When it comes to traveling, it’s no easy feat to figure out the best travel-sized beauty products to pack. They have to fit into your designated luggage space and keep your bag under the airline-approved weight. What's more, if you’re packing a carry-on, the products must remain within the size approved by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and not spill everywhere while you’re in transit.
But for those (like us!) who have an expansive beauty routine, this can be quite a challenge. Thus, Amy Desai, a TODAY contributor and beauty expert, recently shared with TODAY some of her beauty travel-sized essentials. We also previously spoke with travel creators Michelle Gonzalez and Jules Nguyen for their insight on what — and what not — to pack.
From TSA-friendly skin care products to portable hair care essentials, there are some travel must-haves that should never be left behind. Keep scrolling or use the category links below to see the essential travel-sized beauty products you shouldn’t go on your next trip without.
As seen on TODAY | Best skin care products | Best hair products | Best body products | Best makeup | Best hair tools | Best SPF products | Products we also considered | What to look for | FAQs | How we chose | Meet our experts
Travel-sized beauty products seen on TODAY
Kaja Face Bento Cream Bronzer, Powder Blush & Highlighter Sculpting Trio
You nearly have everything you need to create a full face with this cream and powder trio from Kaja. In the set comes a powder blush and highlighter, along with a cream bronzer that can fit neatly in your toiletry or hand bag. Plus, "you can use the color on eyes, lips and face," suggests Desai, so that should save you more room to store other necessities.
Real Techniques The Wanderer Face Makeup Brush Kit
Although they're a necessity for makeup application, brushes tend to take up space. This kit is filled with plush midi-sized brushes (with an included travel bag) to take with you on your getaways. And you can use most to apply liquid, creams or powder products.
Calista GoGo Mini Round Brush
"Thermal heating brushes are having a moment right now, but they can be bulky to travel with," says Desai. But that doesn't mean you need to let go of your hair tools. Case in point: Calista's Mini Round Brush. It's "essentially a heated round brush that doesn’t rotate, but you have full control how to style," she adds, so you can perfect your style or tame flyaways with ease — and without taking up too much space, too.
Ole Henriksen Best & Brightest Set
Unsure what skin care essentials to bring on your trip? Ole Henriksen's skin care set has you covered, offering five of their best sellers — the Truth Juice Daily Cleanser, Glow2OH Dark Spot Toner, Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum, Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturizer and Banana Bright+ Eye Crème — all in a travel-friendly size. All of which target multiple skin concerns for an effective skin care routine, day and night.
Kopari Sun Shield On the Glow Stick SPF 40
This all over SPF stick can be used on the face and body to protect the skin from the sun. But most notably, once you roll the product on, you'll notice that luminous glow that it leaves. And since it is in a stick form, it makes it easy to reapply throughout the day. "I also use this to help tame flyaways when wearing my hair back," claims Desai.
Dagne Dover Hunter Neoprene Toiletry Bag
To keep your essentials tucked away (and not spilling in your carry-on), a quality cosmetic bag is key. Available in two sizes — small and large — and various colors, Dagne Dover's Hunter Toiletry bag is nothing short of practical for packing. For instance, it is made of water-resistant neoprene material so your bag and items are always protected. But it also has a removable air mesh zip-top pouch to store smaller items and elastic rings, and keep them separate from objects in the large compartment, plus snap buttons on each side to make it a bit smaller.
Best travel-sized skin care products
Mighty Patch Original from Hero Cosmetics
Hear us out: No matter what, regardless of how far we fly, somehow we always manage to procure a large red zit on our face after a flight.
No more. These pimple patches are game changing, and over 100,000 Amazon reviewers agree. Simply stick it on, catch some zzzs, let it work its magic and watch the size of your zit shrink overnight.
Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask
“If there is any one product I’d recommend carrying in your bag while traveling, it’s this one," Nguyen says. For starters, the Jet Lag mask is packaged in a perfectly sized carry on-approved tube.
Nguyen adds: “This mask doubles as a hand cream, face cream and moisturizer, and it’s compact, portable and has a twist-off cap."
