We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
Editor's note: All products mentioned are within the 3.2 fl. oz. maximum as approved by TSA for carry-on luggage. Please ensure at checkout you are selecting the correct sized product mentioned.
1. Farmacy Honeymoon Glow soothes skin with flower acids and honey for plumper skin. It also helps minimize pores for better makeup application and who doesn't want that?!
2. Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask provides a solution for dull and dry skin with vitamins, ceramides, and antioxidants. With a creamy consistency, this mask gives a deeply hydrating experience.
3. Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch minimizes the look of pimples by *satisfyingly* sucking all the gunk out of your breakouts (even under-the-skin zits) overnight. Pop these on before bed and wake up to breakouts being raised to the surface or eliminated entirely. You'll want to keep these handy for pesky SPF breakouts.
Promising review: "If you have issues with acne (especially those nasty whiteheads) but can't afford all the fancy step-by-step treatments out there, you at least need to buy these. This truly worked at minimizing my pimples, sucking up the wound, and keeping big pimples from getting worse. It really does draw up the pus to the patch! I leave one on overnight and just slowly peel off and then wipe away any remaining pus. I even let my mom who was visiting try it on her pimple and she loved them, so I had to order more!" —Megan Meehan
Get a pack of 36 from Amazon for $12.99.
4. Tower 28 Daily Rescue Facial Spray soothes dry skin and is perfect to keep handy in your bag every day. It's great post-beach refresher for sensitive skin and doesn't contain alcohol, oil, or fragrance.
Tower 28 is woman-owned small business based in Los Angeles. The founder, Amy, started the brand after after working 15+ years in the beauty industry. The company works to create nontoxic, vegan, cruelty-free beauty products that are perfect for any skin type.
Promising review: "I started to experience hormonal cystic acne at a time where I had to wear a mask for 40 hours a week. I stopped wearing makeup to work, took certain foods out of my diet, and I tried so many skincare products to help bring my acne to a stop and nothing worked. It was really messing with my self-esteem to the point where I stopped putting makeup on and lost my passion for a moment. It wasn’t until I added this spray to my skincare routine that I found some relief. This is one of the two products that truly helped me. I see a major difference." —bwilliams18
Get the mini size from Sephora for $12.
5. Paula's Choice Liquid Exfoliant buffs away dead skin cells, helps kick blemish buildup to the curb with salicylic acid, and soothes sensitive skin with green tea.
Promising review: "I have every skin issue you can think of — rosacea, acne (hormonal, cystic, whiteheads, blackheads), dehydration, excessive oiliness, redness, all of it. I’ve spent probably thousands on a multitude of different products, trying to find one that would at least make a dent. I’ve had many procedures, many trips to the dermatologist. Nothing I’ve ever used, nothing I’ve ever done, has made such a profound difference in the appearance of my skin. Having rosacea, my face often felt hot, bumpy, and burned. While my complexion is naturally fair and pink, this has seriously covered all my bases in a gentle and effective way. I’ve been trying to turn my skin around for YEARS!! This was the product that did it. If I could give it 100 stars i would. It has seriously changed my life!!!" —hc
Get the 1 fl. oz. size from Amazon for $11.
6. Saie Glowy Super Gel gives a glow from within look you'll want to add to your cheekbones, nose bridge, and décolletage. Basically anywhere you want to look like a sun goddess you should dab some on.
Saie is a woman-founded small business based in NYC that strives to create clean beauty for all. High-performance products with sustainable packaging and good, clean ingredients is their motto.
Promising review: "Staple product in my makeup routine from now on. Adds such a beautiful glow and is very lightweight!" —Destini88
Get the mini size from Sephora for $15.
7. Bio-Oil assists in fading scars, such as stretch marks and acne scars, as well as heals cracked and dry skin that needs some TLC. The best part? It won't clog your pores.
