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Making a TSA compliant toiletries bag is the hardest part of carry on only travel. Which is what made me nervous before spending the summer living out of a carry on suitcase. It’s is like temporary tiny living. I like the challenge of packing light (and we hate having to deal with big bags when getting on the trains, planes and automobiles). But I didn’t want to sacrifice myself to using whatever the hotel offered for shampoos (though I usually do for short trips) Or shop at local drugstores for skincare and makeup. My skin is in a great place,and I didn’t want to backtrack any progress just because of travel. If you are contemplating how to keep your regular skincare routine and makeup, read on to see how I packed my essentials for a summer abroad living out of a carry on bag.
Invest in travel containers
This is the age old advice. But don’t grab a random assortment of bottles already in a bag. It might say it’s a TSA compliant toiletries bag, but you wanna be smarter. Those bottles are all on the 3 oz side. Not everything needs that much space. Get creative. I use contact cases (mine are these) because they hold just enough. I filled mine with a clay detox mask and facial scrub. Since both of these are Senegence products, a little goes a long way. These containers also rinse out easily, and work for your everyday skincare on a weekend trip! Pick up a couple different sized jars (2 oz and 1 oz) too. These worked for my nightcream. Another travel trick, is to use your old bottles of SeneGence products like our Sene-C. Rinse it out, pushed down the pump and fill it with facewash. Makes it mess free.
Switch out liquids for solids/wipes/powders
This tip is one that is easier and easier to do each year because new products are created. I headed to Lush store to grab a solid shampoo bar, but they had so many other items. I left with a solid conditioner, a dry shampoo, powder toothpaste, and tablet mouthwash. They also had solid soaps and lotion, but I decided against those for this trip. I switched my makeup remover to our wipes. Since they are lightweight, I packed our bronze and natural powders (bonus- they are in a self contained case!). Pack eyeliner pencil instead of a liquid liner. Little things like that will help you not overfill your quart sized bag with unnecessary liquids. I brought a bottle of nangai oil, which is deeply hydrating for your skin (I use it before and after flying). It works great on the ends of your hair to tame flyaways.
Plan your colors in advance
This goes for your outfits and your makeup. The key to packing light is to have clothes and makeup that are interchangeable and versatile. Choose a color scheme- and stick with it. I packed neutrals for my makeup (a color like moca java shadowsense can be used in brows, as a contour/bronzer, and eyeshadow. My one bold LipSense color can be switched up when layered under/over neutral LipSense colors. This had me focus and only pack colors that match outfits. Plus, by simplifying, you have less to worry about packing up each time you change hotels or just planning your outfit when you are running late. After years in the army, one of the things I miss is the simplicity of my outfits and hairstyle. It might be boring but I was ready for work in under 10 minutes because I knew exactly what I could wear.
That’s a couple ideas I have for you as you start to plan your long vacation. Of course, there were a few things that were easier to pack as a whole container (as long as it was under 3 oz). I brought a full bottle of climate control, daytime moisturizer, nangai oil, spot on treatment and SeneSerum C. Those bottles either are small enough to not worry about, or they could be complicated to move to a new jar (this is mostly for that miracle in a bottle climate control). What are your travel hacks for getting those liquids through TSA? Tell us below! Or drop your questions for us about packing your beauty routine.
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