I’m A Beauty Editor Who Loves Products—Here’s How I Travel With Just A Carry

Our team is known for being chronic over-packers. Even though many of our editors identify as minimalists, they often have plenty to say about their luggage consistently exceeding 50 pounds. I’ve come close, but that has never actually happened to me. This led to a group discussion where I felt a major sense of imposter syndrome, as I almost exclusively travel with a carry-on. How could I possibly be a beauty editor who manages to travel with only a carry-on? Should I consider a different career?

Actually, I’ve just figured out how to pack beauty products with maximum efficiency. (I get to keep my job!). Organizing beauty items in a way that won’t frustrate TSA agents is a challenge I’ve successfully conquered. I love products, and I refuse to abandon my 10-step skincare routine just because I’m traveling. In fact, I need my skincare during a crowded flight or in a new environment even more than I do at home. Over time, I’ve mastered the art of packing a carry-on with all my beauty essentials—no checked bags required. Read on for my top packing strategies as a beauty enthusiast.

Planning your next getaway? Find tips, itineraries, and destination ideas in The Everygirl’s Ultimate Travel Guide.

1. Separate makeup, skincare, and haircare

If you can, avoid using one massive bag for every single toiletry. Instead, use smaller pouches for each category. Consider your habits once you reach your destination. Do you dump everything out, or do you prefer working directly from your makeup bag? Personally, I usually empty all my skin and hair products onto the bathroom counter, but I keep my makeup in its own bag. I rarely do my makeup in the bathroom because the lighting is usually poor, so it makes sense to keep it separate. This simplifies my routine upon arrival and is essential for avoiding issues with TSA when carrying a large volume of products.

I prefer keeping my makeup and skincare with me on the plane since they are my prized possessions, but stuffing a heavy, oversized bag into my limited personal item space is not an option. Using two smaller bags is much more practical. If I need to reach for something mid-flight, like a face mask, I don’t have to dig to the bottom of a large bag. Conversely, I rarely need anything more than mini dry shampoo, a hair tie, and a brush during the flight, so my non-liquid hair products can stay in my suitcase. Determine which configuration works best for your specific needs.

We are all aware of the rules, but I’m not referring to the standard clear Ziploc bags recommended by TSA. Instead, invest in a 1-quart reusable clear makeup bag. Being able to reuse the same bag repeatedly saves you from making last-minute trips to the store for sandwich bags. They are also much more durable when you are trying to pack as many items as possible. I’ve broken countless Ziploc bags, but I’ve never had an issue stuffing these to capacity.

Fitting all your products into the bag can feel like a game of Tetris, but I find that I can always fit more into one of these pouches than a plastic sandwich bag, and TSA has never had an issue with it.

3. Opt for powder exfoliants, dry shampoos, and cleansers

If a product is available in powder form rather than liquid, I will almost always choose it for travel. This hack allows me to bring all my essential beauty steps without consuming precious space in my 1-quart liquids bag. Today, many products—including exfoliators, cleansers, body washes, and serums—come as powders that you simply mix with water. I also prefer powders over aerosol cans for hair products like texturizing spray and dry shampoo. This has helped me immensely, as I can pack these in my carry-on suitcase without any concerns.

If you are anything like me, you have a stash of beauty samples at home, and travel is the perfect time to use them. I bring all my sample-sized shampoos, conditioners, foundations, primers, perfumes, and cleansers whenever I leave home. These take up virtually no space and are ideal for short trips where you only need a limited supply. I hoard all my sample perfumes for this reason; there is no need to carry a full-size bottle on a trip. (If you own solid perfumes, that is even better!)

Similarly, before a trip where I want to look my best without carrying full bottles of expensive primer, foundation, or concealer, I visit my local beauty store to request samples. One foundation sample usually lasts me about a week. I always place these in a tiny Ziploc bag just in case of leaks—which, surprisingly, hasn’t happened yet—but this trick is a winner every single time.

5. Buy refillable travel sizes

Keeping refillable travel-sized bottles on hand for your favorite cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, and hair masks will not only make your pre-trip preparations easier, but it will also ensure your skin and hair look their best while you are away. The trick is to fill them with only as much as you expect to use. If you are only traveling for three days, you likely won’t finish a full 3-ounce bottle, but for longer trips, you may want to pack as much as possible.

6. Coordinate with your travelers

Not everyone on a group trip needs to bring their own personal Dyson Airwrap, flat iron, 1-inch curling iron, hairspray, and dry shampoo. If you are traveling with others, coordinate beforehand so you aren’t bringing duplicates. Have one person bring a flat iron, another a blow dryer, someone else a curling iron, and another dry shampoo. Somehow, I always end up being the one who brings everything, but then I get extra space in someone else’s bag for snacks. It’s a win-win.

Arguably my most brilliant hack of all time, I keep contact lens cases in my travel drawer to fill with foundation, concealer, or powder—any makeup products where I don’t need to bring the full container. A contact case is the perfect size to hold enough makeup for a few days, and it saves me significant space in my liquids bag and my overall makeup kit.

When in doubt, choose a solid version of your favorite products and be done with it. I swear by solid perfume for travel, and shampoo or cleanser bars are practically designed to keep TSA agents happy. Thankfully, many high-performing makeup products are available in stick and cream formats, which makes packing them a simple decision.

Want more travel essentials and tips? You’ll love these:

I Haven’t Checked a Bag in Years—This Carry-On Packing Formula Never Fails Me

The Top 12 Things People Always Forget to Pack for a Trip

This $10 Item Is My Ultimate Travel Hack to Save Suitcase Space

The Travel Essentials Our Editors Swear By

We get it: Your PTO is precious. So when you finally set that OOO message, you deserve a trip that’s unforgettable—not one that makes you feel like you need another vacation to recover. We compiled our favorite travel destinations, must-have travel gear, and sanity-saving hacks to bring you The Everygirl’s Ultimate Guide to Travel, so you can spend less time stressing and more time soaking it all in.