How to Pack Your Beauty Essentials like a Pro

All travellers typically fall into one of these two categories: the overpackers (prepared for any emergency), and the minimalists (happy with bare essentials and no comforts of home).Whichever you may fall in, when you’re getting ready for a trip, whether it’s something you planned for weeks or it was a last-minute thing, you need to know how to pack your beauty products efficiently.

Packing for a trip can be quite tedious but it’s possible to find the middle ground – focus on packing those multitasking essentials that will keep you feeling great but not add any extra weight to your baggage.

Assess the Situation

Before you start emptying your make-up bags and medicine cabinet into your travel bag, assess the situation by asking yourself these questions: how long you’ll be travelling, what things will be provided by the hotel, and if it’s better to buy certain toiletries at the destination. Most hotels provide hairdryers, shampoos and conditioners, soaps and lotions, but it’s always smart to enquire ahead.

Decide What to Pack

When you start packing, focus on the basics such as your toothpaste and toothbrush, deodorant, everyday makeup, face wash, make-up remover, face moisturizer, all in one face mist and your favourite hairbrush. Ask the salespeople at your local cosmetics shop for travel-size products and get to know the brands that are sample-friendly so you can scale down the amount you pack.

Things you might consider leaving are sunscreen since you can often find them cheap at your destination, body lotion, soap, shampoo and conditioner as they’re typically provided by your hotel, and makeup that you don’t wear daily. In this case, less is definitely more!

Don’t Forget the 3-1-1 Rule

Bear in mind the 3-1-1 rule imposed by the TSA– you’re only allowed 100ml or less bottles of liquids, gels and aerosols that are enclosed in one clear, plastic bag per passenger in your hand luggage. This means that unless all your beauty products are packed in your checked baggage, you have to either get sample-sized beauty products or refillable plastic containers.

Get Smart with the Must-Haves

When it comes to must-have items like perfume, it’s best you avoid having glass in your suitcase. Also, it’s nearly impossible pouring it into a plastic container. Instead, visit your local department store and ask for a sample size of your fragrance.

Speaking of hair care, you might bring your tiny travel-sized blow dryer if you prefer having your own. But, to make drying hassle-free during your vacation, opt for a special turban that will quickly dry your hair, and bring your best brush and your practical hair extensions for ponytail to get that perfect look in just minutes.

Keep Similar Items Together

The rule of thumb is to keep your hair products, skin care, make-up and oral care packed separately. That’s why it’s best to get a bag with lots of compartments. If you lack compartments, just make sure your dry items are separate from liquids and you can do that by packing them in small zip-up bags.

Prevent Leaks

As the air pressure typically changes in an aeroplane because of elevation, some of your beauty products may react. To stay on the safe side, release the air from your bottles and promptly close them back up before you pack them. You can also tape the lids of liquid containers to prevent leaking and exploding, and as double protection, wrap your liquids individually in plastic bags.

Packing well for a trip can be stress-free as it’s all about curation. Be smart and disciplined and only stick to your A-list products in travel-friendly sizes. Bear in mind TSA’s 3-1-1 rule, secure your liquids and pack things separately. With all that, you’re ready for fun and play!