Must-Have Travel Beauty Essentials For Your Next Flight: TSA-Approved in 2025
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Are you struggling to pack your carry-on bag with the best travel beauty essentials for your next trip? I’ve got you!
As a flight attendant and avid traveller, I know firsthand the challenges of maintaining a beauty routine while on the go. Whether you’re jetting off for a weekend getaway, packing the right travel beauty essentials is crucial.
As a flight attendant for over 10 years, I’ve tried to pack my share of travel beauty products! Even if we don’t feel like it, we must look our best after a 12-hour flight!
This post focuses mainly on skincare and fantastic makeup products. Less is always more!
In this post, I’ll share my top TSA-approved picks for looking fresh and fabulous on your trip. Everything can fit right into your carry-on!
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What kind of travel beauty essentials to pack
When it comes to travel beauty essentials, it’s all about finding products that are compact, preferably multi-functional, leak-proof and compliant with airline regulations. Those are the best beauty products for travel.
Over the years, I’ve crafted a selection of must-have items that fit perfectly in my carry-on and help me look my best, even after a long flight. From skincare saviours to makeup must-haves, these essentials are designed to keep your skin glowing and your look on point, no matter where you are.
Skincare travel beauty essentials
First up, let’s talk skincare. Flying can be incredibly drying, so a good moisturizer is non-negotiable. I always pack a travel-sized hydrating serum and a rich, nourishing moisturizer.
Don’t forget a quality lip balm to keep your lips from chapping in the dry cabin air. Another essential is a refreshing face mist to keep your skin hydrated and glowing throughout the flight.
makeup travel beauty essentials
Next, let’s move on to makeup. My go-to travel beauty essentials include a light-reflecting concealer, a versatile eyeshadow stick, a cream blush, waterproof eyeliner, and mascara. These products are easy to apply and can transform a fresh-faced daytime look into a more polished evening style.
A multi-purpose cheek and lip tint is also a game-changer, saving space in your bag while adding a pop of colour to your look. I don’t use foundation, but I focus on proper skin care to make my skin look as fresh and glowing as possible!
travel beauty essentials list
Glow Recipe Pink Juice Hydrating Face Moisturizer
This travel-size serum has been a holy grail product for a while now. I picked it up at Sephora with the Glow Recipe Face Toner.
This is the best purchase I’ve made in a long time. I’ve noticed my skin glowing and looking fresh. The combination of these two products is a match made in heaven.
I recommend buying the travel size to try it out first. You’ll be buying the bigger bottle before you know it!
Glow Recipe PHA + BHA Face Toner
This is the best thing I have bought in the last few years, and I will keep re-buying this item! I use it on a clean face.
It leaves my skin looking bright, glowing and fresh. You could easily use this with your favourite face cream and call it a day.
I love this product travel-sized product. You need to try it to see the magic!
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Touch
There are so many great concealers out there. But if there’s one concealer I would recommend, it’s the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Concealer.
This concealer is lightweight and unfused with light-reflecting micro-pigments. It conceals dark circles, blurs imperfections, and evens out skin tone for a flawless finish.
I use it at the end of my flight on the inside of my eyes and the side of my nose. It’s so light that it blends seamlessly with other products.
A little goes a long way, so carefully blend that in with a small concealer brush or your fingers.
KAHI Wrinkle Bounce Multi Balm Facial Moisturizer
The Kahi Multi Balm stick went viral on social media after being introduced in a K-drama! I’ve been using it on the go and in flight whenever my skin dries.
The stick is greasy, but I just dab it into my skin. I use it before going into the crew rest for a nap, so I recommend using it halfway through your flight to lock in some extra moisture! The stick is easy to bring along during your trip!
Mini Refillable Perfume Travel Spray
I rarely bring a full bottle of perfume anymore when I travel (unless it’s for a multiple-week trip). I love these little refillable mini perfume sprays. You can easily fill them with your favourite perfume.
It’s hard to explain how they work, but you put them on your favourite perfume and pump to fill them. This set comes with 4 little 5ml spray bottles. I highly recommend it!
Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic On The Go Pads
I’ve been using Pixi products for many years and keep returning to them! I use the Pixi Glow Tonic daily, but these pre-soaked pads are lifesaving when travelling. No hassle with cotton pads! You’ll be good if you throw this into your back with your travel beauty essentials.
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Jumbo Eye Pencil
If you want to refresh your makeup after landing because you need to look somewhat representable, like flight attendants, These Jumbo Eye Pencils are a long-time favourite! They come in many colours; you can easily throw a few in your travel beauty essentials bag!
Swipe them over a powered eyelid and dab the product into your eyelid! A little goes a long way!
Eight Saints Wonder-fill Plumping Eye Cream
Your under-eye area is the most delicate part! Your skin will feel dry, especially during a flight. This high-rated under-eye cream works wonders.
What I love about this cream is the metal applicator; it feels nice and cold on the skin, especially in the morning when your eyes are still puffy.
18pack Travel Bottles for Toiletries TSA Approved
If you want to bring your own favourite products, use this TSA-approved toiletry bag. It has the perfect number of makeup, skincare, shampoo, and conditioner bottles!
I use this set for the makeup and skincare products I would like to bring that aren’t available travel-sized. Use the large bottles for shampoo and conditioner and the smaller bottles for skincare.
Kitsch Rice Bar Shampoo and Conditioner Bar
Why bring along all those plastic bottles when there are shampoo and conditioner bars like this one from Kitsch? These high-rated bars contain rice water, which is said to have proper nutrients for better and healthier hair!
