I recently booked a trip to Miami on a whim to spend a week unwinding and relaxing (and most importantly, away from my teeny apartment in New York City). I knew I would be keeping it pretty low-key, but as a beauty editor, packing beauty products will always be important to me.
There are a few items I always bring with me on vacation, and for this trip, I mixed it up with some new favorites. I knew I wanted to opt for minimal, summery makeup and easy hairstyles, so I packed accordingly. For skincare, I kept it simple and only packed what I deemed essential.
I’ve become a pretty good packer in the realm of beauty over the years. I try not to overpack (but definitely avoid underpacking) and I always make a sustainable choice whenever I can. With the right packing accessories, you can avoid buying wasteful travel-sized items. Below, check out all the beauty products I brought with me in my carry-on (and yes, I got it all to fit with plenty of room for my clothes).
This is my all-time favorite makeup bag. Multiple compartments allow you to categorize your products, and there’s tons of sneaky space.
I like to use reusable quart-sized bags for my liquids, which feel like both an easier and more sustainable choice than a ziplock bag. These are TSA compliant and only $11 for a two-pack.
When it’s possible, I try to avoid buying travel-sized versions of items I already own. It feels wasteful to me when I could just put products into travel-sized liquid pouches. I love these ones—they’re easy to clean, never spill, and are compact.
I wanted to keep my skincare minimal, so I opted to bring a face cream that covers all of my needs in one. This cream has vitamin A for cellular turnover, chaga mushrooms for evening skin tone, and hyaluronic acid for hydration.
Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Anti-Aging Eye Cream works just like its facial counterpart to target multiple concerns. Niacinamide and collagen peptides work to smooth fine lines and wrinkles while plumping the delicate undereye area.
I have super dry skin that gets even worse after being in an airplane. I always like to bring a hyaluronic acid serum with me on trips to keep my skin moisturized, and this one has different weights of hyaluronic acid molecules to ensure it penetrates deep into skin.
Ellis Brooklyn Bee is the ultimate warm-weather perfume, IMO. It’s incredibly magnetic, filled with dark rum, honey, sandalwood, and vanilla notes.
This is without a doubt my absolute favorite body sunscreen. It smells heavenly—like being on the set of Baywatch—and is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.
I filled a travel pouch with this retinol-infused body lotion to use throughout my trip. It’s the ultimate multi-tasker, as it’s filled with cocoa butter, squalane, and retinol, leaving you with supremely hydrated and radiant skin.
Behold, my all-time favorite face sunscreen. It gives skin a radiant-looking glow without being too shimmery, and even acts as a grippy primer to help makeup adhere seamlessly.
For a foundation that kind of feels like skincare, this one is hard to beat. It melts seamlessly into skin and even gives you an extra boost of sun protection.
This is essentially a do-it-all styling oil. It protects hair from heat, stops flyaways in their tracks, and gives hair major shine.
Slicked-back hair has a chokehold on me, particularly in hot summer months. I like mixing pomade with the Olaplex bonding oil for a sleek-looking style that holds.
For just the right amount of hyper-glossy color, I always reach for these oil-gloss hybrids from Kosas. They’re also hydrating.
I’ve been reaching for this lip gloss whenever I want a hint of color and plump-looking lips. The best part about this gloss is that it gives lips an ultra-reflective, glass-like shine.
This is the ultimate vacation product. It’s both a blush and a highlighter, so it adds color while it lights up your face.
I swear by my Wet Brush. The mini version works just as well to detangle and smooth hair while being small enough to fit in a carry-on without taking up too much space.
Beautyblenders are always going to be top of the list in terms of products I would bring with me on a desert island. I love using them to blend foundation, but I am also a fan of beauty blenders for tapping in powders for a seamless, melted-in finish.
Trust me, this one six-piece brush set is all you need for your whole face. These brushes blend makeup flawlessly.
I will shout it from the rooftops: this is the only eye shadow I need, full stop. It’s the perfect color for blending into my crease for a natural-looking effect, or I like smoking it out under my eyes for a bolder look.
This is my favorite liquid eyeliner because you can use it for bolder looks or more subtle takes depending on which side you use. I like the dark brown for more natural-looking cat eyes.
My favorite new lip liner has quickly become a makeup bag staple. It’s both long-lasting and hydrating, a major win.
I’m not typically a bronzer person, but Saie’s bronzer is too good even for me to pass up. It blends in seamlessly and imparts a sun-kissed finish.
For traveling, I want to pack one mascara that will do it all. This one is volumizing, lengthening, separating, and waterproof.
A creamy concealer that’s packed with caffeine, vitamins, peptides, and hyaluronic acid to smooth, plump, and treat? Say less.
This pink-toned powder is my new favorite for mitigating oil and giving an airbrushed finish. It sets makeup perfectly while smoothing skin and making you look poreless.
I have insanely thick hair, so jumbo claw clips are a must. This one keeps all my hair in place and looks cute.
Think of these as hair ties but better. The spiral design grips hair while also reducing damage and creasing.
This is my holy grail eyebrow pencil. It defines my brows while always looking natural and never smearing.
The absolute best eyelash curler for defined, flipped-up lashes every time, if you ask me.
