Sitting down and writing a blog post on the topic of travel in 2020 feels incredibly strange. But, I have done safe travel in this year, and at some point we will all be back to the usual grind. As I sit around imagining what my next excursion may look like, I want to share what I consider to be the best makeup for travel. My makeup bag is usually filled with the same items each time because I bring the best-of-the-best holy grails with me. Traveling is a special occasion for me, so I want a flawless bullet-proof face that lasts all day. All of the makeup in this post are my high-performing favorites that I swear by. With that being said, traveling is a great opportunity to use up your samples as well! I will re-iterate that as we go. The makeup bag featured is the Yumi Kim Jetsetter Train Case. You can find it on Poshmark, Mercari, etc. as it was featured in a past FabFitFun box. Time to get started!
Best Makeup for Travel
1) Prime
I am starting off the best makeup for travel in the same way you start your makeup- with primer!
- Revlon Photoready Pore Reducing Primer: I apply this primer only onto my incredibly large pores on my nose. This drugstore primer is the best affordable pore filler, period.
- Smashbox Photo Finish Primer: How many times have I talked about this primer on the blog? I fully believe that it extends the wear of your makeup while providing a smooth surface for makeup application.
- elf Putty Eye Primer: Putty Eye Primer is a new discovery this year, but it makes the list because it prevents fading, creasing, and movement of eyeshadow for all day wear. However, any eyeshadow primer that I talk about in my Long Lasting Eyeshadow Primer post is fair game, as I have traveled with those selections, too. Any primer that actually works is key.
Related Post: Long Lasting Eyeshadow Primer
2) Foundation
Second, we need to talk about complexion. It is foundation time!
- wet n wild photofocus Foundation Dewy: This foundation is buildable to full-coverage and dewy in a healthy way, with no photo flashback. It is incredibly long-wearing and flawless on the skin. Even on combination skin like mine it looks excellent all the way through the end of the day, which speaks volumes! I consider the Dewy version to be the perfected formula of the Matte, but I also love it mix it with the Matte version.
- wet n wild photofocus Foundation (Matte): This foundation is full-coverage and matte, with no photo flashback. It is incredibly long-wearing and flawless on the skin. My only caution is that less is more. If you get too heavy-handed it can look thick and cakey.
- Sephora Matte Perfection Powder Foundation: This is my most traveled with and most discussed foundation on the blog. No matter how much you apply it never looks dry or cakey, and it has buildable coverage. It provides a soft focus look to the face, while allowing minor imperfections to show through. This stuff is super long-wearing.
Related Post: Powder Foundation Makeup Routine
3) Concealer
Third are concealers. It is hard to narrow down a concealer list for this post, but this is my best attempt.
- elf Hydrating Camo Concealer: This is my new favorite concealer! The formula is thick and creamy, and blends into the skin flawlessly. It is full coverage with a natural finish that is not too dry or dewy. This formulation is appropriate for all skin types, including dry skin.
- Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer: A drugstore classic concealer, this formula is also creamy and buildable to full-coverage with a natural finish. This was my go-to before getting my hands on Hydrating Camo Concealer, but this is and always will be an OG.
- wet n wild photofocus Color Corrector in Peach: Yes, I still color correct, but only with peach concealer. The reason is that peach cancels out under eye darkness like magic, and it covers redness better than a green concealer. wet n wild’s formula is creamy and easy to blend. If you are familiar with their photofocus Concealer line, this is definitely the same formula.
4) Powder, Brows, Set
Next, I am talking about a variety of products. Specifically, brows, setting powder, and setting spray.
- elf Lock on Liner & Brow Cream: The creamy formula effortlessly fills the brows and lasts all day. When you find the shade that matches you, it will also look soft and natural. This product provides some hold to keep brow hairs in place. If you are looking for additional hold, then I recommend including a brow gel, which is completely optional.
- Maybelline Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder: This powder bakes like a dream, and it proves a soft focus or blurring effect to the skin, especially when used as an all-over setting powder. Basically, I call this stuff instant Photoshop. It will also add a slight amount of coverage.
- Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray: All Nighter is famous for creating a bullet-proof face, and it absolutely works to extend the wear of your makeup! Of course, it also melts the makeup into the skin for a perfect set. I drench myself in this spray then dry with a hand-held fan.
5) Bronze
As I continue with the best makeup for travel, we cannot forget to bronze up! Traveling is a great time to use your samples.
- Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer: Matte bronzer fans rejoice as Hoola is the real deal. It provides a toasty sun-kissed look to the skin, but it is not muddy or orange.
- Nars Bronzing Powder in Laguna: Laguna is the perfect shade of bronzer for my fair skin, and you can see my deluxe sample is nearly gone. The light brown shade is soft and buildable, but never muddy or orange. It has the slightest amount of shimmer. When wearing this bronzer in photos I cannot help but stare and admire my bronzer. I need a full-size!
