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Now that summer is here, the feelings of wanderlust are all too real. With post-pandemic travel plans like tropical vacations, destination weddings, and weekend getaways in full swing, we've been thinking a lot about travel-sized toiletries that deserve a place in your cute cosmetic bag.
To make travel preparations a breeze (because packing is the worst part of every trip), we researched and created a list of standout on-the-go must-haves in travel-friendly sizes, from sunscreen to hair care. And because flying is such a standard mode of transportation, we included only TSA-compliant products.
TSA-Approved Beauty Products
The TSA is a government agency that enforces the travel-sized toiletries we can store in our carry-on bags. To help, here's a quick reminder on what you're actually allowed to bring on the plane and how it should all be stored:
Carry-on bags
You're allowed one quart-sized resealable bag, and inside of it, you can include liquid, gel, and aerosol beauty products that are 3.4 ounces or smaller. Solid and powder makeup is allowed, but if they're bigger than 12 ounces, you'll need to put them in a bin for an X-ray screening. According to the agency, any liquid, aerosol, gel, cream, or paste that triggers an alarm during screening will require additional screening.
Checked bags
You don't need to worry about the size of your toiletries in a checked bag, but you'll still need to store your powder, solid, and liquid travel-sized toiletries in clear resealable bags — the size of these clear bags does not matter.
Stocking up on these travel-sized toiletries before your big trip will make you comfortable and keep you feeling right at home throughout your travels. Each beauty product featured was carefully researched by our beauty editor, Nicole Saunders, to ensure they align with TSA guidance. She also considered the ingredients and materials used to make each travel-sized toiletry, and for added reassurance, every item on our list boasts impressive ratings and reviews.
While we stand behind every single product featured in this guide (as always), if you could only purchase one travel-sized toiletry, this all-in-one kit is your best bet. It includes literally everything you could possibly need for traveling, like oral hygiene products, deodorant, and hand cream.
There are also hair styling tools like a wide-tooth comb that works for all hair textures and densities. The best part? Everything fits inside of the woven faux-leather zippered pouch.
More: Travel Hair Dryers That Are Way Better Than the Hotel's
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On-the-Go Shaving
Alleyoop Portable Travel Razors For Women
Beyond a pocket-sized razor, this kit has two backup cartridges equipped with three blades and a lubricating strip made with chamomile and olive oil for a smooth feel and finish. This set also comes with a solid shea butter moisturizing bar that creates a skin-softening shaving cream alternative when misted with water from the included refillable spray bottle.
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Save space in your purse or hand luggage with this full-sized brush that folds down to a compact hair brush. We love that it includes a mirror so you can ensure you look presentable throughout your flight or before snapping flicks in front of far-flung tourist destinations.
Plus, it sports ball-tipped bristles that are gentle on your scalp.
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Sky-High Lift
JAPONESQUE Go Curl Travel Eyelash Curler
What could be better than beautiful lashes on a budget? Curl your eyelashes in five seconds with this pocket-sized eyelash curler. Despite the compact size, it's capable of getting each lash from every angle with its open-cage design and comfortable rounded silicone pads.
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High-Pigment
Urban Decay Naked3 Mini Eyeshadow Palette
Let's be real — if we took all of our makeup on a trip, it would require its own suitcase, or at the very least several cosmetic bags. This is why we love the travel-sized version of the iconic Urban Decay Naked palettes.
Each palette includes six best-selling shades from the full-sized eyeshadow palettes, and they work great for day and night lewks. Naked 3 (pictured) includes rose-tone neutrals, Naked 2 offers cool-toned neutrals like taupes and creams, and Naked Heat contains warm browns, burnt oranges, and rich siennas.
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Multitasking Wonder
Aquaphor Healing Skin Ointment To-Go Pack
Airplanes are notoriously drying, so help lock in hydration by slathering your hands and lips with this soothing treatment.
This handy to-go pack allows you to stash the iconic skin ointment easily, so you can use it on dry, irritated skin without taking up too much real estate in your suitcase.
