'Small' doesn't equal settling for less -- it's easy to hit up the department store to stock up on samples of your favorite luxe fragrances, or shop online where loads of cult beauty products now come in travel sizes. Keep your eyes peeled for brands that keep their goods on the compact side, too -- when we're sitting in the middle row at 30,000 feet and the AC's on blast, you'll find us, eyes closed, rubbing in the superhydrating Tata Harper Repairative Moisturizer, $105, which easily slides through TSA at 1.7 fl oz.
If your bag is seriously hurting for space, keep minis, like It Cosmetics Travel Size Confidence in a Cream, $16, stowed away in your travel kit, so you're always ready to hit the road.
...When it comes to beauty products, that is. (Obviously go for double if it's boardwalk ice cream.) Buy a box of single-use tanning wipes, face wipes and sheet masks, and throw a few in your bag for each trip to save major space. Right now we're living for Tenoverten Non-Acetone Polish Remover + Finishing Hand Cleanser Cloths, $32, which even come with a cleansing hand cloth in case you need to nix a chipped paint job on the fly and your manicurist is across the country.
Unless you've got tricky hair, most of us are fine suffering through hotel shampoo and conditioner for a couple of days, but face wash is a different story -- BYO to avoid a mug irritated from harsh soap. Cleansers love to spill and ooze out of makeup bags, which is why a powder or stick cleaner is a must. Urban Decay Meltdown Makeup Remover Cleansing Oil Stick, $26, melts into a liquid as you swipe it across your face and rinses off easily with no icky residue.
Likewise, Honest Beauty Refreshingly Clean Powder Cleanser, $22, gently yet effectively washes away the day's grime, and comes in genius, single-serve packaging that's no bigger than a sugar packet.
With so many overachieving products on the market (like CC creams that prime, protect and correct skin, all-in-one moisturizers that work day and night, or color sticks that add a wash of warmth to your eyes, cheeks, and lips) you're best off leaving the one-hit wonders at home. Bite Beauty Multisticks, $24, come in 18 hues, and unlike other color sticks we've seen in the past (that are too powdery on the lips, or irritate the eyes), these creamy sticks feel great gliding over the whole face.
Problem: you need dry shampoo because washing your hair daily while on vacation is a no -- but aerosol cans (in all their lovely convenience) can be total space hoggers. Solution: throw down a few bucks for this teeny tiny bottle of Verb Dry Shampoo powder, $7, which you just gently tap into trouble spots and massage in for more volume.
