Editors’ picks: 27 of our favorite travel beauty products we take on every trip (2024)

Content is created by CNN Underscored’s team of editors who work independently from the CNN newsroom. When you buy through links on our site, CNN and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Learn more

When it comes to summer travel, our team of editors is always up for an adventure. Regardless of whether we’re packing for an upstate getaway or a trip abroad, there are some tried-and-true beauty products we never leave home without. These products are easy to throw into our bags or suitcases so they don’t weigh us down while traveling. Bonus points if they’re sustainable, of course.

Finding the right travel essentials for your needs can be elusive if you’re not in the know. That’s why we asked our editors to brave the wilderness of their makeup cabinets, pouches and memories to share their go-to toiletry cases, perfumes, sunscreens, refillable beauty products and more for the benefit of our readers on the go. Thanks to these insider favorites, you’ll no longer have to fear the effect of planes, trains or automobiles on your complexion.

Wherever the road may take you next, keep reading to find out the 27 products we’ve tested and recommended for your travel beauty routine.

Makeup

When I’m traveling, it’s hard to find a lippie that will not only last all day but keeps my lips hydrated too. I recently started using Kiko Milano’s Double Touch lippie, and I haven’t left the house without it since. It has one side with a liquid lip (goodbye smudging!) and gloss on the other. It doesn't dry out your lips, but still has color that lasts up to 16 hours. It definitely deserves a spot in your makeup bag.— Gabriella Triolo, social coordinator

Anyone who knows me knows I cannot stop talking about my love of Jones Road Beauty Miracle Balm. The brand, founded and helmed by Bobbi Brown as a second act to her eponymous cosmetics line, is a favorite for those of us who favor the more subtle “no-makeup makeup” look, and the newest color in the Miracle Balm collection is my new go-to warm weather shade. Dubbed Pinched Cheeks, I dab this plum-colored shade on my cheeks, and t-zone to give myself a glowy, sun-kissed look — and I plan on throwing it in my crowded make-up bag for my summer trip to Europe as well. A mash-up of moisturizer and sheer makeup, this is one multi-use product I refuse to leave home without. —Tobey Grumet Segal, reviews editor

When I first got a look at this soft matte lipstick, I was taken with the gorgeous cobalt blue packaging and intricate embossing on the lipstick itself — with an amazingly vivid bust of Nefertiti amid hieroglyphics and pyramids. But then I swiped it on and was equally amazed at how buttery smooth it felt.The terracotta Seba shade will be one I stick with on all my summer travels, and I get to show it off as I go.Plus, it’s clean and non-toxic. —Tobey Grumet Segal, reviews editor

Eyeshadow palettes can be cumbersome to travel with, so instead I toss a couple of these more compact eyeshadow sticks in my bag. I love how smoothly they go on, and they come in an array of pretty neutrals. Bonus: They’re dual sided, so it’s like you’re getting two shadows in one. — Chelsea Stone, editorial director

From sunscreen sticks to contour wands, I try to keep my travel beauty routine as compact and spill-proof as possible. I’ve been a fan of these Pat McGrath blush sticks since they launched last year and they’ve been so popular that they already expanded the shade range. The stick is the ideal consistency that is smooth and balmy, rather than a chalky pigment. My current favorite shade is Divine Rose Glow. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor

Skin care

One thing that is always in my bag when I travel is some form of Aquaphor. It’s truly a godsend for any skin issue that might arise during your trip. Got a little sunburn? Hands or face feeling dry? Trying to heal a breakout? Need some lip balm? Found a small cut? Or want to prevent blisters or chafing? Aquaphor is your answer.— Jillian Tracy, associate editor

$13 at Amazon

No matter the weather, I inevitably break out every time I travel. Pimple patches always come to my rescue when I’m on the go; especially when I don’t want to pack all of my lotions and potions. I love these ones from the cruelty-free brand Pacifica that are made with hydrocolloid, salicylic acid and tea tree oil to fully attack and kill any spots, all while sleeping. I'll wear them out and about too, since they come in adorable rainbow heart shapes.— Carolina Gazal, associate testing writer

