These Carry-On Travel Beauty Products Are About to Save My Skin on a Two-Week Cruise
Less than 3.4 oz., but these babies pack a punch.

Call me dramatic, but my travel beauty routine is non-negotiable. Between the recycled cabin air and the very real possibility of a lost checked suitcase, I don't mess around when it comes to what I pack in my carry-on. These are the products I rely on mid- and post-flight—the ones that help me feel like myself when my lips are chapped, my skin is dehydrated, and I need to look like I didn't just spend several hours upright in a tiny seat with only recirculated air.
Airplane cabins are notoriously harsh: low humidity, low pressure, and higher UV exposure at cruising altitudes all team up to leave skin dry, puffy, and more prone to damage. The tricky part? Finding SPFs, moisturizers, and makeup products that not only follow TSA's 3.4 oz. liquid rule, but also multi-task with the right ingredients. The goal is to keep things streamlined without sacrificing my skin, after all.
As a beauty editor, I took on the challenge. And after years of perfecting my travel-friendly beauty routine, I manage to keep my skin hydrated and happy, even after exposure to new environments and stressful conditions. Ahead, the best skincare, haircare, and makeup products so indispensable, that I always make room for them in my carry-on bag.
Best Travel Beauty Products
- Best Travel Beauty Containers: Cadence Travel Containers
- Best Travel Barrier Cream: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5
- Best Travel Face Mist: Avène Thermal Spring Water
- Best Travel SPF: Ultra Violette Future Screen SPF 50
- Best Multi-Purpose Travel Makeup Balm: Jones Road Miracle Balm
A lot of my non-negotiable beauty products are not available in mini sizes, and to be honest, sometimes I don't want to spend the extra money when I already have the full size at home. Enter: These genius reusable travel containers that I house all of my beauty and health essentials like tretinoin, pills, shampoo, conditioner, and everything else that I bring along and don't have a home for. The containers are TSA-compliant, leak-proof, and come with an easy-to-switch label system.
Low humidity and recirculated air on a plane result in dry, dehydrated skin. The best way to mitigate these effects is to drink plenty of water and use a barrier-supporting cream like the Cicaplast Balm B5. In addition to the face, this balm can be used practically anywhere on the body that needs a little extra TLC. With a slew of hydrating ingredients that draw water in, and emollients to seal in that moisture, your skin will be soothed and protected.
A facial mist is one of the most convenient and easiest ways to give your skin a quick pick-me-up during a flight. This best-selling formula contains Avène's signature thermal spring water, which is rich in minerals and may help soothe skin by reducing inflammation. It's also one of Beauty Director Hannah Baxter's favorites: "The OG, the HBIC, this no-frills facial mist delivers the most even (and deeply satisfying) spritz of French spring water to bring your skin back from the brink of dehydration."
Not so fun fact: UV exposure is higher at altitude, and considering commercial airplanes typically cruise at around 30 to 40 thousand feet, you're that much closer to the sun. The solution? A broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF. This one from new-to-the-U.S. brand, Ultra Violette, is an MC editor favorite thanks to its super silky formulation that never feels greasy.
Another instant pick-me-up? The Miracle Balm from Jones Road can give you both a little flush and a bit of glow. Designed with the tagline "the secret of no-makeup makeup," it offers a wash of soft-focus moisture to perfect and enhance skin while also supplying a nice touch of color. If I don't have much room in my bag, this becomes my blush, highlighter, and lip color all in one.
4AM Skin created a morning and nighttime serum duo that simplifies your entire skincare routine. Each serum is packed with active ingredients, so you can skip the multi-step process and still get everything your skin needs. It makes it a perfect addition to your travel beauty routine—no need to lug around a dozen bottles.
I'm a big believer in scent memory, and you should be too—it's science. Thus, one of my newest favorite travel traditions is picking a scent for that trip and only that trip (I'm a beauty editor, can you blame me?!). That way, whenever I smell it again, I'll be transported to a special place. This solid perfume from Diptyque offers a travel-friendly and mess-free solution for a long-lasting scent on the go.
This balm is exactly what your lips are looking for on those dry planes. It's formulated with a blend of peptides to increase fullness, alongside squalane, an emollient that works to lock in moisture for super soft, super smooth lips.
Opening a smelly nail polish and trying to do your nails on a tray table with the threat of potential turbulence is a bad move. Grabbing a press-on nail kit and quietly, easily applying a perfect mani mid-air? That sounds like a better deal. My favorite press-ons are from Glamnetic, thanks to its trend-forward designs and the fact that the nails stay on for a significantly long time.
When the aptly named Summer Fridays' Jet Lag Mask launched a few years back, it immediately became a travel essential. Thanks to hydrating hyaluronic acid and barrier-supporting niacinamide, I can put this on at the beginning of a flight and feel confident that the dry air won't affect my skin. While you can absolutely keep it on for 10 minutes per the instructions, I also like to use it as a regular moisturizer—it's a thicker alternative to Dieux, and I'll always keep both on me.
"I adore these gentle micellar pads, which are presoaked in a cleansing solution with a touch of cucumber extract to soothe any irritation," says Hannah Baxter. "Even when my skin is super stressed, these never feel like they strip my skin." The convenient design and 35 included pads make them ideal for travel.
While I like to switch up cleansers, I'm a longtime fan of Fresh's lovely soy option. Its easy travel-size option means I'll pick it up time and time again for a trip. Extremely gentle and great for all skin types, I can count on this cleanser to make me feel clean no matter what airport hell I've been through. It's also pretty hydrating, which I'll reiterate is a must after flying.
I used to think it was silly to apply a sheet mask mid-flight. That was until I did it on my last overseas trip, and I've never looked back. My favorite is the Glow to Go set by celebrity esthetician Joanna Vargas, which features a variety of five sheet masks—each with different functions for whatever your skin needs at the time.
Something about this cult favorite lip oil makes me feel so put together, which is exactly how I want to feel after a long flight. I'm partial to the Rosewood color, but you can't go wrong with any of the shade options due to the subtle color and high-shine finish.
While I'm a pro at passing out on a plane no matter what, it's all the better to have a pillow along for the ride, especially one with a silk pillowcase. Slip's option, which features a removable pillowcase and carrying bag, is my favorite to keep my hair shiny and damage-free.
If you've ever heard about the magic of Dr. Bronner's Liquid Castile Soap, you'd know that the formula can be used for absolutely anything. This low-brow beauty multitasker can be used as a shampoo, body wash, and face wash—or even to spot treat a stain before it sets.
Actress Jodie Comer, who raved about this French product while talking to Marie Claire a few years back, got me hooked on this beauty multitasker. "It's basically like a Vaseline-y kind of balm that you can put on any part of your skin when it's dry. I get quite bad dry elbows, so I'll put it there, or you can put it on your lips, or you could put it on your eyelids as a kind of glossy eye that isn't tacky," Comer said.
Long layover with no chance to shower? No problem. Oribe's Gold Lust Dry Shampoo has you covered. It's a favorite among the Marie Claire team—including Senior Beauty Editor Samantha Holender, who even skips perfume when she wears it, thanks to its lovely Côte d'Azur scent. Trust us, you'll want this in your travel bag every time.
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Siena Gagliano is the Beauty Editor at Marie Claire specializing in features, trend stories, and shopping roundups. In her prior role, she was an editor at Cosmopolitan, focusing on beauty commerce and SEO-driven content. Her work has also appeared in Allure, ELLE, Bustle, and Women’s Health. Curious about the behind-the-scenes magazine life and her go-to beauty picks? Follow her on Instagram at @sienagagliano.
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