Makeup Tips For Travel: How To Pack Light And Look Fabulous

Looking for makeup tips to travel light and still look Instagrammable? Here are some tips to a versatile and compact makeup routine while on the go

Travelling is an exciting and rewarding experience, but it can also pose some challenges when it comes to packing your makeup. You want to look your best, but you also don’t want to lug around a heavy bag full of products that you may not even use. How do you strike a balance between being prepared and being practical?

We gained some insights on this from Soma Khanna, from Ekta Cosmetics Limited (ECL), who has introduced India to global cosmetic brands such as Make-Up Studio, Skeyndor, Jeannot Ceuticals, and Depileve.

Here are some makeup tips for travel that will help you pack light and look fabulous.

What Goes Inside The Bag?

When asked what the key makeup products that travellers should include in their beauty kit for a versatile and compact makeup routine, Khanna said, “When it comes to travel makeup, less is often more. A versatile beauty kit should include foundation or tinted moisturiser, concealer, a multi-purpose lip and cheek tint, mascara, a neutral eyeshadow palette, optional eyeliner, setting powder or spray, and travel-sized makeup brushes.”

She added, “Your beauty arsenal on the road should include brushes for foundation, eyeshadow, and blush, a versatile beauty blender or makeup sponge, and a compact mirror for precision. Keeping blotting papers and a fixing spray handy always turns out to be helpful.”

Combat The Climate

Whether you are travelling to Savanna or Himachal, it is important to choose makeup shades that complement various skin tones and suit different travel destinations.

Perhaps one of Khanna’s most important tips is this:

“Understanding what your skin needs and how it reacts to various climates is the key to achieving correct makeup shades. Earthy tones generally work for all skin types. At the same time, warmer hues suit colder places and brighter lip colours shine in tropical paradises.”

Travelling comes with exhaustion; you get dehydrated, tired eyes or red from sun exposure, and sometimes it shows on your face. You can tackle all these common travel concerns with ease with this one makeup tip by Khanna:

“Combat tired eyes with a reliable eye cream, keep your skin hydrated with a primer or spray throughout the day, and use a green colour corrector to neutralise any redness from sun exposure. In case you feel the need to go the extra mile to hide under eye darkness and exhaustion, go in with an orange corrector before your concealer, and your eyes will look radiant.”

Some must-have products Khanna recommended are waterproof mascara a matte, and a long-wear foundation. “You can look stunning in any climate with makeup essentials like waterproof mascara, a matte, long-wear foundation, setting powder for humid and tropical locations, and a hydrating setting spray for dry environments. Opt for sweat-proof eyeliners and lip products for added durability,” she said.

What’s Trending?

Lastly, you want to look chick while being up to date. Are there any makeup trends or styles that are particularly well-suited for travel in 2023? Of course, there are.

” Expect to see a focus on natural, dewy skin, bold brows, and glossy lips, perfect for a fresh and timeless travel look. If you’re going to Europe, a bare face with minimal makeup and bold red lips also do the trick. Winged eyeliners, sun-kissed cheeks, and a slight shimmer on the eyelids for night looks are also very popular,” Khanna said.

Furthermore, she urged travellers to embrace their natural beauty on the go. “Use minimal foundation or a tinted moisturiser for a lightweight feel, focus on brows, lashes, and lips, opt for neutral eyeshadows, blend impeccably to avoid harsh lines, and add a touch of colour with a lip and cheek tint. Remember to stick to the basics.”