Plush Peach 200, $10
2. KOHGENDO Maifanshi Natural Lighting Powder, $42
3. CARGO Bronzer in Medium, $28

I decided one blush/one bronzer is fair. CoverGirl‘s Simply Ageless Sculpting blush blends so well…sometimes I can just put a little of this blush and nothing else. My go-to bronzer has remained unchanged for years. I experiment with many but Cargo‘s has a pretty orange glow that looks great on already tan skin. I save KohGenDo‘s finishing powder as the last step because it doesn’t come off matte (looking like you’re 10 years older).

Travel lip products

Left to Right:
1. INGLOT Freedom palette (customized), $25
2. NAPOLEON PERDIS Lip Pencil in Pink Slip, $18
3. BARE ESCENTUALS BUXOM lip gloss in Dani, $14

I’m going to talk more specifically about this fabulous palette I made at Inglot in a future post. Mine has a customized a concealer, shadow, and three lip colors. It’s AWESOME because it has the basic essentials if you just need to carry around ONE palette. Napoleon Perdis‘ lip pencil is a basic flesh-toned nude to keep your gloss in place or to wear alone. And the Bare Escentuals Buxom lip gloss in Dani is something I carry with me everywhere because it’s the prettiest pink and kind of has a refreshing, minty feel to it. Love.

Travel hair and body products

Left to Right:
1. PHILIP KINGSLEY Shampoo and Conditioner in Moisture Balancing (from Soft & Shiny Jet Set kit), $35 for kit
2. TIGI BED HEAD After-Party smoothing cream (purple top), $10
3. THIERRY MUGLER Womanity body lotion (in blue case), $45
4. SECRET Scent Expressions in Ooh-La-La Lavender, $4
5. MEMOIRE LIQUIDE body oil in Vanilla (custom-made), $65
6. JESSICA SIMPSON Fancy Love perfume, $25 (for full size)

I have a thing about hotel shampoos and conditioners. It’s just that…they suck. I received this mini Philip Kingsley shampoo and conditioner in a gift bag when I went to visit their hair clinic last week. It’s easily one of my favorites right now (I love a lot of his products, including the Maximizer I wrote about earlier). The mini size also fits easily in my baggie. I figured I’d pack a few dollops of TIGI‘s smoothing cream in case the humidity gets the best of me. I just put a little after a shower and my wavy hair turned into smooth beachy waves…I didn’t have to even use a hair dryer (which I’d want to avoid anyway in this weather). I also told you about my obsession with Womanity‘s body lotion and how fantastic it smells. In fact, a guy awkwardly stopped me today to ask me whattt I’m wearing because it smells so good. Totally serious. I found my tiny bottle of travel-friendly Memoire Liquide body oil (in my beloved vanilla fragrance), and surprisingly enough, Jessica Simpson’s Fancy Love perfume is the refreshing blend of peach blossom, jasmine, peony, and amber.

And yes, no trouble packing all the liquids in a little baggie for the plane. What do you like to pack when you travel?

x
Shy

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11 Comments

  1. erica wrote:

    ahh loved this post!!! these are my favorite things to watch/read about! how are the covergirl/olay blushes?? are they cream? ive alwasy wanted to try them

    Posted 5.22.11
  2. shyema wrote:

    I loveee them, it’s a cream yes and it blends beautifully! I never used to wear blush, or even dare go near a cream one until these. I got my Haji (my little sis for those of you who don’t know) into it as well.

    Posted 5.23.11
  3. Hajera A. wrote:

    yeahh i wear it all the time, it works even better with summer weather to give a dewy look. but do you really like the smashbox primer?? it made me break out when i tried it.

    Posted 5.23.11
  4. shyema wrote:

    Worked OK for me!

    Posted 5.23.11
  5. Felicia M. wrote:

    Wow. I love your travel face products. Why? Because 3 of my favorites are in there- Smashbox, MD SolarSciences Mineral Tinted Screen Gel and Makeup Forever foundation! You rock!

    Posted 5.24.11
  6. n.Ismail wrote:

    Shy.. Im so happy I won Laura Gellar spackle loving it.. thank you sooooo much.

    Posted 5.27.11
  7. Su Bangkok wrote:

    Wow, I’ve a few makeup in my bag when I’ve got holiday such as day, night cream and lip.

    I love your Travel hair and body products

    Posted 10.29.11
  8. Wonderful lovely post. I love a few makeup during traveling. I also love to read your blog.

    Posted 5.19.12
  9. Ally wrote:

    I cannot not go anywhere without packing my foundation, blush and mascara but that’s about all I take.

    Posted 2.3.13
  10. Poonpo wrote:

    Oh my God , your travel makeup bag , just amazing 🙂

    Posted 11.29.14

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