Have trouble packing light? The Beauty Panel shares their top 3 hair and makeup travel essentials

Date July 11, 2013

One of the things we love most about summer is travel. From weekend cottage getaways to month-long journeys, ’tis the season to enjoy a vacation. However, no matter where you’re headed, the question of what to pack is always a concern—especially if you’re a beauty junkie. It can be hard to resist the urge to just pack your entire bathroom and be done with it.

But! Before you throw your every item you own and love into your beauty bag, allow our Beauty Panel members to share some advice with you. This week we challenged our beauty blogging experts to pick just three essential items they require while on vacation.

Challenge 19: When packing light for a summer vacation, what 3 must-have beauty products do you bring and why? See the answers now! »

Sure, everyone has their own preferences when it comes to picking travel essentials. But most of our panelists have one thing in mind: multi-purpose beauty products. With a limited amount of space, packing efficiently is extremely important. Sparkly Playground’s Joyce Wong is an expert when it comes time to packing for her travels. As a flight attendant, she shares the products that help her keep a clean, moisturized face—with UV protection—when she’s on the go. Both Twenty York Street’s Marilou Moles and A Pop of Colour’s Shayna Wiwierski suggested life-saving lip balms that not only cure chapped lips but work wonders on bites, minor burns and scratches! Nothing beats a multi-purpose beauty product that can solve all your little problems for a stress-free vacation. And SFYGF’s JJ Cowan brings it back to the beauty basics. Her backpacking experience through Southeast Asia taught her that sometimes the most essential beauty products are the ones that keep you clean—and well-rested.

Have a beauty question you want to see the panel answer? Send it our way at [email protected]. Read on for the answers to this week’s challenge and for more goodness, get to know all contributors on our Beauty Panel hub page.

JJ Cowan
Toronto | Secrets From Your Girlfriends

I’ve been known to do a bit of travelling in my day and as a result I have a higher than average aptitude for knowing those essential beauty products that deserve space in your suitcase. This talent is derived from backpacking around Asia for a longer than normal period of time and living out of a backpack with limited space. I remember filling my pack up to the top when I left Toronto only to throw out one third of its contents when I started my truck through Thailand because it was way too heavy. To this day, my motto is “if it’s not worth the carrying weight, it doesn’t deserve the space in your case”—it’s as simple as that!

A few must have beauty essentials that are worthy of that precious space in your case must have a specific purpose. I always travel with a laundry wash because you never know when something needs a soak and I prefer Soak Wash because it comes in great travel-size bottles. My second essential beauty product is, Proactive body pads because they kill the dirt and help prevent breakouts especially in hot climates.
However, I think the most essential travelling companion it my tried and trusted sleeping mask because you never know if the hotel where you’re staying has adequate curtains to guarantee a good nights sleep and we all know a good nights sleep is the most important thing!

Products used: Soak Laundry Wash, Eye Mask, Proactive Body Pads, Toothbrush

Joyce Wong
Toronto | Sparkly Playground

As a flight attendant, travelling is part of my everyday life. In this challenge, I have to leave my multi-step beauty routine behind and share what I must have to enjoy my travels: a clean, moisturized face with UV protection and a bit of makeup

1) A Clean Face.
Cleansing oil is my favourite method of removing make up. It’s fast, efficient and yes—it even takes off stubborn waterproof mascara! Currently, I’m in love with this sample sized Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil because it goes beyond just removing makeup, it also provides skin benefits! It’s made of origin oils from Chinese medicine and beauty oils from around the world!

2) Moisturize.
  I usually moisturize my face with a toner, serum, lotion/cream and a mask. Without this luxury, I result to using the Sana Hadanomy Collagen Lotion (a Japanese product). It is a thick, rich toner that provides moisture with the combination of Micro Collagen 10000mg and Hyaluronic Acid Na, Honey, and Acerola extract. I love this product especially when I’m super tired from flights and depending on the amount you use, it can be a toner, lotion and cream all in one!

