Every Beauty Essential You'll Need This Summer And Why

Memorial Day kicks off the official start of summer, which means it’s time to update your beauty bag with travel friendly (TSA-approved) summer essentials to keep you fresh, clean, and oh-so-glam.

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.

2. La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Facial Sunscreen SPF 60

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.)

3. bareMinerals Faux-Tan All Over Face Color

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.

4. Cinema Secrets Professional Brush Cleaner (TSA-Friendly Size)

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.

5. Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara

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.

6. Supergoop! Fusion Lip Balm SPF 30

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.

7. Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Cream Mini (TSA-Friendly Size)

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.

8. Dr. Jart Deep Hydration Sheet Dermask

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.

9. MAKE UP FOR EVER Eye Seal

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.

10. Tarte Cheek Stain, Awakening

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.

11. It’s A 10 Miracle Leave-In Conditioner (TSA-Friendly Size)

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.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.