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.
1. Alba Botanica Acnedote Pimple Patches stop you from being your own worst enemy and picking at breakouts, worsening the healing process, and causing scars!! All you have to do is pop one on and let it ~do its thing~ over a few hours (or overnight). Deflate, zit, DEFLATE!
2. E.L.F. Makeup Remover Pen makes mistakes disappear with a few flicks of the wrist (and with great precision) so gone are the days you have to sacrifice and restart a completely made-up eye for one little misshapen eyeliner or mascara smudge sitch!
3. NYX Epic Ink Liner is the one product you need when you want to amp up your lewk from "I've been sitting at my desk all day" to "I'm ready to down one or three happy hour cocktails."
4. EcoTools Travel Perfecting Makeup Blender comes with its own lil' case to keep the sponge clean and away from the germs and mess that constitutes the rest of your bag — so you can touch up your concealer or foundation when you're out and about without digging through your crumb-filled bag for brushes.
5. Invisibobbles are telephone cord–like hair ties that keep your hair up and out of your way **without** hurting, denting, squeezing, or tugging at your strands once they're in place or taken out — I personally swear by these and I think everyone should own 'em!!!
6. A petite La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water Mist easily fits inside most bags and refreshes your skin whenever it's feeling a little dull, tired, irritated, or overheated — and you have micro-droplets formulated with selenium — which is a powerful natural antioxidant — to thank for your midday doses of soothing hydration.
7. A few mini Neutrogena Cleansing Towelettes fix up runny makeup, refresh your face after a gym sesh, or help switch up your eye makeup in no time flat — and because they're individually packaged, there's no chance of them drying out like they might if you keep opening up a regular multipack.
8. And, for the whole body, Busy Beauty Showerless Body Wipes have you covered in a pinch when you don't have enough time in between a flight or intense gym session and your next event — they're formulated with tea tree to cleanse and prevent breakouts and lavender oil to soothe skin, so you'll be feelin' fresh in a matter of seconds!
9. The double-sided Maybelline Total Temptation Eyebrow Definer Pencil fills in your brows so naturally that newbies and pros alike love it, and most importantly the color and definition ~lasts~ all day once it's applied. It's quick to use too, so you can fill your brows wherever you happen to be (even on the subway ride to work!).
10. A travel-sized tube of Crystal Mineral Deodorant Stick banishes odor without a hint of harmful or harsh chemicals (it's cruelty-free, vegan, and aluminum-free!) — you probably won't have to reapply, but it feels nice to have juuust in case.
11. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils amp up your daytime look for nighttime glam in a flash — apply a few swipes onto your entire lids, line your lash lines, or just pop 'em into your inner corners for an instant eye-opening effect.
12. A volumizing CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara instantly wakes up your peepers for the full, defined lashes you wish you had naturally — even if you wear nothing else, this alone makes you look more ~alive~ (speaking from personal experience).
13. Handy-dandy tubes of BodyGlide anti-blister balm and anti-chafe balm minimize irritation and pain at all costs, especially when you're out for the whole day! No skin rubbing or blisters shall dare ruin your fun.
14. If you have five minutes to spare, Illuminating Eye Gels are infused with Vitamin C, green tea, and pearlescent minerals to help diminish the appearance of dark circles — they're also super cooling, so they're also the perfect wake-up call or mini self-care timeout!
15. Cult-favorite Maybelline Rewind Concealer covers up any blemishes that dare pop up unexpectedly, touches up any mishaps after an intensely yummy meal, and makes your not-so-great habits (rubbing, picking at your skin, etc.) seem like they never happened.
16. A travel case of Plackers floss picks swiftly gets rid of annoying food debris that you totally didn't expect to take residence between your teeth — and it leaves your mouth smelling minty fresh, which is always a bonus.
17. Bamboo and charcoal oil-absorbing tissues blot away excess oil on the fly whenever you start lookin' a little shinier than you'd like — they're made with 100% natural linen fibers, so they're super gentle!
18. Or Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder seriously controls excess oil/shine and minimizes the appearance of large pores with just a few pats and gives off a matte, ~blurring~ effect. Instagram filters, your business isn't needed. Not today, not ever.
19. Maybelline Facestudio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter imparts a gorrrrrgeous gold (or rose gold! or topaz!) highlight with a subtle glitter effect that's densely packed so you don't experience any messy fallout — just jaw-dropping cheekbones at a moment's notice!
20. Tonymoly lip balms are formulated with shea butter, coconut oil, camellia oil, rosehip oil, manuka honey, and other ingredients intended to keep your lips soft and supple all day long.
21. And if you need a touch of color without compromising hydration, a Burt's Bees tinted lip balm adds a little oomph while keeping things relatively low-key — just two swipes, and you're done!
22. And if you still need more color yet, Covergirl Outlast All-Day Lip Color gives you rich, long-lasting, and flattering pigment that doesn't come at the cost of drying out your lips — the other side of the product is a conditioning top coat that you can reapply like a balm throughout the day. *smacks lips*
23. A Pocket Palette is a genius, highly-portable kit with the makeup basics (mascara, BB cream, and blush/lip tint) you need without having to lug around your full-sized products — you'll have more room in your bag for the actual necessities, like your keys, Advil, and books.
24. Cosrx Aloe Soothing Sun Cream wins the award for least annoying sunscreen ever — it's super hydrating and doesn't dry you out, doesn't feel greasy, soothes irritated skin (I see you, aloe! MVP!), all while fortifying your skin with SPF 50! And reapplying is a snap, since it's compact enough for your bag (because sorry, but applying once in the morning isn't enough!).
25. And, lest you forget, your lips need SPF too! Supergoop Mint Condition Lip Shield protects your pout properly with SPF 30, along with coconut, avocado, and grape seed oil for ultimate lip comfort — plus, it's water-resistant for up to 80 minutes!
26. Milk Makeup Tattoo Stamps are pretty much the easiest way to add a teensy bit of ~art~ to your face *and* attract "Wow, did you draw that?" compliments wherever you go. Add on different shapes as you go throughout your day, 'cause why the heck not?
27. A mini bottle of Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo handles oily root emergencies and provides your hair with ample lift, so you can go from a flat-looking mane to va-va-voom in 10 seconds, um, flat!
28. Tarte Pearly Girl Teeth Whitening Pen provides a quick, portable, and painless brightening boost you'll be v thankful for after you've downed your third cup of coffee or red vino (s/o to calcium breaking up dark spots and stains!) — *and* it protects tooth enamel, so you can really make your dentist proud.
29. Tonymoly Peach Hand Cream keeps your hands feeling baby soft (thanks to peach extract and shea butter!) and replenishes moisture levels to prevent lines and visible signs of dryness from appearing.
30. Glossier Cloud Paint creates the perfect, buildable pop of color on your cheeks for a natural flush that's so enviable — ok, and makes you look a little more ~alive~ on those days you're pretty much falling asleep at your desk.
31. A sweet and enticing Ari by Ariana Grande perfume rollerball keeps you smelling like pear, rose, and marshmallow all day long — um, what a winning combo!
Ah yes, the smug feeling of always having everything you need in your bag:
Need more for your skin? Check out Korean skincare products you need to know, drugstore products that actually fight acne, products to help deal with dry skin, or check out all of our beauty content for even more great stuff for your hair, skin, and more.
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