3) UV protection and makeup for the day.
  I thought I was greedy when I asked for all this in one product. However, Skin79 The Oriental Gold BB Cream (a Korean product) has a SPF level of 25 PA++ and the best part is, it comes with a mirror and a cheek/lip colour!

Products used: Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil, Sana Hadanomy Collagen Lotion, Skin79 The Oriental Gold BB Cream

Aleeza Agno
Toronto | Stylish & Literate

When packing for a vacation, there are three essentials you’re sure to find in my makeup bag:

1. A mascara. My must-have is the Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Lashes. It’s not the best for lengthening, but it’s great for adding volume for thicker looking lashes. Plus, the limited edition packaging is adorable!

2. A coral lipstick. M.A.C’s lipstick in “See Sheer” has been my go-to. It’s lightweight and moisturizing. The colour is buildable, which makes it a perfect all day, every day lipstick. A no fuss hue to bring on a trip.

3. A bright blush. “Taj Mahal” is one of my favourite Nars blushes. The pigmentation on this burnt orange shade is intense. The texture is smooth, blendable, and it lasts all day long. Zero touch ups required because that’s the last thing you should be worried about on your holiday.

Products used: Pür Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Powder in “Tan,” Chanel Bronze Universal, Nars blush in “Taj Mahal,” L’Oreal Colour Riche Balm in “Caring Coral,” M.A.C lipstick in “See Sheer,” Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Lashes Mascara, Anabelle Smoothliner in “Brownie”

Marilou Moles
Ottawa | Twenty York Street

Going on a summer vacation is one of the best times to re-think and edit your beauty and skincare arsenal. What will make it to the cut when you need to pack light are those products that are versatile and multi-purpose. My absolute top three favourite products that I just can’t travel without (in fact, these went all the way to me in Bali this summer!) are the following:

Thann Rice Extract Lip Balm. I have been in love with this product for years and I wouldn’t it trade it for the world! I skip gloss and lipstick most of the time as it also gives you a subtle shine. Packed with rich Vitamin E, Shea butter and rice bran oil, it keeps your lips satiny soft and smooth and well-protected against the elements. Bonus tip –I’ve used it for minor burns and scratches as it also has anti-inflammatory properties. What other lip balm can say that?

Thann Body Milk in “Aromatic Wood.” Although I normally reach for Thann’s Shiso Body Butter all year round, I pack Thann Body Milk when I travel instead. It keeps your skin moisturized without the heavy, greasy feel of rich lotions. It contains pure essential oils like orange and nutmeg, which not only have anti-stress properties but can also double up as light fragrance as it feels absolutely clean and heavenly.

Koku Nail Bar polish in “Coral Me Maybe.” Sometimes you have to get down to the bare essentials and though you may not need a full hair-do and make-up, you do need a perfectly polished nails with a pop of colour that screams summer! I just love Koku Nail Bar’s “Coral Me Maybe” shade, it goes with every outfit and with a brilliant mix of hot pink, coral and a slight sheen, no wonder it’s currently Koku’s top seller! This colour can take you from a care-free day at the beach to a glam cocktail soiree in the yacht.

Products used: Thann Body Milk in “Aromatic Wood,” Thann Rice Extract Lip Balm, Koku Nail Bar Nail Polish in “Coral Me Maybe,” Maybelline BB Cream in “Medium,” Puppa’s Diva Mascara, Maybelline’s Sensational Vivids in “Electric Orange”

Shayna Wiwierski
Winnipeg | A Pop of Colour

Vacations are all about relaxing and having fun. I like to keep it simple by packing light and bringing essential items, the less the better. If I had to choose just three beauty items to bring on my vacay, it would be a BB Cream, a mascara and Smith’s Rosebud Salve.

