55 | Holiday Travel Beauty Guide: Pack Smart, Stay Glowy (Without Checking a Bag)

Travel season comes fast, and nothing drains the holiday joy like trying to decide which beauty products get to come along. Airport rules, dry airplane air, tiny hotel bathrooms… it’s a whole thing.

Today on the Beauty Lab Podcast, we’re sharing our go-to holiday travel beauty guide, so you can keep your skin happy, your hair smooth, and your makeup simple — all without checking a bag.

 

 

The Carry-On Skincare Setup That Actually Works

Skincare is where we start every time. If our skin stays hydrated and calm, travel feels way easier.

We stick to essentials:

• Gentle cleanser
• Hydrating toner or mist
• Serum
• Moisturizer
• Facial oil
• Lip balm

For skincare + makeup recommendations we personally love, click here.

Travel Kits Make Everything Easier

If a skincare line offers travel sizes or a pre-built kit, grab it.
The sizes are TSA-safe, and you won’t have to break your routine on the road.

Don’t Forget Plane Hydration

The air on planes is dry enough to shock your skin.
To stay glowy, we always have in our carry-on:

• Facial oil
• Lip balm

These two save us every time.

Body Care: Don’t Rely on Hotel Amenities

Hotel bars of soap? No thanks.
We always pack:

• A travel-size body wash
• A hydrating lotion

If we don’t have travel bottles, we refill smaller jars before we leave.

Haircare That Survives Flights, Weather, and Hotel Showers

Hair can get wild after flights, especially when using hotel shampoo. It’s almost never right for your hair type.

For haircare we trust, click here.
For other hair faves + tools we love, click here.

We bring:

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Leave-in conditioner
• Styling cream
• Hair oil
• Hairspray

Our Space-Saving Trick: The "Styling Mix" Jar

We combine a few products into one tiny jar:

• Leave-in conditioner
• Styling cream
• A drop of hair oil

Mix and go.
Test products together in your hand first — if they clump, don’t mix them.

Hairspray Travel Warning

Always travel with a lid… and a Ziploc bag around the bottle.
Trust us.

The Minimal Glam Bag That Still Does Everything

We keep our makeup routine simple when traveling, but still polished.

We bring:

• Cushion foundation or tinted base
• Concealer
• Multi-use sticks
• Mascara
• Liner
• Setting spray
• Small powder

For curated makeup recommendations, email Monina here. 

Why Cushions + Multi-Sticks Are Perfect

They’re spill-proof, compact, and easy for quick touch-ups without a full setup.

Palettes Make Packing Easy

We either bring one neutral palette or build our own using a magnetic palette.
This keeps everything in one place.

Hair Tools + Sleep Helpers That Make Traveling Easier

We keep this list simple too. 

For haircare we trust, check these out.

For other hair faves + tools, go to my Amazon Store.

We bring:

• Curling iron or flat iron
• Round brush
• Humidity-resistant shower cap
• Satin scrunchie
• Bobby pins
• One alligator clip

Satin = Better Hair + Better Skin

A satin pillowcase or bonnet:

• Reduces frizz
• Protects styles
• Helps your skin avoid those pillow creases

Dry Shampoo Use

Great once. Don’t use dry shampoo twice before washing your hair.

The One-Suitcase Trick That Saves Everyone Money

If we’re traveling with friends or family, here’s what we do:

• All full-size products go into one shared checked suitcase
• Everyone else uses carry-ons

One fee. Not four.

Wherever you’re heading this holiday season, we hope this beauty guide helps you feel prepared, polished, and glowy the whole way there.

Until next time — keep experimenting with your beauty routine.