Easy for travelling, awesome on the environment and definitely worth a try!
Nudestix Nudies Matte Cream Blush Stick 3-in-1
I love Nudestix’s cream blushes! They come in awesome colours, and since they’re in stick packaging, they’re super handy for your trip! My favourite colour is the Sunset Strip, which suits almost everybody.
A little goes a long way, and you can dab the product into your cheeks for a healthy colour and glow. This brand also has bronzer and highlighter sticks!
LANEIGE Lip Glowy Balm
The holy grail of lip sleeping masks has finally released a lip balm! If you’re familiar with the La Neige Lip Sleeping Mask, you’ll know this lip balm is a must-have when travelling!
I love that this lip balm comes in a handy tube to throw in your Make Essentials bag! I recommend getting a few and keeping them in every purse you have!
Everyday Hydrating Essence Korean Sheet Masks
Korean skincare has taken over the beauty world in the last few years! These face masks are perfect for your trip. Use one every other day to keep your skin moisturised and glowing!
They are super affordable and individually wrapped. You could also use them on the flight if that’s your thing!
Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray
We all got the bathroom, but for some reason, it’s still an awkward subject on a flight! Which I can totally understand! So here it is. Bring along this Poo Pourri Before You Go travel-size toilet spray.
And if you want a tip from a flight attendant, spray before you go. If you need to do a number two, flush immediately. Then flush again when you’re done, close the toilet lid, and spray again.
SOL DE JANEIRO Jet Set
I absolutely love Sol De Janeiro’s products. They’re creamy, moisturizing, and smell fantastic! I’m still not over the fact that they discontinued my favourite coconut bum cream.
You’d literally smell like a walking creamy coconut sundae, but this new scent smells just as fantastic! This set includes everything you’ll need on your trip: a shower wash, body scrub, and body moisturizer.
ESTEE LAUDER DAYWEAR MOISTURIZER
If there’s a beauty travel essential I would recommend, it’s the Estee Lauder Daywear. I’ve been using it for almost 10 years. It’s a day cream that enhances your natural skin.
It’s supposed to have a sheer tint, but I can’t honestly tell. It looks like it adapts to your skin tone, making it look like you’re wearing a super light-tinted day cream. I stopped using foundation a few years ago, and this daywear is my holy grail!
If you’re not wearing makeup, this day cream is everything! Honestly, it feels like magic. Use it alone or as a moisturizer—you won’t regret buying this!
L’OCCITANE Shea Butter Hand Cream
Your hands need some extra TLC when flying. They can get super dry if you don’t take care of them! This l’Occitane hand cream is an old-school favourite worldwide for a reason!
It’s creamy and blends right in without leaving your hands feeling sticky.
Dew Well – Refresh Deodorant Wipes
While a regular deodorant stick will do, I love these easy deodorant wipes! They’re easy to take along in your beauty accessories toiletry bag and take up less space.
It just feels a little more refreshing than only re-applying deodorant. Don’t get me wrong. You can bring those small deodorant sticks, which I always do.
But if you’re travelling with check-in luggage, leave the stick in your suitcase and throw these deodorant wipes in your in-flight makeup bag!
Urban Decay All-Nighter Makeup Setting Spray Set
Cream products are great for travelling, but you must always use another product to set it. Use a powder for an oily t-zone, but to keep the glow from all cream products, this industry favourite is fantastic.
Use it as a last step in your makeup/ skincare routine to lock everything in. This handy set comes with a travel-size spray for your travels!
CeraVe Hydrating Makeup Remover Wipes
Makeup wipes are still the best option in terms of time and efficiency! Do I think using a face wash is better? Of course, I do. But the most important thing is to remove your makeup.
Washing your face on a flight is fairly impossible. So these make-up wipes will do! Do I think you should remove all of your makeup when boarding a plane? Do whatever you feel comfortable with, but the less makeup you do, the better.
These wipes are a great first step in your skincare routine and could also be used as hand wipes in an emergency.
Mario Badescu Facial Spray Collection
These travel-sized face mists from Mario Badescu are perfect for your trip. They keep your face hydrated during the flight and leave a layer of moisture.
I typically use them in the morning to blend my makeup into my skin and several times during the flight. They all smell amazing, but my favourite is the rose water.
This set is perfect for a trip and affordable, too!
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré
This facial moisturizer is my daily moisturizer when I need more moisture, like in winter or air-conditioned environments. It has the perfect moisture level, leaving my skin hydrated and a little dewy.
I’ve tried many moisturisers but keep coming back to the Embryolisse. Embryolisse is a famous old-school French favourite!
I always use it at the end of my flight, too. I rub a small amount in my hands and press my hands into my face to add another layer of moisture. This travel size is the perfect size for your travel beauty essentials bag.
Plan Your Trip
Start planning your trip! Use my travel planning roadmap with all my resources to book every detail of your trip!
What do you think about my travel beauty essentials list of must-have products for women? When you travel a lot, you have to be smart about it, and that’s kind of what happened to me as a long-time flight attendant and a solo traveller!
I used to be a makeup girl, but ever since the pandemic, I started using less makeup and focusing more on skincare. That’s the only reason to look 30 still when you’re 40!😉
Remember to check out this list of ultimate long-haul flight travel essentials! I’ll tell you all about what you need to get comfortable and organized!
Please leave me a comment below if I should check out another favourite!