BB Cream has actually become my summer staple this year because of it’s light coverage and SPF properties. I have been loving Dior Diorskin Nude BB Cream because it moisturizes, smoothens, protects, and corrects skin with just the right amount of coverage. It also contains SPF 10, so if you will be spending the day outside (you’re on vacation, hello!), this is perfect for sun coverage.

Mascara is another staple as it opens up the eyes and makes you look more alert. I have been loving It Cosmetics Hello Lashes, which coats every lash and contains tinting properties, which over time, will make your lashes look darker.

Finally, my holy grail product, Smith’s Rosebud Salve is the ultimate beauty product. Not only is it great for chapped lips, but it works wonders on zits, dry skin, mosquito bites, dry cuticles, fly aways, sunburns, basically a miracle cure for anything that can go wrong on vacation.

Products used: Dior Diorskin Nude BB Cream in “Fair,” It Cosmetics Hello Lashes Natural 5-in-1 Treatment Mascara in “Black,” Smith’s Rosebud Salve.

Ellie Somfelean
Montreal | My Beauty Box

Let’s be serious! When going away on vacation half of my suitcase would be makeup and skincare. I have a problem! However, there are three items that would be absolutely indispensable to me while away for a summer vacation:

Korres Lip Butters. These little pots of goodness not only smell incredible but are the best lip balm I have ever tried. Period. It keeps my lips soft and protected while adding a sheer wash of colour. Best part yet? They are natural and loaded with amazing ingredients.

Consonant The Perfect Sunscreen. This natural sunscreen is my favourite summer product. It’s rich and nourishing and feels wonderful on the skin. It has a hint of tint, which helps blur out minor imperfection and does not have that white finish a lot of natural sunscreens tend to do. My skin loves it.

Bare Love Beauty Luxury Hair Fuel. This is a lightweight serum like products infused with amazing oils that help keep my mane bouncy and soft. It does not weight the hair down, keeps frizz at bay, adds shine and much needed moisture to my hair, which gets very hay-like in the summer.

And, I know I am cheating, but I’ll mention a forth product that screams summer to me: Essence eyeliner in “Tu-tu-touquoise.” It’s a long lasting, beautiful bright blue eyeliner that will add that “wow” factor and a hot punch of colour to any look.

Products used: Korres Lip Butters, Bare Love Beauty Luxury Hair Fuel, Consonant The Perfect Sunscreen, Essence eyeliner in “Tu-tu-touquoise”

Anjali Handa
Toronto | Rock That Look

I’m no stranger to living out of a suitcase. Whether it’s for a fun beach vacation or a corporate meeting across the country, my beauty essentials are always the same—a reliable foundation, a bold mascara and a great lipstick. Lately I’ve been reaching toward the same three products, which have quickly become by summer beauty must-haves.

Starting with a solid base, I am currently loving Arbonne’s Perfecting Liquid Foundation. My current shade is Neutral Beige, which seems to have adjusted quite well to the slight change in my skin tone since the summer started. This foundation is extremely light-weight and spreads well, so you only need a small drop for everyday coverage. I rarely use a makeup primer these days because I am very happy with the level of coverage and staying power of this foundation.   For eyes, I cannot get enough of Essence’s I Love Extreme Volume Mascara in “Black.” The colour is intense and the brush is big and fluffy, which I find works best to create a dramatic look on my lashes.

Lastly, a berry lipstick is appropriate on every occasion! I recently tried Maybelline’s Colour Sensational lipstick in Summer Sunset and have been wearing it ever since. It’s a great tone that is neither too dark nor too light for an olive skin tone. It can be worn casually during the day or with a more dressy night look. I love that this lipstick also leaves a bit of a stain for longer wear – you can eat and still look like you’ve got great colour on your lips!

Products used: Arbonne Perfecting Liquid Foundation in “Neutral Beige,” L’Oréal Voluminous Smouldering Linder in “Black,” Essence I Love Extreme Volume Mascara in “Black,” Arbonne Blush in “Blossom,” Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick in “Summer Sunset”