Connect with us

Lifestyle

18 best travel beauty kits that will fit in your carry-on

Avatar

Published

on

18 best travel beauty kits that will fit in your carry-on
With the Well+Good SHOP, our editors use their years of knowledge to choose products (from skin care to self-care and more) that they bet you’ll love. Although our editors independently select these products, a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission. Have fun shopping! Discover the STORE

As much as we all wish we could stash every beauty product that lives on our vanity while traveling, it’s just not realistic. This is where travel beauty kits come in: they’re compact mini collections of the favorite makeup, skincare, SPF, and hair products we know and love. Here we explore what to look for when shopping for a travel beauty kit, plus the 18 best travel kits to shop for – from a full five-minute makeup routine kit to a luxurious body kit, dry shampoo set and more.

Our top 18 beauty travel sets at a glance:

  • Best Overall: Tower 28 Essentials Set, $88
  • Best Moisturizing Travel Kit: Laneige Waterbank Blue Hyaluronic Hydration Set, $43
  • Best SPF Travel Kit: Supergoop! All-day SPF set, $44
  • Best Travel Set Edition: Earn 5 Minute Morning The Core Collection set, $176
  • Best scrunchie travel set: Crown Affair The Silk Scrunchie N.001 Set, $15
  • Best Travel Body Care Kit: 54 Thrones Lather & Slather Moisturizing Body Care Set, $50
  • Best Perfume Travel Set: PHLUR Odor Discovery Kit, $35
  • Best Anti-Aging Travel Kit: Sunday Riley Multivitamins 15% Vitamin C + Retinol Mini Set, $28
  • Best Travel Kit for Straight and Wavy Hair: Amika Signature Saviors Essentials Hair Trial Set, $30
  • Best Travel Kit for Curly Hair: Pattern Beauty Texture Travel Pack for Curly and Curly Hair, $32
  • Best smelling travel set: Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum jet set, $30
  • Best Eyebrow Travel Kit: REFY Mini Sculpt and Highlight Collection, $14
  • Best Highlight and Contour Travel Kit: Nudestix Mini Nudie sRoses ‘N Honey Nudes Kit, $30
  • Best Travel Brush Set: Morphe Rosé Away 6-Piece Travel Brush Set, $28
  • Best Shiny Travel Set: Innbeauty Project Latte Makeup Kit, $69
  • Best Hair Removal Travel Kit: Billie Choose Your Smooth Set, $29
  • Best dry shampoo travel set: IGK Must-Have Minis, $29
  • Best Face Mask Travel Kit: Peter Thomas Roth Hello, Mask Besties! 5-piece mask set, $19

Shop the 18 Best Travel Beauty Kits

Best Overall: Tower 28 Essentials Set – $88.00

We love this makeup essentials set because it’s minimal to pack and quick to apply. It comes with an SPF shade, cream blush, lip gloss, mascara and a travel bag SOS rescue spray. It’s a complete five-step routine you can rely on whether you need an airplane touch-up or want to use it every day for a minimal makeup look throughout your trip.

Pieces: 5

  • Routine for the entire face
  • Vegan + not tested on animals
  • Does not contain concealer and highlighter

Best Moisturizing Travel Set: Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Hydration Set – $43.00

You’re not alone if traveling makes your complexion look dehydrated and dull. This hyaluronic acid hydration kit is just what you need to replenish your skin’s moisture with this four-step hydration routine, complete with a hyaluronic acid foam cleanser, blue hyaluronic serum, toner and cream moisturizer. Think of your skin’s thirst, quenched, even at 30,000 feet.

Pieces: 4

  • Suitable for all skin types
  • Contains fragrances, which may be irritating to some

Best Travel Set Edition: Merit 5 Minute Morning The Core Collection Set – $176.00

If you’re a frequent flyer looking for a mini makeup kit you can rely on, try this pick. The set contains a complexion stick, blush balm, tinted lip oil, blending brush, highlight balm, mascara and eyebrow pomade. Handy to take with you in your hand luggage, the collection covers virtually all makeup bases, whether you want to add a little mascara or a pop of color.

Pieces: 7

  • Complete make-up kit
  • Vegan + not tested on animals

Best Scrunchie Travel Set: Crown Affair The Silk Scrunchie N.001 Set – $15.00

A scrunchie set is a must wherever you go, especially if you want to tie your hair up during a long flight or car ride. This three-piece silk scrunchie set is just what you need and will keep your hair frizz and wrinkle free.

Pieces: 3

  • Suitable for all hair types
  • Prevents breakage
  • Some reviewers say the scrunchies lose their elasticity quickly

Best Travel Body Care Set: 54 Thrones Lather & Slather Hydrating Bodycare Set – $50.00

Travel can also dry out your body’s skin, so it’s important to maintain a moisturizing routine even when you’re abroad. This set is a must-try for this reason: it comes with a non-stripping body wash, body butter, and barrier repair cream with a whole host of moisturizing ingredients, including shea butter to moringa oil, niacinamide, and ceramides. It also comes with an exfoliating body glove to prepare the skin for application.

Pieces: 4 (including body glove)

  • Warm vanilla scent
  • Vegan and not tested on animals

Best Perfume Travel Set: PHLUR Fragrance Discovery Set – $35.00

A perfume discovery set is a great way to take a handful of scents with you on a trip without taking up half your luggage. This set includes eight of the brand’s signature scents with different profiles and notes, such as Apricot Privee, Missing person And Someone Wood. With the scents you can choose from various options, whether you fancy something sultry or sweet.