6) Contour
Continuing on, I tend to contour for special occasions aka travel. I know that the Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour Palette is rather large for a travel makeup bag, but I really do not care because it is that good. You have all the color options that you need for matte highlight and contour. The formula is high quality and easy to blend and build. I never seem to reach for any other contour palette when I travel.
7) Blush
I never travel with any other blush outside of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Blush Trios. The variety of hues provided make it easy to select a trio that will work with your outfit or whatever look you are going for. Having three options gives you more to pick from in one compact palette while on the go. I like to mix shades for a custom look if I do not wear an individual shade from a trio.
8) Highlight
There are so many awesome highlighters in my collection that pains me to only mention two for travel, but deluxe samples are king to save space. I have been reaching for Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Champagne Pop or Opal because those are the shades that I have. They are perfect on my pale skin and give me that showstopping glow that I crave. Luckily, these shades compliment a variety of makeup looks and are fairly universal in that regard.
Related Post: Best Highlighters for Fair Skin
9) Eyeshadow
When I travel, I do not have a set palette that I gravitate to, because I pick my eyeshadow to match my outfit. Believe it or not, I have traveled with the Urban Decay Naked Heat Eyeshadow Palette several times. For starters, it is one of my all-time favorite palettes because I love warm eyeshadows, and reds specifically. With that being said, I tend to wear red clothing when I travel, I guess! But, Urban Decay eyeshadows are one of the best formulations on the market. They are super pigmented and practically blend themselves, which is why I make it a point to collect their palettes.
I want to include the Urban Decay Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette in this post, too. Yes, I have traveled with it! Urban Decay created this palette for travel, which is why it is full of nearly every shade you might need for your look. You have a variety of warm and cool tones, as well as appropriate shades for the crease, blending, and setting your eyelid. If you are looking for a one-stop-shop palette, this is for you. The package design is thin and sleek with a full mirror. What I said above still holds true, however. I will travel with any palette that matches my outfit the best, so Born to Run will not always fit my picky needs. For everyone else, it is a big winner.
I have also travelled with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol 1. but it is incredibly large and needs to go in a separate bag. As far as size is concerned, it is not a good option.
10) Eyeliner
When it comes to eyeliners in the best makeup for travel, I typically grab whatever sample that I have on hand. There is no set eyeliner that I use. I am sure that I have traveled with all of the below eyeliners before. Each eyeliner provides a matte black line that lasts all day, with a tip that is easy to control for thin or thick lines. Stila and Maybelline’s versions are both felt tip, and I consider them to be dupes for all intensive purposes. Kat Von D’s features a unique brush tip that makes it a cult favorite.
- Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
- Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner
- Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper
11) Mascara
I do not have a set mascara for travel. I grab whatever open mascara that I am currently using and run with it. Any mascara in my post on the best drugstore mascaras will do, or you can reach for a sample.
- Loreal Voluminous Primer: I am not one to promote a mascara primer because I think they are a useless, unnecessary step. But, Loreal’s Voluminous Primer enhances any mascara to make your lashes look fuller, longer, and overall more volumized. This is a step not to be skipped in any routine.
- Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Mascara: I am talking about the Falsies Lash Lift Mascara here because it is my current open mascara that I am using up. However, it does a lovely job of bringing on the feathery, false lash effects. I cannot say if it is truly a replacement for a professional lash lift, which is a bit far reaching, but it does its job effectively.
Related Post: Best Drugstore Mascara for Feathery Lashes
12) Lips
Pressing on with the best makeup for travel, I have everything lips. I always start with a lip liner. Let’s be honest here, the only liner that I reach for is wet n wild’s perfectpout Gel Lip Liner out of any other liners in my collection. This formula is so creamy that the color applies without effort or tugging. I have all of the shades so I can virtually match any lip color.
When it comes to lip color, I go straight for the wet n wild megalast Liquid Catsuit Matte Liquid Lipstick line. I pretty much will not travel with anything else. I have all of the shades ever made, so again I usually have whatever I need to finish off my look. This formula is full-coverage and long-lasting, even through eating and drinking. Only a minor touchup should be needed during the day. Some people find these to be too drying on the lips, but really they do not bother me.
I do want to give the Physicians Formula The Healthy Lip Velvet Liquid Lipstick line an honorable mention here because they have crept into my makeup bag. Here I am pulling out my whole darn drawer of all of their shades for a photo op. This formula is full-coverage and long-lasting, even through eating and drinking, but it will fade easier than wet n wild’s Liquid Catsuit line. Essentially, The Healthy Lip is a close second or nice alternative. It is incredibly comfortable on the lips, more so than other brands.
Related Post: Best Non-Drying Drugstore Liquid Lipsticks
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Conclusion
In summary of the best makeup for travel, a great majority of these products are ones that I have discussed so many times on the blog that you are probably sick of them. That should indicate for you that these products are the absolute best on the market when you want a look that will last as long as you need it to. I fully stand behind all of these products to support a bullet-proof, flawless face. You will also notice my color options are carefully picked to give you what you need in a compact way, plus you can easily incorporate samples to save space. Until next time, continue to let your true beauty shine.
What is typically in your travel makeup bag?