$7 at Target

I’m all for doing some skin care on a long-haul flight, which is why I pretty much exclusively keep these hydrogel eye masks in my favorite travel backpack, so they’re already there and I don’t even have to remember to pack them. They feel cool and soothing and help me relax on the plane. These ones are luxe and pricey, but they work. Infused with seaweed extract and peptides, the masks help me look fresh and bright upon landing. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor

I oil cleanse every day at home as part of my double-cleanse routine, but when I travel, I find it hard to securely store my cleansing oil, so it doesn't leak all over my cosmetics bag. That’s why I opt for this mini jar of the Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm. A little goes a long way with this balm — I've already taken it on several weekend or longer trips, and it always helps me melt the day away and get my skin prepped for bed.— Jillian Tracy, associate editor

I’m prone to breakouts while traveling or right after I return because of the change in climate, water and diet. To keep my skin balanced, I bring this hypochlorous acid spray with me. The ingredient is known to ward off breakouts by getting rid of bacteria, calm the skin and can even be used on other ailments like cuts, scrapes, sunburns and rashes. I’ve tried another popular hypochlorous acid spray, but this one is better value — you get twice the product for only $4 more. And while I wish they sold the travel size separately, I don’t mind paying a little bit extra for the Ulimate Bundle, which comes with the full size bottle plus two travel sizes. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor

I use Garnier’s affordable micellar water every day at home, but I’m willing to splurge a bit more when I’m on vacation, so I always travel with Bioderma’s mini micellar water. I use it as a makeup remover at night and a facial cleanser in the morning, so it takes the place of two separate products (and saves space in my toiletry bag). — Amina Lake Abdelrahman, home and gifts editor

$13 at Target

I go through a rotation of lip balms, keeping at least two in every bag I own. When I’m traveling, that means my carry-on, purse and my toiletry bag. I’ve tried all of the viral ones like Summer Fridays and Rhode, but lately I’ve been reaching for this drugstore pick. The Mango Kiwi flavor is my current favorite and one of the juicy, limited-edition flavors eos came out with this year. It’s comparable to the Laneige Glowy Lip Balm in look and feel, but half the price which is a major plus. The flavor is also available in the twist lip balm, but I love the glossy look of the squeezable Super Balm. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor

During the summer, I’m spritzing my face all day long with Glow Recipe’s delicious watermelon mist. I use it after I apply my makeup and usually a couple times throughout the day when I feel like I need a moment to freshen up. Watermelon soothes irritation, hyaluronic acid hydrates thirsty skin and hibiscus flower AHA gently smooths.— Tamara Kraus, senior lifestyle editor

Again, with the beauty sticks — this time for color correctors. I use the shade Guava to cancel out the blue/tones of my dark under-eye circles and it works like a charm every time. The super blendable formula pretty much looks like I’m not even wearing makeup, and on good days, I don’t even have to follow up with under-eye concealer. It’s become a staple in my makeup routine, whether I’m traveling or not. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor

Body care

I know you’ve probably already packed your face SPF or your body spray, but what about your scalp? For the longest time, my scalp would get really oily and flaky in the warmer weather and I couldn’t figure out why. Then I came across scalp sunscreen, and my scalp health has NEVER been better! I use this every time I go away and it’s also super easy to travel with because of the size. Your scalp will thank me later.— Gabriella Triolo, social coordinator

Going on vacation in the summer usually means you are going somewhere with a beach involved. The absolute worst part of going to the beach is shaving for bikini weather — if you know, you know. Having a reliable exfoliant helps keep those nasty shaving bumps away! I recently brought the Beia Bikini & Body Scrub on my trip to Hawaii and it was a lifesaver. It made shaving so much easier and made me feel 100% bikini ready. It’s also vegan, cruelty-free and fragrance-free.— Gabriella Triolo, social coordinator

