As much as we all wish we could pack away every beauty product that lives on our vanity while traveling, it’s just not realistic. This is where travel beauty sets come in—they’re compact mini collections of the favorite makeup, skincare, SPF, and hair products we know and love. Here, we explore what to look for when shopping for a travel beauty set, plus the best 18 travel sets to shop—from a full five-minute makeup routine set to a luxurious body kit, dry shampoo set, and more.
Best overall: Tower 28 Essentials Set — $88.00
We love this makeup essentials set because it’s minimal to pack and swift to apply. It comes with an SPF tint, cream blush, lip gloss, mascara, and a travel SOS Rescue Spray. It’s a full five-step routine that you can rely on whether you need an airplane touch-up or want to use it every day for a minimal makeup look throughout your entire trip.
Pieces: 5
Best hydrating travel set: Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Hydration Set — $43.00
You’re not alone if travel leaves your complexion looking dehydrated and dull. This hyaluronic acid hydration set will do just the trick in replenishing your skin’s moisture thanks to this four step hydrating routine, complete with a hyaluronic acid foam cleanser, blue hyaluronic serum, toner and cream moisturizer. Consider your skin’s thirst, quenched, even at 30,000 feet.
Pieces: 4
Best travel set splurge: Merit 5 Minute Morning The Core Collection Set — $176.00
If you’re a frequent flyer and are looking for a mini-makeup set you can rely on, try this pick. The set contains a complexion stick, blush balm, tinted lip oil, blending brush, highlighting balm, mascara, and brow pomade. The collection is convenient to pack in your carry-on and covers just about all makeup bases—whether you’re looking to add just a little mascara or a flush of color.
Pieces: 7
Best scrunchie travel set: Crown Affair The Silk Scrunchie N.001 Set — $15.00
A scrunchie set is a must no matter where you’re headed, especially if you want to tie your hair up during a long flight or drive. This three-piece silk scrunchie set will do just the trick and works to keep your hair frizz and crease-free.
Pieces: 3
Best bodycare travel set: 54 Thrones Lather & Slather Hydrating Bodycare Set — $50.00
Traveling can also dry out the skin on your body, so it’s important to keep up a moisturizing routine, even if you’re abroad. This set is a must-try for this reason: it comes with a non-stripping body wash, body butter, and barrier repair cream that has a slew of moisturizing ingredients including shea butter to moringa oil, niacinamide, and ceramides. It also comes with an exfoliating body mitt to prep the skin for application.
Pieces: 4 (including body mitt)
Best perfume travel set: PHLUR Fragrance Discovery Set — $35.00
A perfume discovery set is a great way to bring a handful of fragrances on your trip without taking up half your luggage. This set has eight of the brand’s signature scents with different profiles and notes, like Apricot Privee, Missing Person and Somebody Wood. The scents give you a variety of options to choose from, whether you’re in the mood for something sultry or sweet.
Pieces: 8
Best smelling travel set: Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Jet Set — $30.00
If you want to smell like vacation, on vacation, let us introduce you to this three-piece set that contains the cult-favorite Cheirosa ‘62 scent. It comes with a body wash, mini Bum Bum Cream, and travel-sized fragrance mist for a sweet-smelling and addictive finish.
Pieces: 3
Best brow travel set: REFY Mini Sculpt and Highlight Collection — $12.00
If feeling put together includes ensuring that your brows are in shape, this sculpting brow travel set is for you. It contains a mini brow sculpt to brush out your brows and keep them in place, plus a mini gloss highlighter to lift. You’ll somehow look like you slept for hours post-application, even after a 10+ hour travel day.
Pieces: 2
Best highlight and contour travel set: Nudestix Mini Nudies Roses ‘N Honey Nudes Kit — $30.00
Sometimes a flush of color is all you need to look more awake. Try this mini stick set that comes with a blush, highlighter and contour to get the job done in just a few swipes. We love that you can use any of the shades on your cheeks, lips or eyelids to instantly brighten or sculpt your face.
Pieces: 3
Best travel brush set: Morphe Rosé Away 6-Piece Travel Brush Set — $28.00
You can’t travel far without a brush set, so this six-piece kit should come with you. It contains an angled contour brush, a buffer brush, a mini buffer brush, a blending crease brush, a mini concealer brush, and an oval shadow brush for all of your makeup needs. It also comes with a compact travel case that you can pack in a suitcase or carry-on without taking up too much room.
Pieces: 6
Best glowy travel set: INNBEAUTY Project Latte Makeup Kit — $69.00
Add glow to your travel routine with this kit that contains a glazing highlighter, bronzer, plus a sheer and shimmering lip oil. The face glaze is a skincare-makeup hybrid that has plumping ingredients like vegan squalane, ceramides and hyaluronic acid for a resilient and radiant finish.
Pieces: 4
Best hair removal travel set: Billie Choose Your Smooth Set — $29.00
If you want to maintain your hair removal routine while you travel, opt for this set that not only includes a razor but also has two wax kits for the body, underarms, face and bikini line. It takes the guesswork out of shaving or waxing while you’re not in the comfort of your own home, and is totally TSA-friendly.
Pieces: 3
Best dry shampoo travel set: IGK Must-Have Minis — $29.00
Keep your hair fresh with this must-have mini set that contains a dry shampoo, smoothing spray and volumizing texture spray. This set will add volume and shine to your hair, and will keep it looking frizz and grease-free.
Pieces: 3
Best face mask travel set: Peter Thomas Roth Hello, Mask Besties! 5-Piece Mask Kit — $19.00
A long flight is a great time to give your skin a little extra TLC. Do so with this mask set that contains a variety of ingredients. You can choose from an acne mask, a cucumber gel mask, a pumpkin enzyme mask, a 24K gold mask, and a water-drench mask, depending on your skin’s needs.
Pieces: 5
A travel beauty set should include a variety of products to help you get one or multiple tasks done in your regimen. There are a few qualities to look out for when shopping, including the amount of products, compact sizes, and the versatility of products. Here’s what to keep in mind:
When shopping for a travel beauty set, look for a set that has multiple products that can contribute to your routine—whether that’s a full body-care kit with a body cleanser, moisturizer, or butter, or a three-piece face set that might have a highlighter, contour, and blush. These multi-step routines will make it feel like you’re not skipping out on any part of your regimen, no matter where in the world you are.
Size is very important when traveling (we see you, TSA!), especially when it comes to beauty products that are often gels, creams or liquids. Look for sets that have TSA-friendly sized products that are under 3.4 fl oz to guarantee a smooth trip through security. Bonus: they’ll take up way less space in your carry-on or suitcase.
Great beauty travel sets have a variety of different kinds of products —we’re talking blushes, to lip gloss, to dry shampoo, to texture spray. Look for travel sets that have more than just one type of product to cover all bases of your routine, whether you’re in need of a makeup refresh with a little blush and gloss, or a frizz-fighting hair regimen, with a shampoo and leave-in treatment.
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