Bite-Sized Beauty: Travel-Ready Skincare Under $30
Your daily skincare routine is part of the essential “you time” that makes your day run smoothly. Taking the time to cleanse, tone, serum, moisturize, and SPF your face each day is not only necessary to keep your skin happy but also to keep yourself happy — wherever you are. At home, you have all the space you need to house your favorite products, but when you’re heading off on vacation, it’s a different story. We’ve done the research so you don’t have to and found the best travel-sized skincare products available at a reasonable cost: under $30.
Travel-Sized Skincare Under $30
- Beauty Elixir Face Mist | Caudalie
Size: 1 fl. oz
Price: $20
Hero ingredients: Green grape, rose essential oil, rosemary essential oil, lemon balm essential oil.
Having one product on hand that can perform more than one function (hydrating, pore tightening, and makeup setting) saves space when you travel. You can use this wonderful little spritz at any time of the day or night on a bare face or over makeup. It’s 100% natural and vegan, and ophthalmologists and dermatologists have tested the formula to ensure its safety and effectiveness.
- Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 | Babo Botanicals
Size: 3 fl. oz
Price: $19
Hero ingredients: Nutri-Soothe™ Herbal Blend
SPF is one of the most essential steps in the skincare process and certainly not something you should be without on vacation. This Babo Botanicals formula is one of our favorites, and it smooths on just like a fine lotion. A little goes a long way, so you only need a small dollop, but don’t forget to reapply if you are spending time in direct sunlight. This mineral sunscreen is great to wear in the water (since it’s water-resistant for 80 minutes) or on a daily basis.
- Lotus Youth Preserve Radiance Renewal Night Cream | Fresh
Size: 15ml/ 0.5 fl. oz
Price: $18 (on sale)
Hero ingredients: Super lotus, polyglutamic acid, and peach leaf.
Fresh is an excellent brand for travel-sized skincare. They have many options, but one of our favorites is the Lotus Youth Preserve Night Cream. Travel can be hard on your skin, so having a cocooning cream that fights the signs of fatigue and lets you wake up looking youthful and radiant is a must. The brand has recently upgraded the formula, so it packs a new punch. This facial moisturizer works in harmony with your skin’s natural nighttime renewal process to smooth texture and fine lines, minimize the appearance of pores, and give you a lot-from-within glow.
- Clarifying Cleanser | Murad
Size: 2 fl. oz
Price: $14
Hero ingredients: Salicylic acid and green tea.
Travel can often mean time on aircraft, which is a stressor that can aggravate acne-prone skin, which is where Murad’s Clarifying Cleanser comes in to save the day. This gel cleansing product helps dissolve oil buildup, purify your pores, clear away any blemishes, and help prevent future breakouts. The two types of salicylic acid (a beta hydroxy that cuts through oil) in this formula reduce the severity of acne and help your skin to heal properly from that stress.
- The Face Mini Illuminating Self-Tan Drops | Tan Luxe
Size: 0.3 fl. oz
Price: $25
Hero ingredients: Hydrolysed silk.
Wearing a high SPF on your face every day means that you likely won’t be as tan there as everywhere else. If you need to balance out your face-to-body tan ratio, the Tan Luxe mini self-tan drops can help! This glow-in-a-bottle is customizable (you can add as much or as little as you like) and available in two shades to build the level of tan you want. It cancels out any redness, and you can add it to any moisturizer, serum, or oil you already use.
- Travel Size Deep Cleansing Oil | DHC
Size: 2.3 fl. oz
Price: $16
Hero ingredients: Olive oil.
The waterproof makeup we often wear on vacation may require double cleansing or an oil-based cleanser to remove it properly. One of our favorite Japanese brands, DHC, has created a perfectly balanced oil cleanser to remove stubborn dirt and makeup while keeping your skin happy and clear. The gentle olive oil in the formula dissolves makeup and minimizes any irritation your skin may feel.
- Jet Lag Mask | Summer Fridays
Size: 1 fl. oz
Price: $26
Hero ingredients: Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.
The recycled and cold air that circulates through airplanes can have a drying effect on your skin, so having a super-hydrating mask on hand, especially if you’re traveling somewhere cold, will give your skin the support it needs to function well and feel supple and healthy. This tiny Summer Fridays tube will be your best friend on the road or in the air. The formula hydrates to minimize dry patches, brightens up, and evens out your complexion.
Travel Minis On A Budget
Going on holiday doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice your at home skincare routine. Remembering to cleanse, tone, moisturize, and protect your delicate facial skin — even when you’re having a busy and wonderful time on vacation — will keep you looking and feeling wonderful. Shopping for these travel bests to add to your hand luggage or suitcase means you’ll be able to pack easily, without paying for extra luggage weight. Have a great holiday!