It’s summertime, and nothing screams (or smells) more like a hot summer beach day than this deodorant. I just returned from a trip to Europe, and this deodorant withstood every function I attended, from sightseeing in the daytime to a music festival at night, with no bad odors whatsoever. Bonus: At just 2 ounces, it’s TSA-friendly so you can keep it on you for a quick refresh when you need it.— Kevin Martinez, programming editor

Having smooth and vacation-ready skin is a must for any trip. I feel like many people remember to bring their face serums and creams but tend to neglect the rest of their body. That’s where body oil comes in. It’s perfect for keeping the rest of your skin nourished and smooth when traveling to a different climate. This brand is also vegan and uses natural ingredients, making it feel light on your skin while still nourishing it. It’s become my go-to for every vacay and will be for yours too! — Gabriella Triolo, social coordinator

I try to wash my hair as little as possible while on vacation, but when I do, I always use this mini brush to detangle my curly hair. It’s so gentle on my hair while still effective at getting rid of knots and working styling products through my strands (the same goes for the full-size brush, which I use at home). Plus, it fits into my toiletry bag along with all of my beauty products. — Amina Lake Abdelrahman, home and gifts editor

Fragrance

I know what you’re thinking: $20 cologne from Amazon? But this is my daily-wear cologne, and it falls just under the TSA-approved liquid limit.— Daniel Rathburn, programming editor

I’m a big perfume person and believe in different scents for different occasions, and having a lighter option for warmer weather is absolute must. When I’m traveling, I like to bring scents that aren’t too overpowering, yet give me a clean smell. DIME’S Running Late Perfume is everything you’ll need and more. It’s a fun floral scent and is like vacation in a bottle. The brand is clean, EWG partnered and cruelty-free, making it the perfect guilt-free perfume. — Gabriella Triolo, social coordinator

I’ve long been a fan of Glossier’s cult-favorite perfume, so when they made it available in a travel-size, I had to get my hands on it immediately. While it looks like they unfortunately don’t carry the rollerball version I own, they have a spritz version and solid perfume that do the same job. If you want compliments on how you smell everywhere you go, add this to your travel bag, stat. — Tamara Kraus, senior lifestyle editor

Toiletry cases and containers

My main issue with most toiletry bags is that I can never remember which products I put in each pocket. That’s not an issue with this completely clear case from Calpak. Even this small one from Calpak boasts plenty of room in its two compartments for all your bathroom stuff — it even fits many full-size products well! Plus, it's made from water-resistant PVC, so if a spill does happen, it’s easy to clean up. — Chelsea Stone, senior editor

I’ve already written about all the reasons why I love this toiletry bag, but I’ll remind you of the main one: it fits my whole beauty routine, with full-size products. Since it's fairly large, but that doesn’t stop me from bringing it on weekend trips too. It’s best for someone that doesn’t want to compromise on minimizing their skin care and makeup while traveling. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor

$23 at Amazon

Long travel days don’t always leave me feeling my freshest, which is why I love keeping these 8 milliliter perfume bottles easily in reach. They’re easy to fill with my favorite scents from home and are perfect for stowing in your carry-on baggage. A full bottle of one of these normally lasts me about a week, and I like that this three pack allows me to bring a few of my favorite scents along for the ride if I want (a girl likes to have options!). The hard plastic exterior also ensures that the interior glass bottles don’t get accidentally smashed or spilled in transit.— Jillian Tracy, associate editor

For trips where I do need to save space when packing, these Cadence capsules are so handy. Their smart, modular design allows you to fill them up with your essential toiletries and then label them with magnetic tiles that are interchangeable. When you order them, you get to select the labels for your set of six, and you can even customize them if desired. I’ve never had any leaks or spills with these babies and they feel super durable too. Because each capsule only holds a little over half an ounce, they’re best for short trips. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor

I’ve tried a lot of toiletry cases, but this one made with recycled water bottles is my new favorite. It’s the perfect size, and I love that everything is made to stack upright so you can easily see what’s inside. Not to mention, it has the most compartments and pockets I’ve ever seen (six adjustable ones, to be exact!). It also doubles as a great gym shower bag! — Tamara Kraus, senior lifestyle editor

Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com