5 Travel Sized Beauty Tips
I’ve become a professional when it comes to packing in a carry on, it’s not my favorite thing to do but it’s very convenient for work trips and traveling alone. I’ve previously shared some clothing packing tips (check out my travel category for more) but decided that toiletries deserved their own post. Here are my tips for packing your liquids and other beauty items domestically and internationally.
tip #1:
Be sure your items adhere to TSA’s 3-1-1 rule, especially when traveling internationally. I am TSA Pre-Check and they tend to be lenient on this when traveling domestically but internationally, they take this very seriously. Make sure your items are all under 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters and separated from your other items in a clear bag or disposable quart sized bag. Each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of liquids, gels and aerosols.
tip #2:
Get organized. I am not great at this, especially with toiletries. Every now and then, I have to dump out my makeup / toiletries bag and reorganize/wipe down everything. When you’re going on long trip, I like to start fresh with items/ refill everything so I know it’s as full as possible. Purchase compliant reusable containers like these and label them with permanent markers or some sort of labeling system if you’re really ambitious so you can reuse them and know what they are. These containers usually do well in the dishwasher so after a long trip, I’ll rinse out and throw them in on the top rack.
tip #3:
Downsize your overall beauty routine and stick to the basics. As someone who LOVES their superfluous beauty items, when I travel I try to bring the minimum: face wash, face wipes, moisturizer, body wash, shampoo, conditioner and dry shampoo. I also like to consolidate my makeup bag. You can purchase travel sized items or you can use your refillable containers as mentioned above but try to keep it as simple as possible. You probably don’t need to travel with multiple blushes and massive eyeshadow palettes. Stick to smaller sized compacts that are versatile. Pro tip: I like to use bronzer and blush as eyeshadow, especially when I travel and that eliminates one more thing I have to bring!
tip #4:
Separate your liquids from the solids. There’s no need to take up precious space in your quart sized liquid bag so put all solids: (deodorant, face wipes, vitamins, lipstick, etc.) in it’s own bag. Even though it’s convenient to put everything together, security will be a lot easier if everything is separated. Use a flat hanging toiletry bag like this one or this one to maximize your packing space in a carry on bag. It is also great when you arrive to your destination, you can hang it and it doesn’t take up too much counter space.
tip #5:
Collect travel size items even if you aren’t traveling anytime soon. Whenever I see a good deal on travel sized anything, I snag it and put in a drawer so that I can go back to it when I’m in a pinch. I like to have a stash so it’s a little less overwhelming when I need to prepare for a trip so I don’t need to purchase a ton at once. It also makes a great gift idea to anyone who travels a lot: buy them a full size container of their favorite product and a travel size option!
Walmart has always been my go-to for all things travel toiletries, their beauty offerings online are better than ever and many items are eligible for next day shipping. In the past, I’ve always made a special trip to Walmart for their travel sized aisle but now it’s even more convenient to purchase online. I’m really impressed with the brands they carry, (check out these exclusive), as well as their travel friendly accessories.
IN MY SUITCASE:
