If you’re going on holiday and not sure where to start or what to pack when it comes to your makeup? This is for you!

With limited space in your luggage to take all your beauty essentials, it can be challenging to strike the right balance with packing all the essential beauty products whilst taking up as little space/weight in your luggage allowance as possible. But fear not, I’ll be sharing my beauty picks for summer travel and providing tips for effective packing..

I am packing for a week away in the sun so I thought I’d share the products I am taking on holiday and why, some are old favourites, new favourites, travel swap outs and a few social media influenced buys that are genuinely worth the hype.

Makeup bag

1. Makeup primer – Estée Lauder The Mattifier Shine Control Perfecting Primer + Finisher.

I have been on the hunt for a good primer which helps with oil control. I have heard good things about this Estée Lauder primer, so will be putting this to the test. The product is 30ml which is also a handy size for travel. Tip: If you are super tight on space, decant into a small round pot. Amazon do great travel bottles for decanting makeup.

2. Setting powder – Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder mini.

This is a heavyweight amongst the loose setting powders on the market and has been for years. It works on every skin tone, which is great as you’re likely to tan on holiday and doesn’t give that awful powdery flashback when you take a picture. It’s great for setting under eyes and helping with oil control on the face in a hot country. I highly recommend taking the travel size version abroad as the original size is quite bulky and this product would be difficult to decant further due to the how the powder is packaged.

3. Colour corrector – Huda beauty #Faux Filter Colour Corrector.

Colour corrector is great for anyone with any discolouration concerns such as dark circles, redness and dull skin. Personally, if I don’t colour correct around my mouth area, my foundation will always look a little grey around the mouth and I much prefer an even base. This product does not have a travel size option but the full size tube is only 9ml, you could decant further but it may be difficult due to the applicator. I use the shade blood orange in the Huda range.

4. Eyebrow pencil – NYX Professional Makeup Micro Brow Pencil.

Whether you’ve had your brows laminated, micro bladed or none of the above, you likely have a brow pencil to fill in sparse areas that need a little extra help. The NYX Micro Brow pencil is sleek in design and its slim pencil mimic’s hairs particularly well, plus there is a wide verity of colours to suit every need. This is also a great alternative to a liquid brow pencil which would take up space in your liquid allowance (particularly important if you are on carry on luggage only). I use the shade black.

5. Foundation – Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation.

This matte foundation really helps with oil control on the face without being drying or difficult to work with. There is no travel size available for this, the full size is 45ml but you can easily decant this into a smaller bottle to minimise the space this takes. I use the shade Marquises.

6. Pressed powder – Dior Backstage Face & Body Powder-No-Powder.

A pressed powder compact is great on holiday for touch ups on the go and can be used for minimal make up during the day when going for the no-makeup makeup look. There is no mini size for this Dior compact but it’s fairly slim in width so doesn’t take up a huge amount of space. If you are not looking to pack a foundation, this powder along can go a long way to see you through your trip. It totally blurs and perfects the skin without looking like you have anything on. My shade is 6N.

7. Bronzer – Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer.

Powder bronzers are a godsend for holiday skin, especially on oily skin. Bronzers add a flush of warmth and dimension to the face and the Charlotte Tilbury offering works great. 

I do caveat that this is not a small product, it does take up some space but doesn’t need to go into the liquid bag. An alternative would be the Nars mini laguna bronzing powder. My shade is Deep.

8. Blush – Nars

Try to stick to one blush that will work for the night and day. Use a blush bronzer duo if you have one that works well to save on space, or purchase a travel size option. Take a powder blush rather than liquid if you are on carry on luggage only to help make space for other liquids in your allowance. Nars has a few mini blush versions but for my shade of preference there is no mini option. My shade is Exhibit A.

9. Eyeliner (waterline) – Rimmel – Soft Kohl Kajal Eyeliner Pencil Black.

For the nights when you want to put a bit of extra effort in. This eye liner pencil is cheap, cheerful and compact in design. 

10. Mascara – Estée Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Travel Size Mascara – Black.

Mascara is essential for any makeup kit. This Estée Lauder mascara does the job well and is nice and compact.

11. Eyelashes – Ardell Demi Wispies.

A pair of lashes on holiday can really elevate a look. Especially for a special evening meal or if you are going to a nice event in the day (I’m thinking beach club, wine tasting or exploring and old town). Opt for a pair that don’t overpower the eyes and face. These Demi wisps are lovely natural looking reasonably priced lashes.

12. Eyelash glue – Duo Quick-Set Striplash Adhesive – Clear

If you wear lashes, pack a TRUSTED glue that will hold well, especially in hot weather. Duo is the best when it comes to lash glue, hands down. Is it a liquid yes, but is it compact? Most definitely. Top tip – if necessary, use the small glue that lashes sometimes come with if you’re willing to risk it!

13. Eyeshadow – Tarte Tartelette™ Toasted Eyeshadow Palette.

To keep to the minimal theme, pack one eye shadow palette to work with all your looks and no more. Ensure the palette has all colours you’re likely to use. I normally take my Tarte eyeshadow palette as it has a nice selection of warm brown and bronze shades which are my go shades to for holiday.

14. Face setting Spray – Charlotte Tilbury AIRBRUSH FLAWLESS SETTING SPRAY.

Setting sprays really help keep makeup in locked place, especially in hot weather. It can also be used under makeup to help keep make up in place as part of your skin prep.

15. Lip pencil – Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat – Pillow Talk Intense.

A good lip liner will make almost any lipstick wearable and is a must for my travelling makeup kit. Charlotte Tilbury’s lip cheek is pigmented and super soft on the lips. I use the shade Intense.

16. Lip gloss – Fenty Beauty – Gloss Bomb – Honey waffles

The lip gloss itself is compact and can fit nicely in the liquid allowance. The colours are really pigmented and the gloss works well on it’s own or with a lipstick or pencil. Fenty beauty have a lip goss for everyone. The shade I’ll be taking with me is a beige brown nude, Honey Waffles.

17. Lipstick – Dior, Mac and YSL.

I will be taking a few lipsticks for options and to easily change my look. Tip: Use mini’s where possible.

I try to keep my lipsticks to a maximum of three:

• One for the evening. I’ve chosen a red for added drama for dressed up evenings. My shade is Mac Russian red.
• One for the day when going on excursions or walking around old towns but also during the evening. I’ve gone for Nars Powermatte lipstick in shade No Angel.
• One for the beach – I’ve gone for Estée Lauder Pure Color Hi-Lustre Lipstick in shade Tigers Eye.

That’s all for today. Next weeks post will be a holiday look that I like to wear frequently on holiday, called my bronzed goddess look, look out for that one and thanks for reading!

Thea x