Pieces: 8

  • The scents can be layered
  • Vegan and not tested on animals
  • Some reviewers report problems with the spray bottle parts

Best Smelling Travel Set: Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Jet Set – $30.00

If you want to smell like vacation, on vacation, let us introduce you to this three-piece set that includes the cult favorite scent Cheirosa ’62. It comes with a body wash, mini Bum Bum Cream and travel-sized fragrance mist for a sweet-smelling and addictive finish.

Pieces: 3

  • Contains cupuaçu butter and caffeine to wake up and nourish the skin
  • Vegan and not tested on animals
  • Reviewers say the amount of product is very small and runs out quickly

Best Brow Travel Kit: REFY Mini Sculpt and Highlight Collection – $12.00

If feeling put together also means your brows are in shape, then this shaping eyebrow travel kit is for you. It includes a mini brow sculpt to brush out your brows and hold them in place, plus a mini gloss highlighter to lift. Somehow it looks like you slept for hours after application, even after a 10+ hour travel day.

Pieces: 2

  • Some reviewers say the brow gel flakes off after a few hours

Best Travel Kit for Highlights and Contours: Nudestix Mini Nudies Roses ‘N Honey Nudes Kit – $30.00

Sometimes a pop of color is all you need to look more awake. Try this mini stick set with a blush, highlighter and contour to get the job done in just a few swipes. We love that you can use any of the shades on your cheeks, lips or eyelids to instantly brighten or sculpt your face.

Pieces: 3

  • Long lasting
  • Vegan and not tested on animals
  • Some reviewers believe the formulas are sticky

Best Travel Brush Set: Morphe Rosé Away 6-Piece Travel Brush Set – $28.00

You can’t travel far without a brush set, so this six-piece set should go with you. It includes a curved contour brush, a buffer brush, a mini buffer brush, a blending crease brush, a mini concealer brush and an oval shadow brush for all your makeup needs. It also comes with a compact travel case that you can pack in a suitcase or carry-on without taking up too much space.

Pieces: 6

  • Compact and beginner-friendly
  • Some reviewers say the bristles are a bit scratchy

Best Shiny Travel Kit: INNBEAUTY Project Latte Makeup Kit – $69.00

Add shine to your travel routine with this kit that includes a shimmery highlighter, bronzer and a sheer and shimmering lip oil. The facial glaze is a skincare makeup hybrid with plumping ingredients like vegan squalane, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid for a bouncy and radiant finish.

Pieces: 4

  • Comes with a travel makeup bag
  • Vegan and not tested on animals
  • Some reviewers share that the shine is minimal when applied under makeup

Best Travel Kit for Hair Removal: Billie Choose Your Smooth Set – $29.00

If you want to continue your hair removal routine while traveling, opt for this set that not only includes a razor, but also two waxing kits for the body, underarms, face and bikini area. It takes the guesswork out of shaving or waxing while you’re away from the comfort of your own home, and is completely TSA friendly.

Pieces: 3

  • Gives you the option to shave or wax
  • Mess-free
  • There is no shaving cream included

Best Dry Shampoo Travel Set: IGK Must-Have Minis – $29.00

Keep your hair fresh with this essential mini set that includes a dry shampoo, a smoothing spray and a volumizing texturizing spray. This set gives volume and shine to your hair and ensures that it looks frizz and grease-free.

Pieces: 3

  • 450 degrees heat protection
  • Sulfate free
  • Some reviewers report that the texture spray is not suitable for fine hair types

Best Face Mask Travel Kit: Peter Thomas Roth Hello, Mask Besties! 5 Piece Mask Set – $19.00

A long flight is a good time to give your skin some extra attention. Do that with this mask set that contains various ingredients. You can choose from an acne mask, a cucumber gel mask, a pumpkin enzyme mask, a 24K gold mask, and a water infused mask, depending on your skin’s needs.

Pieces: 5

  • Suitable for all skin types
  • May contain ingredients not considered clean

What to look for in a travel beauty set

A travel beauty kit should include a variety of products to help you get one or more tasks done in your regimen. There are a number of qualities to look for when shopping, including the quantity of products, compact size and versatility of products. Here you can read what you should take into account:

Multiple products

When shopping for a travel beauty kit, look for one that has multiple products that can add to your routine, whether that’s a full body care kit that includes a body cleanser, moisturizer or butter, or a three-piece facial kit that might have a highlighter, contour and blush. These multi-step routines will make you feel like you’re not skipping any part of your regimen, no matter where you are in the world.

The size

Size matters a lot when traveling (we see you, TSA!), especially when it comes to beauty products that are often gels, creams, or liquids. Look for sets with TSA-friendly products under 3.4 fl oz to ensure a smooth trip through security. Bonus: They take up much less space in your carry-on or suitcase.

The versatility

Great travel beauty kits have a variety of different types of products: we’re talking blushes, lip gloss, dry shampoo, and texturizing spray. Look for travel kits that contain more than one type of product to cover all the bases of your routine, whether you need a makeup refresh with a bit of blush and shine, or a frizz-fighting hair regimen, with a shampoo and leave-in in treatment.

Our editorial team independently selects these products. If you make a purchase through our links, Well+Good may earn a commission.