With over 2,000 five-star reviews, it’s a Sephora fan favorite, too, especially among those who have extra-dry but sensitive skin.
Laneige Besties Set
If you’re looking for a TSA-approved travel-sized skin care set, this pick from Laneige is your best bet.
The five products within the set — the cult-favorite lip sleeping mask, cleansing foam, hyaluronic serum, cream moisturizer and water sleeping mask — cover all the bases when it comes to travel skin care. Each also contains ultra-hydrating ingredients (like shea butter, hydro ionized mineral water and glycerin) to help keep dryness from long travel days at bay.
Mara Mini Algae + Moringa® Universal Face Oil
It's no secret that plane rides can make our skin feel extra dry. That's why after moisturizer, a face oil is essential for locking in moisture all night and day. One of our favorites is this one from Mara. Inside its incredibly quenchable ingredient list is moringa, watermelon and proprietary algae blend that equally plump, hydrate and even improve the appearance of wrinkles. Your skin will thank you.
Augustinus Bader The Complexion Correction Kit
If you've heard of Augustinus Bader's The Rich Cream, you might be familiar with the brand's famous Trigger Factor Complex: a unique blend of amino acids, peptides and vitamins that support the skin and target an array of common skin concerns. For that reason alone, we always have our eye on the cream for top moisturizers. And now you can test the product yourself, along with other luxury bestsellers from the brand (which also contain the complex), in travel-friendly sizes.
Jack Black The Jetsetter Set
For you or the male figure in your life, this set has everything they need to fulfill their skin care needs from head-to-toe. Inside the include tote bag is the brand's most-loved products, ranging from their popular Pit Boss Deodorant to the Pure Clean facial cleanser, so they'll have everything they need for their next vacay.
Best travel-sized hair products
Amika Mini Soulfood Nourishing Mask
If your hair always needs a little TLC when you travel, you’ll want to incorporate this mini-sized nourishing hair mask into your toiletry bag. Use it daily if your hair feels extra dry or whenever you need a little boost of moisture while you’re on vacation.
With every application, it’ll deeply condition and repair damaged hair, and keep your strands looking (and feeling) ultra-soft. Its formula is also clean and free of parabens, phthalates and sulfates.
Colleen Rothschild Quench & Shine Travel Essentials Set
While you’re traveling, the last thing you want to do is leave your favorite hair care products at home. With this Colleen Rothschild travel-sized set, you can bring your beloved routine along with you. Each product in this kit is one of the brand’s bestselling picks, and it’ll keep your hair and scalp in tip-top shape.
Dae Fairy Duster Volumizing Dry Shampoo Powder
Sometimes we don't feel like re-washing our hair — that's where dry shampoo comes in handy. While most dry shampoos come in sizes over the recommended TSA limit, Dae's recently launched dry shampoo powder is the perfect size to stow in your carry-on. To use, simply press down on the pump, and direct to the areas where you want to freshen up, add volume and get rid of excess oil.
Cécred Double Cleansing Kit with Moisturizing Deep Conditioner
You've might've heard of double cleansing your face, but that same method is important for your hair, too. Cécred's kit includes all the important goodies, such as a scalp scrub and foaming shampoo, to deeply cleanse, clarify and hydrate the scalp while on-the-go. That why no matter where your travels take you, your hair and scalp will always be in top shape.
Best travel-sized body products
Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Jet Set
Arriving in an adorable travel-friendly sized pouch, these minis are the quintessential grab-n-go for any trip. Created with ultra-hydrating formulas, each product should help keep your dry skin in tip-top shape when you’re away on business or vacation.
Each set contains a body cream, a shower gel and a fragrance mist and can be worn alone or layered together for an extra oomph of the reviewer-loved salted caramel and pistachio scent.
Gillette Venus Mini Extra Smooth Razors
FYI: Sometimes airports have strict regulations about bringing a full-sized razor on board, so it’s best to stick to this oh-so-cute travel-sized (and refillable!) one. Not only will it help you expertly shave your legs, underarms or anything in between, but it’ll also protect against any potential cuts due to its built-in ribbon of moisture.
