Dreaming of your next getaway but dreading the Tetris-esque challenge of stashing all of your necessities into a TSA-approved carry-on? No worries — we’ve got your covered!
Whether you’re gearing up for your spring break beach vacay, cramming in a late-season ski trip or jetting off for work, the last thing you want to worry about is if all the stuff you need to look and feel your best will fit in your luggage. Luckily, there’s lots of clever beauty and hair tools to help you maximize your suitcase space, and essential travel-size toiletry sets from your favorite beauty brands so you never have to sacrifice good hair days and flawless skin for your love of travel.
Below, we’ve rounded up some of the most clever, budget-friendly beauty tools and mini-sized must-haves to make packing for your next getaway as effortless as possible.
Best Travel Hair Tools
BondiBoost Mini Interchangeable 2-in-1 Hair Straightener Brush and Curling Iron
If you want to maximize your hairstyling options while minimizing your luggage overload, this compact styler is a must. It has two interchangeable attachments: a hot brush for smooth, bouncy blowouts and a curling iron for creating curls and waves. The set also includes a heat mat and travel case so you can just grab and go.
Price: $69 at Sephora
Laifen MINI Hair Dryer
We can all agree that hotel hair dryers are… not the best. But packing your own from home would take up half of your carry-on! Fortunately, this small-but-mighty ionic hair dryer is just 3 inches wide, less than 9 inches long and super lightweight at just 10.5 ounces. Its ceramic tech can dry hair super fast with low noise output, and deliver silky smooth looks and frizz control in a flash. It also includes a magnetic nozzle for more concentrated heat application, if you prefer.
Price: $109.99 at Amazon
BaBylissPRO Mini Straightening Iron with Travel Pouch
If you tend toward straight styles, or only need to do some quick touch ups and frizz taming, this compact straightening iron is a great pick. Its 1/2-inch-wide nano titanium plates are only about as long as a finger, but they provide even heat distribution and precise control for a sleek and shiny finish from root to tip.
Price: $44.99 at Ulta
Get On Your OUAI Minis Kit
Whether you use OUAI everyday or you’re looking to pamper your hair on your next getaway, these luxe minis are the perfect size for travel. The detox shampoo removes buildup and smoothes frizz while the leave-in conditioner provides weightless hydration. Finish off with the hair oil to protect your tresses from heat and humidity, and you’ll be looking perfectly styled wherever you go.
Price: $35 at Sephora
Best Travel Skincare
Summer Fridays The Jet Lag Essentials Hydration Set
The air at high altitudes is super dry — sometimes as low as 10% humidity — so our skin needs a little extra help after flying. This travel-sized set from Summer Fridays has you covered with eye patches, a hydrating mist, deep-hydration serum and a tube of Jet Lag Mask to properly nourish and rejuvenate dry, stressed skin.
Price: $34 at Sephora
Supergoop! Round-Trip Ready SPF Travel Kit
Whether you’re headed on a beach vacation or a ski trip, SPF is essential for the health of your skin. Fortunately, Supergoop! offers this collection of travel-sized favorites that’ll have you covered from head to toe. It includes Unseen Sunscreen that doubles as a primer for makeup; sweat-resistant PLAY Everyday SPF 50 in both lotion and body mist; and SPF 30 PLAY Lip Shield to prevent a scorched kisser.
Price: $40 at Ulta
Patchology On The Fly Travel Facial Kit
Pamper yourself post-flight with this cute little kit from Patchology. It includes two sheet masks, hydrating lip gel, restorative retinol eye gels and rejuvenating under-eye patches to combat a jet-lagged look.
Price: $22 at Ulta
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Jet Set
Whether you’re headed to the beach or just want to feel like you are, this travel-friendly set of minis from Sol de Janeiro will keep your skin clean and hydrated while on the go. The set includes body wash, Bum Bum Cream and body mist in the cult-favorite Cheirosa ’62 — a scent that’s deliciously gourmand with notes of pistachio, caramel and vanilla.
Price: $34 at Sephora
Best Travel Makeup
NARS Travel-Size Starter Set
Forget all that time spent precariously decanting expensive liquids into TSA-friendly bottles and stuffing full-size makeup palettes into your toiletry bag! Sometimes, time is money — and these NARS travel-size minis are worth the price if you’re a frequent traveler looking for a worry-free, grab-and-go kit without compromising quality. You can customize your set with your perfect shades of creamy concealer, bronzing powder, blush and eyeshadow duo. The kit also includes a mini tube of Climax Mascara.
Price: $90.95 (orig. $107) at NARS
NUDESTIX NUDIES Matte All Over Face Blush Color
If you’d prefer to cut down on the number of makeup items you pack, a multi-stick like this one from NUDESTIX is a must. The buildable, creamy blush stick can be used on cheeks, lips and eyelids, and — unlike most other multi-sticks — it includes a high-quality makeup brush on one end for easier blending. Pick from 10 different shades to perfect your look.
Price: $35 at Ulta
Geller To-Go 4-in-1 Travel Makeup Brush
If you’re not leaving home without everything you need for a full face, at least cut down on the chaos of carrying multiple brushes with this clever 4-in-1 solution. Laura Geller’s travel-friendly makeup brush includes four interchangeable brush heads — all-over powder, complexion, blending and precision tapered — to create any and every look while you’re away from home.
Price: $24 (orig. $84) at Laura Geller
Best Travel Beauty Tools
MR.GREEN Grooming Kit
Some personal care kits might have a few more tools than this, but TSA checks are always a crapshoot when it comes to those sharp and pointy objects. That’s why we’re loving this simplified kit with the three beauty tools you’re most likely to reach for: a nail clipper, tweezers and a glass nail file. These are high-quality and made with surgical-grade stainless steel, and they all stash neatly in a sleek and sturdy case.
Price: $21.99 at Amazon
Lighted Travel Mirror with Cover
Anyone who has tried to do their makeup in a hotel room knows that bringing your own tabletop mirror is a must. This slim and clever travel mirror lights up with just a touch and offers three LED temperatures so you can check your look in every light. Its snap-close cover keeps it safe in your bag, and it swings open to stand on its own at any viewing angle you want. Plus, it charges via USB so you don’t need to worry about packing batteries or anything like that.
Price: $20 at Target
Kitsch Mini Spa Rollers
These mini spa rollers are smaller than a dollar bill, but they’re indispensable tools for any traveler. The grooved silicone roller promotes healthy blood circulation and is ideal for relieving stress and headaches after a long day of travel. And if you pop the smooth stainless steel roller into your hotel mini fridge, it’s perfect for soothing jet-lagged, puffy eyes — or a mild sunburn on your next beach vacation.
Price: $16 at Target
Related: Mark your calendar! From March 5-9 we are hosting our annual Spring Savecation event. We’re bringing RetailMeNot exclusive deals up to 70% off and massive cash back on hotels, flights, and travel must-haves.
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