Promising review: "I noticed my skin started to get dry and tight after I took a shower, especially in the wintertime. I used to use expensive creams like Clinique, but it didn't seem like it was enough. I saw this at Costco at a very reasonable price compared to what I was paying at Macy's, so I thought I'd try it out. Just a couple of drops and my face immediately felt soft and supple! This lasted throughout the day and two little drops covered my face and neck area. Gradually after a few months, friends and acquaintances would comment how pretty my skin was (I'm in my late 40s and Native American). If you use more than two or three drops on your face and neck, you're using too much. One bottle lasted me six months or more. Costco no longer carries this and after making do with Aveeno facial moisturizer, it is no substitute to what Bio-Oil does for me." —Lynn La Pointe
Get the 2.03 fl. oz. bottle from Amazon for $8.92.
8. Skylar Perfume comes in an easy to use rollerball so you can smell fab no matter where your travels take you. It comes in a slew of scents so you're sure to find one you love. They're also hypoallergenic and great if you have sensitive skin.
This rollerball comes in the following scents: Capri Summer, Fall Cashmere, Isle Escape, Magic Bloom, Pink Canyon, Salt Air, Sun Shower, Vanilla Sky, and Willow Woods.
Promising review: "This is one of my favorite scents, it smells amazing and I always get compliments. I give 5 stars for sure!!!!!" —Tiffany Christian
Get the rollerball from Amazon for $29.
9. Gillette Venus Mini Razor takes up little to no space with its teeny tiny shape. The best part about this razor is the compact carrying case it comes with. Isn't it sooooo cute!?
Promising review: "I love mini things and that's what initially attracted me to this razor. I figured it would be great for traveling too. It's adorable but not impractical at all. I use it as my regular shower razor. The short handle is actually more stable for shaving because you hold it closer to the blades, which makes it easier to control. The wide handle also feels more secure. The blades cut really well and the moisture ribbon around the blade is great for lubricating the area being shaved. All around perfect little razor!" —Lea H
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
10. Individually wrapped Neutrogena Makeup Remover wipes make packing effortless. Instead of bringing a clunky pack of wipes, these small, individually wrapped ones are great for tossing in your bag for on-the-go.
Promising review: "Wow. Am I glad I tried these! I have tried many types of makeup removers — many major brands, expensive department store brands, creams, wipes, etc. It seems everything leaves something behind. Plus you still need to rinse your face, and most leave my face feeling dry. Well, not this product! First, the convenience — each individual wipe is wrapped in its own little packet. So easy for travel — tiny! — but they unfold into a nice size wipe. Plus, being individually wrapped, no opening a package and finding all the rest of your wipes dried out." —Laura Gregory
Get 20 from Amazon for $5.82.
11. Or Micellar Cleansing Water gently removes makeup (even waterproof makeup) from the skin with its soothing formula. Instead of scrubbing the heck out of your eyes, soak a cotton pad with this and effectively remove your mascara with ease.
Promising review: "I’ve never used a micellar water before this so I don’t know how it compares to other ones, but I think it’s amazing! It feels like oil-water, if that makes sense. Like thinner than oil but oilier than water. It also doesn’t really smell like anything. I bought this and reusable makeup wipes to be more eco-friendly and better on my face. Single use, liquid-infused makeup wipes rub roughly on your skin, and add to the plastic and toxins we dump into the environment. Now that I’ve switched over though, I don’t know why it took me so long to because it feels so much better! For reference I have combination skin with acne. This does not break me out, and it doesn’t make my face feel dry or irritated at all like single-use makeup wipes sometimes did." —Erinz
Get the 3.4 fl. oz. bottle from Amazon for $3.44.
12. Mini Wet Brushes detangle hair with each brush stroke just as well as the full-size version, and their itty bitty size mean they don't take up a lot of space. These are the only brushes I use on my wet or dry wavy hair that don't tug or cause hair loss.
Promising review: "WOW, I had no idea there could be this big of a difference with hair brushes! I am used to my hair getting pulled out by my hair brush, especially just after a shower. Even if I am gentle, my other old brushes would break off a lot of hair. The Wet Brush is AMAZING; it pulls and breaks almost NO HAIR, even when my hair is wet! I honestly didn't think the Wet Brush could live up to the hype, but it totally does. I purchased several more in both sizes to replace all of my old hair brushes. Excellent purchase, very happy!" —Kelly
Get one from Amazon for $5.77+ (available in various colors/patterns and also variety packs).
