Beauty Packing Hacks: 14 Compact Finds That Do It All

Author - Ashley Keegan

Dreaming of your next getaway but dreading the Tetris-esque challenge of stashing all of your necessities into a TSA-approved carry-on? No worries — we’ve got your covered!

Whether you’re gearing up for your spring break beach vacay, cramming in a late-season ski trip or jetting off for work, the last thing you want to worry about is if all the stuff you need to look and feel your best will fit in your luggage. Luckily, there’s lots of clever beauty and hair tools to help you maximize your suitcase space, and essential travel-size toiletry sets from your favorite beauty brands so you never have to sacrifice good hair days and flawless skin for your love of travel.

Below, we’ve rounded up some of the most clever, budget-friendly beauty tools and mini-sized must-haves to make packing for your next getaway as effortless as possible.

Best Travel Hair Tools

BondiBoost Mini Interchangeable 2-in-1 Hair Straightener Brush and Curling Iron

If you want to maximize your hairstyling options while minimizing your luggage overload, this compact styler is a must. It has two interchangeable attachments: a hot brush for smooth, bouncy blowouts and a curling iron for creating curls and waves. The set also includes a heat mat and travel case so you can just grab and go.

Price: $69 at Sephora

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Laifen MINI Hair Dryer

We can all agree that hotel hair dryers are… not the best. But packing your own from home would take up half of your carry-on! Fortunately, this small-but-mighty ionic hair dryer is just 3 inches wide, less than 9 inches long and super lightweight at just 10.5 ounces. Its ceramic tech can dry hair super fast with low noise output, and deliver silky smooth looks and frizz control in a flash. It also includes a magnetic nozzle for more concentrated heat application, if you prefer.

Price: $109.99 at Amazon

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BaBylissPRO Mini Straightening Iron with Travel Pouch

If you tend toward straight styles, or only need to do some quick touch ups and frizz taming, this compact straightening iron is a great pick. Its 1/2-inch-wide nano titanium plates are only about as long as a finger, but they provide even heat distribution and precise control for a sleek and shiny finish from root to tip.

Price: $44.99 at Ulta

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Get On Your OUAI Minis Kit

Whether you use OUAI everyday or you’re looking to pamper your hair on your next getaway, these luxe minis are the perfect size for travel. The detox shampoo removes buildup and smoothes frizz while the leave-in conditioner provides weightless hydration. Finish off with the hair oil to protect your tresses from heat and humidity, and you’ll be looking perfectly styled wherever you go.

Price: $35 at Sephora

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Best Travel Skincare

Summer Fridays The Jet Lag Essentials Hydration Set

The air at high altitudes is super dry — sometimes as low as 10% humidity — so our skin needs a little extra help after flying. This travel-sized set from Summer Fridays has you covered with eye patches, a hydrating mist, deep-hydration serum and a tube of Jet Lag Mask to properly nourish and rejuvenate dry, stressed skin.

Price: $34 at Sephora

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Supergoop! Round-Trip Ready SPF Travel Kit

Whether you’re headed on a beach vacation or a ski trip, SPF is essential for the health of your skin. Fortunately, Supergoop! offers this collection of travel-sized favorites that’ll have you covered from head to toe. It includes Unseen Sunscreen that doubles as a primer for makeup; sweat-resistant PLAY Everyday SPF 50 in both lotion and body mist; and SPF 30 PLAY Lip Shield to prevent a scorched kisser.

Price: $40 at Ulta

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Patchology On The Fly Travel Facial Kit

Pamper yourself post-flight with this cute little kit from Patchology. It includes two sheet masks, hydrating lip gel, restorative retinol eye gels and rejuvenating under-eye patches to combat a jet-lagged look.

Price: $22 at Ulta

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Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Jet Set

Whether you’re headed to the beach or just want to feel like you are, this travel-friendly set of minis from Sol de Janeiro will keep your skin clean and hydrated while on the go. The set includes body wash, Bum Bum Cream and body mist in the cult-favorite Cheirosa ’62 — a scent that’s deliciously gourmand with notes of pistachio, caramel and vanilla.Price: $34 at Sephora

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Best Travel Makeup

NARS Travel-Size Starter Set

Forget all that time spent precariously decanting expensive liquids into TSA-friendly bottles and stuffing full-size makeup palettes into your toiletry bag! Sometimes, time is money — and these NARS travel-size minis are worth the price if you’re a frequent traveler looking for a worry-free, grab-and-go kit without compromising quality. You can customize your set with your perfect shades of creamy concealer, bronzing powder, blush and eyeshadow duo. The kit also includes a mini tube of Climax Mascara.

Price: $90.95 (orig. $107) at NARS

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NUDESTIX NUDIES Matte All Over Face Blush Color

If you’d prefer to cut down on the number of makeup items you pack, a multi-stick like this one from NUDESTIX is a must. The buildable, creamy blush stick can be used on cheeks, lips and eyelids, and — unlike most other multi-sticks — it includes a high-quality makeup brush on one end for easier blending. Pick from 10 different shades to perfect your look.

Price: $35 at Ulta

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Geller To-Go 4-in-1 Travel Makeup Brush

If you’re not leaving home without everything you need for a full face, at least cut down on the chaos of carrying multiple brushes with this clever 4-in-1 solution. Laura Geller’s travel-friendly makeup brush includes four interchangeable brush heads — all-over powder, complexion, blending and precision tapered — to create any and every look while you’re away from home.

Price: $24 (orig. $84) at Laura Geller

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Best Travel Beauty Tools

MR.GREEN Grooming Kit

Some personal care kits might have a few more tools than this, but TSA checks are always a crapshoot when it comes to those sharp and pointy objects. That’s why we’re loving this simplified kit with the three beauty tools you’re most likely to reach for: a nail clipper, tweezers and a glass nail file. These are high-quality and made with surgical-grade stainless steel, and they all stash neatly in a sleek and sturdy case.

Price: $21.99 at Amazon

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Lighted Travel Mirror with Cover

Anyone who has tried to do their makeup in a hotel room knows that bringing your own tabletop mirror is a must. This slim and clever travel mirror lights up with just a touch and offers three LED temperatures so you can check your look in every light. Its snap-close cover keeps it safe in your bag, and it swings open to stand on its own at any viewing angle you want. Plus, it charges via USB so you don’t need to worry about packing batteries or anything like that.

Price: $20 at Target

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Kitsch Mini Spa Rollers

These mini spa rollers are smaller than a dollar bill, but they’re indispensable tools for any traveler. The grooved silicone roller promotes healthy blood circulation and is ideal for relieving stress and headaches after a long day of travel. And if you pop the smooth stainless steel roller into your hotel mini fridge, it’s perfect for soothing jet-lagged, puffy eyes — or a mild sunburn on your next beach vacation.

Price: $16 at Target

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Related: Mark your calendar! From March 5-9 we are hosting our annual Spring Savecation event. We’re bringing RetailMeNot exclusive deals up to 70% off and massive cash back on hotels, flights, and travel must-haves.

about Ashley Keegan

she is a freelance writer with years of experience hunting down the web's best deals (both for work and for fun). When she's not writing, she can be found road-tripping to national parks and baseball stadiums, trying out new recipes, or hanging out at home in Brooklyn as she spoils her two rescued tortoiseshell cats.

About Ashley Keegan

Ashley Keeganis a freelance writer with years of experience hunting down the web's best deals (both for work and for fun). When she's not writing, she can be found road-tripping to national parks and baseball stadiums, trying out new recipes, or hanging out at home in Brooklyn as she spoils her two rescued tortoiseshell cats.