Packing makeup for a weekend trip isn’t too bad, but what happens when you need to pack for a month? In the process of packing for my own month long trip to Taiwan & Korea, I came up with some easy tips to pack your makeup like a pro.
It’s possible to pack light for a month long trip if you follow these tips:
Acknowledge that you can’t take everything.
The first step to packing smart for any trip is to really acknowledge that you won’t be able to take everything. Unless you’re a professional makeup artist, you don’t need to take your entire makeup collection with you on a month long trip.
Define your go-to daily makeup look.
Most people who use makeup have a go-to daily makeup look. For some, it’s a clean cat eye with a matte lip. Or maybe you prefer a little lip gloss and concealer. No matter you’re go-to look, you know exactly the makeup products you need to achieve that look. So grab those items first and make sure you don’t bring more than one of each. If you’re makeup look is complicated, try looking for multi-use products like a lip/cheek stain or an eyeshadow that doubles as a highlighter.
Plan out your makeup the way you plan out your outfits.
Apart from your go-to daily makeup look, you might have special occasions like a wedding or a weekend at the beach that might require a different makeup look or product. But don’t overthink it here! There will be plenty of activities and special occasions where you’re go-to makeup look is all you need. And honestly, on some days you might not even be wearing any makeup at all. But if you need specialized products like a waterproof mascara, ask yourself if you can switch this product with one that you’re already bringing. If you really need both products, add it to the pile!
Bring only your most trustworthy makeup products.
A long trip is not the perfect time to try out all the newest makeup products from your Instagram feed. Bring along only your most trustworthy makeup products. If you really want to try something new on your trip, limit it to 1 or 2 products. Make sure these new products will be something you actually use. Don’t bring it if you have any doubts about wearing it. You can always wear it when you’re back home.
Travel size is your friend.
A month long trip seems like forever, but when was the last time you finished any makeup product in one month? If you can bring a travel size version instead of your full-size product, it’s not only lighter in your suitcase but it takes up less space in your makeup bag. And who doesn’t love an excuse to use a cute travel size product?
Gather your makeup products first and grab your makeup bag last.
Gather all the makeup products you want to bring on the trip and lay them out on a flat surface. This will help you to really see how much you’re bringing and if you’re packing too much. It’s easy to overpack if you put every item straight into your makeup bag without giving it a second thought. Leaving the makeup bag for last will also most likely lead to bringing a smaller makeup bag than you expected. Sometimes we overpack when we grab our biggest makeup bag first and think we need to fill it to the top. Flip the process on its head and you will pack lighter and smarter for any trip.
Bring only the makeup tools you use daily.
Selecting your makeup tools is perhaps the hardest part of packing light. So it’s necessary to apply a minimalist mindset when selecting which tools to bring on your month long trip. I don’t think you need to limit yourself to the space left in your makeup bag because you might need to bring a special case for your makeup brushes or tools. However I believe that you should only bring the makeup tools that you would use daily. If you followed the tips above, the probability of needing any other makeup tool is insignificant. So if you can live without it, I wouldn’t bring it.
BONUS TIP
Pack one go-to nail polish for any occasion. Sometimes you might need to patch up your nails or give yourself a quick manicure or pedicure for a special occasion.
I hope that all these tips helped you figure out how to pack smart for your next month long trip. I know how easy it is to overpack, but when traveling it’s not about the makeup you’re wearing, it’s about creating memorable experiences.
If you’re curious about what I packed on my trip to Taiwan & Korea, you can check out my blog post coming soon. I’ll also be reflecting on which products I actually used and which ones I wished I hadn’t brought.
If you have any tips for planning your travel makeup for a long trip, let me know in the comments. I’d love to see what other tips everyone has.
‘Til next time,
Daniela
