How to Downsize Your Beauty Travel Kit

Preparing for a trip often involves the challenging task of condensing your everyday essentials into a compact and manageable travel kit. This is especially tricky for “beauty lovers” who absolutely need four different moisturizers and multiple shades of their favorite lipstick formula.

Whether you're embarking on a weekend getaway or a long-haul adventure, streamlining your beauty products can save valuable suitcase space and simplify your on-the-go routine. If you’re willing to do it, it's easy to curate a downsized beauty travel kit that meets your skincare and makeup needs without weighing you down.

Here are five ways to save space and streamline your beauty routine for your next journey.

Your favorite beauty aisles and e-commerce sites have no shortage of ingenious products that do more than one thing. When packing your travel kit, opt for products that serve multiple functions. For example, choose a tinted moisturizer instead of separate products for hydration and coverage. Look for lip and cheek stains that can double as lip color and blush.

If you can’t bear to part with your favorite products, transfer them into smaller, travel-size containers. You can purchase empty travel containers and decant your products into them or buy smaller versions like sachets. Be careful though. Make sure your containers are spill-proof and can withstand pressure from packing or air travel.

Do you have a 10-step beauty routine? Can you honestly say you’ll have time for that while you’re out seeing the world? Try whittling down your regimen to a maximum of five steps. In addition, instead of carrying separate items for each step of your skincare routine, consider products that combine multiple functions. For example, a cleanser that also acts as a makeup remover or a serum that also hydrates the under eyes.

Solid formulations, such as shampoo and conditioner bars, facial cleansers, and sunscreen can be great space-saving options in your travel kit. They won't use up your liquid limit for carry-on luggage and usually last longer than their liquid counterparts. That and they’re super easy and fun to use! Store your solid shampoos in tins or reusable silicone bags so you don’t have to worry about packing them right after a shower.

Be selective about the makeup products you bring. While the emotional comfort that five different lipsticks bring is undeniable, it’s unlikely you’ll get to use all of them. Oh, and that bulky makeup palette you never use but are thinking of bringing? Forget about it.

Stick to essentials like a versatile eyeshadow palette, mascara, and lipstick or lip gloss in a neutral shade that can work for multiple occasions. Leave behind bulky items like heavy foundation bottles, standalone bronzers, and fancy not-so-compact compacts.

Whatever you do, do not forget to BYO toothpaste, especially if those miniature freebies don’t get the job done for you. For that extra fresh feeling, use closeup Gel Toothpaste with Antibacterial Zinc Red Hot and closeup Gel Toothpaste with Antibacterial Zinc Menthol Fresh. Both use Antibacterial Zinc to remove 99.9% of bacteria, leaving you with all-day fresh breath with regular use.

With these packing strategies, you can effectively downsize your beauty travel kit while having everything you need for your trip. And if you end up “needing” something you didn’t bring, there’s always Sephora.