MALIN+GOETZ Bestsellers Travel Kit
You’ll never have to worry about leaving behind great skin care, hair care or body care products, thanks to this kit that's chock-full of the brand's bestsellers. The products' aluminum tube packaging is great at avoiding any potential spill mishaps, and they'll provide you with everything you need during any getaway. Plus, it comes in a cute plastic case for easy packing.
Moroccanoil Hand Cream Travel Size
Some hand creams leave a greasy residue that makes them unappealing to use. But MoroccanOil promises that their highly loved hand cream is both incredibly fast-absorbing and hydrating, too. One of their newest scents is Dahlia Rouge, so if you're looking for a reminder that Spring is near, you'll enjoy the notes of rose, pearl tuberose and sandalwood.
Nécessaire The Body Essentials Travel Set
Your body care is just as important as your skin care for your face, just as the brand emphasizes in this body care essentials kit. Included is three of their bestsellers: The Body Wash, The Body Serum and The Body Lotion. These minis work together to replenish the skin with hydration without stripping the skin of moisture. Nécessaire contributes this to the blend of peptides, Niacinamide, vitamins and plant surfactants found in some of the products listed.
Best travel-sized makeup basics
Urban Decay Mini All-Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray
With just one spray, this settling spray should keep makeup free of transfers and smudges for up to 16 hours. The vegan, cruelty-free formula is also waterproof, allowing you to use it for days on the beach, snorkeling and everything in between. Plus, it comes in a TSA-approved size so you can make sure you have it with you at all times.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit
Gonzalez dubs this palette the absolute GOAT for a travel-friendly full face.
“It’s incredibly compact and includes vegan blurring finishing powders, bronzer, blushes and a highlighter, and I often use the bronzer and blushes as eyeshadow too.”
Because the shades are so versatile, they'll provide endless makeup looks. Plus, because the palette is in a compact formula, it won’t spill everywhere like other liquid-based makeup alternatives.
Merit Five Minute Morning
This kit truly includes everything you need to touch-up and re-do your make-up as you please. Exclusive to their site, you can select your desired shade for almost all of the products in the set, from their best-selling foundation stick to their lip oil, to customize a look unique to you.
Milk Cooling Water Jelly Tint Lip + Cheek Blush Stain
As you're on-the-go, you want your makeup to last all-day long. While it might look like a tasty treat, Milk Makeup's viral jelly tint is meant to leave a sheer yet buildable stain on the lips and cheeks. And better yet, it feels cool and refreshing when applied.
Best travel-sized hair tools
Wet Brush Multi-Pack Detangler Hair Brushes
Beauty lovers everywhere are obsessed with Wet Brush brushes, and these mini-sized ones are the perfect travel companion. It’s specifically designed to help detangle all hair types without causing damage to your delicate strands, which is great when you're on the go with minimal time to style.
T3 Afar - Lightweight Travel Size Hair Dryer
Say hello to bouncy, blowouts or sleek strands while you’re on vacation with this T3 dryer. Created with advanced airflow technology, it can blow-dry your hair in a matter of minutes, helping you avoid being late for your meeting or a day spent exploring a new city.
With a compact size and folding handle, it can be stored super easily in your checked bag or carry-on. Plus, it has a dual-voltage that automatically adapts to wherever you are abroad.
Ghd Unplugged Styler - Cordless Flat Iron
Whether you’re looking to straighten or curl your hair, this cordless flat iron from GHD is a great investment.
With a compact, lightweight size, it can be used while you’re on board your flight, getting ready for the day, or when you need a quick touch-up ahead of a night out. Each use provides up to 20 minutes of styling, and it can be easily charged with the USB port in your computer, so you don’t have to worry about it blowing a fuse.
Best travel-sized SPF products
Supergoop! Mini Unseen Sunscreen
FYI: There’s actually a ton of UV light exposure from plane windows if you’re flying during the day, so this Supergoop! pick should be with you at all times, says Nguyen.
With a clear, blendable formula, it not only works great for all skin tones but also won’t leave any white cast whatsoever. Plus, it also doubles as a great makeup primer.
Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick
Say goodbye to sunscreen spillage thanks to this Shiseido sunscreen stick. “The ultra-portable form factor makes it easy to slip into your pocket and reapply in the air,” says Gonzalez.
It can also be easily applied over makeup when you’re on the go, which is just another reason why it’s worth keeping in your travel rotation.
Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen
This lightweight sunscreen applies sheer, indicating that there shouldn't be any cast once you rub it in. Along with its sun protection benefits, Tatcha's silky sunscreen also shields the skin from photo aging and other environmental stressors, deeply hydrates, even skin tone and leaves a plump, radiant complexion.
Products we also considered
Care-e-on En Route Essentials Kit
With its TSA-approved bottle sizes stored in a mesh pouch, this skin care set is meant to be easy to throw in your bag when you’re in a hurry — whether that's for flights, gym days, day trips and more. We tried the products, and while they served their purpose fine (we found the face mist particularly refreshing), nothing was particularly remarkable. For instance, we think that there are hydrating pads that offer the same benefits and are longer-lasting and more substantial than the ones offered here.
We did appreciate that the packaging was lightweight, making it less of a load in our luggage, but we did note that there wasn't as much product in each container as we'd like, especially compared with comparable travel kits at similar price points.
Riki Loves Riki Cutie Portable Lighted Mirror
Let’s be real: Bad hotel lighting can make or break your makeup routine. Many portable lighted mirrors, like this one by Riki Loves Riki, are available to help you be able to apply your foundation, blush or any other makeup product in the best lighting.
While it's very cute, comes with three brightness levels, and includes a nifty leg stand and retractable finger ring, this pick is quite pricey, especially for an item that we consider a nice-to-have, not necessarily an essential. One qualm some reviewers have is that if you don't have a surface to use the leg stand, you'll have to hold this with one hand while doing your makeup on the other (one user wished this had a magnet or suction).
Those things aside, if you have the budget and are a makeup lover, other reviewers love this pick's portability, bright LED light and rechargeability.
Cadence The Original Set of 6
These viral magnetic, leakproof and TSA-approved capsules can be filled with your favorite skin, hair or other beauty essentials for use during your getaway. Several Shop TODAY editors are either fans of this customizable set — or were, to start.
Shop TODAY sales editor Rebecca Brown is one of the latter. She reports after several uses of the starter set: "They were fun to use on the long vacation." Over time, however, she lost enthusiasm: "They just knock around in my vitamin cabinet."
Commerce editor Vivien Moon likes the magnetic features but found them bulky, especially considering the amount they store. "I could only fit one or two days' worth of product (depending on the product) and I didn't like getting any product out of the smaller-size opening. When traveling, I don't want something that adds weight, and these definitely did," she shares.
Some might also find the capsules tricky to clean and the price tag too high (both gripes our editors had across the board). In short, we recommend these for longer trips where you'll go several days without you skin care or hair care products.
What to look for in travel-sized beauty essentials
Travel restrictions: To comply with TSA regulations, it’s imperative that you keep your liquids to under 3.4 ounces (100 mL). “It’s also worth noting that if you have small aerosols — for example, a face mist or even a flammable travel-size hairspray — these are generally exempt from the ‘no aerosols’ rule you acknowledge when checking in for a flight given their relatively small size and status as a toiletry item,” says Gonzalez.
Skin care concerns: In general, travel can be super tough on the skin, so it’s best to keep a few products handy for any dryness or breakouts that you may encounter. Skin care products that are aimed at these specific concerns are great travel companions.
Packaging: It’s best to go for lightweight, durable packaging that will take up as minimal space as possible. “Squeeze tubes over glass bottles are a great example of a conscious choice that I would make,” explains Gonzalez. In addition, products that are multifunctional are a great way to maximize space. “It’s also best to opt for twist caps instead of pumps when purchasing travel sizes to avoid accidental spills,” adds Nguyen.
- Michelle Gonzalez is a travel creator based in Los Angeles. She founded LAX to Luxury, an aspirational luxury travel social media account and blog.
- Jules Nguyen is a Los Angeles-based travel blogger and creator. She founded the travel guide website Finding Jules.
- Ami Desai is a TODAY contributor and beauty expert.