13. Stila Glitter Liquid Eyeshadow dries down to a sparkly eye look that'll look like it took you hours to achieve. Headed out for a fancy dinner? Pop a little of this on for some shimmer and shine.
Promising review: "This is the best product I have used in years — the glitter stays put. It doesn’t leave tacky residue on your eyelids. You can easily control how much or how little product you want to use." —Christine G
Get it from Amazon for $24 (available in 11 colors).
14. Essence mascara lifts and volumizes lashes for a more wide-awake look. With this mascara as your secret beauty weapon, you won't need faux lashes in your travel bag.
Promising review: "My sister suggested Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect and I IMMEDIATELY fell in love. It provides dramatic length and great volume. I can honestly say I can’t stop looking at my eyelashes in the mirror every single day because of how awesome they look. Also, it is very long wearing. I go from an eight-hour workday right to the gym and sweat a lot, and this stuff doesn’t budge! I love it!!" —Carrie E Weikert
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
15. Fenty Lil' Bronze Duo brightens the skin's complexion with a sun-kissed glow that'll have you prepped and ready for a tropical getaway.
The kit comes with a mini Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer and a mini Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick.
Promising review: "This combo is so brilliant! Can’t believe I got it on sale! I already loved the Fenty bronzer because I received it as a free deluxe sample with purchase on Sephora a while back, but I had never tried the Matchstix and I must say I absolutely adore the Matchstix that comes in this set so much! So pigmented, so easy to apply and blend! This set makes a totally beautiful bronzed look, but totally natural looking." —kalikiepua
Get it from Sephora for $17 (originally $24; available in two shades).
16. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray volumizes hair like no other. Go from flat tresses to incredibly blown out hair with tons of body ody ody. Just a few spritzes and a bit of tousle with your fingers — and your hair will look lush and full!
Promising review: Hands down the BEST product I have ever purchased. IN. MY. LIFE! I have super thin, fine hair and have always searched for something to make my hair look semi-normal...this is it! I recently cut my hair in a medium bob with beachy waves (that style that only looks good if you have thick, beautiful hair). After curling, I spray a generous amount all through my hair and brush it out. My hair looks like it has tripled in volume, and it lasts all day long. It's not super touchable soft, but definitely better than hairspray." —JayKHN
Get the 2.2 oz. size from Amazon for $24.
17. Peripera Ink Lip Tint lasts all day with its no bleed, smudge-proof, matte finish.
18. L'Oreal Voluminous Primer Mascara goes on white and adds additional fibers to lengthen and thicken lashes. If you couldn't make it to your lash extension specialist before your trip, have no fear, the thickest lashes of your life are here.
Over the years I've noticed my lashes falling out and they're not as voluminous and long as they once were (*cries*). This mascara primer has changed all of that. I use it in tandem with the Thrive Causemetics mascara for a dynamic duo that hasn't failed me yet. The primer base adds a noticeable amount of fibers to thicken my thin lashes, which gives me a full lash look.
Get it from Amazon for $6.74.
19. Youthforia BYO Blush graces cheeks with a sweet flush with a minimal amount of product. *Time to get that glow from within.* PLUS (!!!) it works with your skin's pH balance to create your perfect shade so if your skintone deepens while you're away on vacay, you'll still have a shade that matches.
Youthforia is an AAPI-, woman-owned beauty brand whose mission is to create products using renewable ingredients and less fossil fuels.
Promising review: "This blush product is awesome. For me it only takes two very small dabs on both cheeks for desired result. I also dab on my lips for a great under-color base! I hope they never stop making this product!" —Elise F
Get it from Amazon for $36.
20. Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips remove dirt and oil from clogged pores — yucky post-airplane skin we're looking at you. The satisfaction of peeling this off is incredible.
Promising review: "These deep-cleansing pore strips are amazing! I warm up my face with hot water and leave areas for application wet, then apply the strips! I have acne-prone skin and this really removes all the blackheads!! I also take a face strip and cut it in half for chin and forehead." —kat12
Get a pack of 14 from Amazon for $7.62.
21. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer supplies the illusion that you've gotten your beauty rest even if you just hopped off an incredibly long plane ride and look like the grim reaper.
Promising review: "Best coverage for under-eye bags and dark circles! I have used a lot of expensive eye products in the past and this has them all beat. I have light to medium olive complexion and was perplexed as to what color to choose. I went with the Brightener and it was a perfect match. My daughter is darker olive and it also looks good on her. Looks and feels great and can't beat the price." —Ana R.
Check out our in-depth Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer review for more deets.
Get it from Amazon for $7.98 (available in 16 shades).
22. The Crayon Case Notepad Eyeshadow Palette ~schools~ the eyeshadow game with creamy, pigmented shades you'll enjoy buffing and blending for some seriously showstopping looks. This small easy-to-pack palette comes in several colorways so you can pick your fave and utilize it your entire trip.
The Crayon Case is a Black woman-owned business that sells beauty products that look like stationery.
Promising review: "Very nice! I used it for the color under my eyes in the pic. Very potent and colorful. I got the red collection. Great buy compared to a $32 eyeshadow palette by Huda in Ruby Obsession. You get the same colors for a fraction of the cost." —P. Armstrong
Get it from Amazon for $12.50 (available in eight colors).
23. CND SolarOil conditions cuticles with almond oil and vitamin E so you can say goodbye to dry skin (this can come as a result of too much sun exposure). This also helps strengthen nails especially if you've recently taken off a gel manicure that may or may not have weakened your nails a bit.
Promising review: "I had peeling, weak nails for years. Tried everything. A friend recommended a nail strengthener they saw on QVC. It was quite pricey and I wanted to make sure it was worth it so I read the reviews. One of the comments said just buy SolarOil. Since it was much more affordable than the QVC stuff, I tried it. I bought it in February. This size bottle lasted a bit more than a month religiously applying it two to three times a day. I was really seeing great improvement so I bought another bottle in late March. By May, all the peeling had grown out and my nails were getting stronger every day. I then bought the big 4-oz refill bottle because I never want to run out of it again! Cannot recommend this stuff enough!" —Diana
Get it from Amazon for $8.50.
24. Freck Mini supplies realistic looking freckles so you can look like you've been soaking up major rays (even if you're currently traveling to somewhere v cold).
Freck is a woman-owned beauty brand that offers clean skincare and innovative makeup products that are vegan, and cruelty-free. They're based in LA, California.
Promising review: "So cute! If you don’t have freckles and want to try out the freckle look, this is the one! It stays on all day and is so so natural looking. I got so many people asking me I “grew freckles” haha! Will def buy again. Also lasts very long." —satyamem
Get the mini size from Sephora for $22.
25. R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo extends the time between hair washes so you don't have to worry about drying out your tresses. A few spritzes of this will soak up excess oil and add volume to your roots.
Their formulas are color-safe, heat and UV protective, vegan-, cruelty- and gluten-, paraben-, sulfate-, mineral oil-, and petrolatum-free.
Promising review: "This is the yummiest-smelling dry shampoo that ever existed — makes me feel like I am on a beach vacation. It provides volume and texture too. I have really dark hair, so I can't go overboard without getting a bit of residue, but that is the case with any dry shampoo I have tried." —Beth
Get the 1 oz. size from Amazon for $7.
26. Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser gently cleans skin with or without makeup. I personally love using this to remove my makeup and it's tear-free and is great for sensitive skin. (This will come in clutch if you happen to get sunburnt while away but still need to wash your face)!
Glossier recommends: "To start your day—massage 1–2 pumps onto wet skin (keep it in the shower!) and rinse. To remove makeup*—on dry skin, gently and thoroughly massage 2–3 pumps directly onto eye area to melt away mascara; add water, massage over the rest of your face, and rinse."
This is my absolute holy grail face cleanser. I have never gotten any breakouts from this cleanser, and I love that it is fragrance-free. I have rosacea-prone and combination skin and this stuff works wonders for me. It removes my makeup effortlessly and I love doing two cleanses with it for an extra clean!
Get the mini size from Glossier for $9.
Now that your beauty essentials are all packed it's time to tackle that itinerary...
