I’m a Beauty Editor Passionate About Products—Here’s My Guide to Traveling with Only a Carry-On.

      June 23, 2025

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      Our team is notorious for being habitual over-packers. Despite several editors considering themselves minimalists, they often find their luggage tipping the scales at over 50 pounds. I've come close, but I’ve never reached that point. This sparked a lengthy conversation during which I experienced a significant wave of imposter syndrome for primarily traveling with just a carry-on. How could I possibly be a beauty editor who manages to travel light? Should I rethink my career choice?

      Nope, I’ve simply figured out how to pack beauty products in the most efficient manner possible. (It means I keep my job!) Successfully packing beauty items in a travel bag in a way that doesn’t anger TSA has been a challenge I’ve conquered. My love for beauty products means I won’t give up my 10-step skincare routine just because I'm on the road. In fact, I find I need my skincare routine even more when I'm on a crowded flight or in a new place than when I’m at home. Over the years, I've perfected packing my carry-on with all my beauty essentials—no need for checked luggage. Read on for my top packing tips as a beauty enthusiast.

      1. Organize makeup, skincare, and haircare separately

      Whenever possible, skip using one large bag for all your toiletries and instead choose smaller bags for each category. Consider how you behave once you reach your destination. Do you dump everything out, or do you typically work from your makeup bag? Personally, I tend to spread all my skincare and hair products on whatever bathroom counter I'm using, while I keep my makeup in a separate bag. I usually avoid doing my makeup in the bathroom due to lighting issues, so storing it there doesn’t make sense. This approach simplifies things when I arrive at a location, and it’s essential if you want to avoid frustrating TSA while traveling with multiple products.

      I prefer to have my makeup and skincare accessible during the flight (they are my prized possessions), but strapping a heavy, bulky bag within my already limited personal item is impractical. Using two smaller bags is always more sensible, and if I need to access them mid-flight (like for a face mask), I don’t have to rummage through a cluttered bag. On the other hand, my carry-on usually only requires mini dry shampoo, a hair tie, and a brush, so my non-liquid hair products can remain in my suitcase. Determine the best arrangement for your products.

      2. Utilize a clear bag

      We already know this, but I'm not referring to the clear Ziploc bags suggested by TSA. Instead, invest in a reusable 1 qt.-sized clear makeup bag. Reusing it continuously saves you from making that dreaded last-minute trip to Target for sandwich bags. These bags are often much more accommodating when you’re attempting to cram as many products as possible into them. I’ve lost count of how many Ziploc bags I’ve ripped, but I’ve never encountered issues filling these to capacity.

      Packing all your products in the bag can feel like a game of Tetris, but I've always managed to fit significantly more in these bags than in a typical sandwich bag (without ever receiving complaints from TSA).

      3. Choose powder products, dry shampoos, and cleansers

      Whenever a product is available as a powder rather than a liquid, you can bet I’ll be packing it for my trip. I use this trick to bring along all my essential beauty items without giving up valuable space in my 1 qt. liquids bag. Today, numerous products—exfoliants, cleansers, body washes, serums—now come in powder form that you simply mix with water for use. I also prefer powders to aerosol cans for hair products like texturizing spray and dry shampoo. This strategy has been incredibly useful, allowing me to pack these in my carry-on without concerns.

      4. Collect samples

      If you’re anything like me, you probably have a collection of beauty samples hidden away in your home, making travel the perfect time to utilize them. I always take my sample shampoos, conditioners, foundations, primers, perfumes, cleansers, and more whenever I leave home. They take up minimal space and are perfect for short trips where you’ll only need to wash your face a few times. I hold onto sample perfumes for this very reason; there’s no need to bring a full-sized perfume on a trip.

      Likewise, before any trip in which I want to look my best without packing large containers of my high-end primer, foundation, or concealer, I visit my local Sephora to grab samples. One foundation sample provides enough for about a week’s worth of applications. I always place these in a small Z