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This set of travel-sized shampoo and conditioner from TRESemme is perfect for your next adventure. This set is sure to keep damaged hair hydrated and properly moisturized while on the go — and priced at just over six bucks, it's equally affordable and effective.
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Soft and Smooth Skin
Burt's Bees Essential Kit
Burt's Bees products are known for keeping you cleansed and nourished — and with this set, you can keep five of their fabulous brand favorites with you on the go. All perfectly sized to store in your carry-on, the set literally keeps you covered from head to toe. It includes a lip balm, body lotion, foot cream, and camomille-infused hydrating face and body wash which is safe for all skin types.
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Suitcase size restrictions can mean tough decisions, like leaving your hair straightener behind. Tragic! That's why we suggest investing in this small-but-mighty mini version that fits in the size of your hand. It's even dual-voltage, so you can take it overseas!
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Tiny But Mighty
FOREO LUNA Play Plus 2 Silicone Facial Cleansing Brush
On vacation or not, you'll love Foreo's facial cleansing brush. The silicone bristles massage your skin to give it an extra-deep clean, and it's small enough to store in a handbag. Trust us, you'll be hooked on the cleansing and massaging capabilities after the first use!
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Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen — we can't stress it enough!
SPF is even more essential when you're traveling and spending extra time outdoors. This Sun Bum pack will have you set with a bottle of SPF 30, after-sun lotion, and a lip-protecting chapstick. It's also made with a reef-safe formula that won't harm coral reefs or marine life.
Neutrogena's makeup remover wipes are heaven-sent. Just one towelette is all you need to wash away a full day's worth of makeup, so if you're leaving for a weeklong trip, just one container of handy wipes will keep you covered!
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Goodbye Dark Circles
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Mini
Not into applying a full face of foundation while traveling? We feel you. Grab one of these adorable mini versions of the cult-fave concealer by NARS. Just a few swipes under the eyes will refresh your face and will have you feeling good to go!
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Pore Minimizer
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Mini
Red-eye flights have your skin looking dull? Restore its radiance with this five-pack of Dr. Dennis Gross's famed daily peel. Thanks to a combination of glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids, it'll have your skin glowing, brighten uneven skin tone, shrink the look of pores, and plump up fine lines and wrinkles in less than 5 minutes!
“I try new products on my face daily, and this is the only one where I’ve ever seen immediate improvement,” says our former beauty editor Ashley Phillips. She especially loves traveling with the chemical peels because they come in individually wrapped packets.
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Big Hair, Don't Care
Bumble and bumble Thickening Dryspun Texture Spray Mini
Keep your hair looking perfectly undone with this amazing texture spray from Bumble and bumble. The mini version allows you to keep it on hand for effortlessly amazing waves while you're jet-setting. It works well on second- and third-day hair as well, perfect for the traveler who has no time for shampooing.
Nicole Saunders
Beauty Editor
Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Best Products with over eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like high-frequency wands and microcurrent devices, into easy-to-understand guides. Saunders takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, — such as hairdryers and foundations — on our site, and spotlights her all-time seasonal favorites in her quarterly column Best New Beauty. And she tests quite literally thousands of launches for our Best New Beauty Awards package. You can follow her on Instagram to stay in the loop on her product testing adventues.
Ashley Phillips
Beauty & Style Editor
Ashley is the beauty and style editor at BestProducts.com, and her work has been featured on Cosmopolitan and Town and Country. She has an obsession with designer handbags, Liberty prints, 1960s fashion, and owns more shoes than she’s willing to admit. She's been using her learnings from owning a boutique and her shopping addiction for good since 2015. She’ll never accept that black isn’t a color. Away from the computer, you’ll likely find the Texas native binging on a British period drama or theorizing over Game of Thrones. She has yet to find a real cup of queso in NYC.
Katie McBroom
Beauty Editor
Katie McBroom is an award-winning content creator and freelance writer. Prior to contributing to Biography, she served as Content Editor for Google and Beauty Editor for Best Products. Her work has also appeared in publications including CNN, WWD, Business Insider, Forbes, and Men's Health, among others.
