Every Beauty Essential You'll Need This Summer, and Why

It’s good form to clean out your beauty bag every season, tossing expired beauty products, and relegating non-essentials to your vanity. Your summer beauty bag should be lean, and TSA-friendly, just in case your wanderlust inspires a last minute flight to an exotic isle (hey, it’s summer, time to throw caution to the wind). Even if you’re not jet-setting, rising temperatures mean it’s time to switch up your skin care and makeup game.

Come summer, the last thing you want is a melting face, so the following products strike the right balance of light coverage and maximum impact. If you’re prone to acne, you’ll want to peruse this list, as summer can wreak havoc on your pores if you’re not using the right products. Plus, these beauty bag essentials protect you from the sun, rehydrate your skin after a day at the beach, and nourish hair that’s been exposed to Chlorine and sea-salt. And, all these beauty bag essentials contain (at max) 3.4 ounces of liquid, making them TSA-friendly.

Ladies, don’t let the patriarchy slow you down; be prepared to whiz through security during your summer travels and stay primped by updating your beauty bag for summer with the following.

The French beauty and skincare line BIODERMA owns the patten on micellar water, which is a formula that mimics the composition of the skin, and removes makeup. You don’t have to wash your face to achieve clean and balanced skin with this product, making it ideal for travel (bonus when you order the 100 ml/3.3 oz. TSA-friendly size). Plus, if acne is an issue, purifying agents like zinc gluconate and copper sulphate help regulate oil production, keeping pores clean.

Another score from the French pharmacy, Anthelios by La Roche Posay is dermatologist recommended and comes with a slew of beauty awards. Offering UVA and UVB protection, this formula is super lightweight and dries to a matte finish, so you can wear under makeup or alone, and no one will know what a stellar job you’re doing protecting your skin. (Tip: don’t forget your neck and décolleté.)

Mineral copper complex, aloe vera and vegetable-derived emollients make this bronzing self-tanner an ideal choice for your summer beauty bag. Get a sun-kissed glow, without potential sun damage. The product stays on for five to seven days, deepens if you reapply, and is safe for acne-prone skin because it doesn’t clog pores.

Dirty makeup brushes can cause break-outs, especially in the warm months when you might be applying makeup to a sweaty face (touch-ups, people, touch-ups). How often should you clean your makeup brushes? “From a dermatologist’s perspective, I would like to see daily brush washing, so bugs and old make-up doesn’t accumulate,” Greg Goodman, associate professor and dermatologist at the Dermatology Institute of Victoria tells BuzzFeed Life. With that in mind, Cinema Secrets Professional Brush Cleaner in TSA-friendly size is ideal for your summer makeup bag.

A waterproof mascara is a summer must, because there’s no reason to go bare-lashed to the pool. This formula is truly waterproof (and best removed with an oil-based cleanser) and the brush adds a nice curl to lashes.

Did you know that your lips are prone to sun damage? Indeed. Protect your pucker with Supergoop! formulated with acai and shea butter. Not only does this product taste delectable, it doubles as a sheer gloss.

Hollywood’s makeup artist du jour has an amazing line of skincare and makeup products. Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream is a celeb favorite for its anti-aging, hydrating and youth-promoting ingredients that are necessary to nourish your skin after sun exposure or a dip in the sea. This TSA-friendly mini size makes it perfect for your beauty bag.

If you haven’t tried a sheet mask yet, summer is the perfect time to start. Your skin needs extra moisture in the heat. Gabriela Santana, Executive Director of Esthetics and Teacher Training at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture tells StyleCaster, “Heat makes us perspire more and lose moisture, so it is very important to re-hydrate.” This sheet mask is a choice solution.

If you are going to wear eyeliner or shadow during summer, be sure to apply Aqua Seal, so your dovetails don’t droop. Makeup artists have been relying on this waterproof formula forever.

If you want to keep your summer beauty bag lean, use a product that can multi-task. Tarte cheek stain can double as a lip color too.

I’ve yet to meet a hair stylist who doesn’t love this product. Tresses need extra care during summer, so you can spritz before and after you take a dip in the sea or pool. This TSA-friendly size makes this much raved about leave-in conditioning treatment ideal for your summer beauty bag.