Road Trip! 6 Beauty Essentials to Pack for the Ride

One of the upsides of a long road trip is not having to worry about TSA restrictions with your beauty bag. Because let’s face it: airport security never hesitates to confiscate items that are beyond the accepted ounce limit—be it never-used liquid foundation or your favorite day cream. Still, you want to be practical about the size and weight of your load. In other words, don’t dump your medicine cabinet into a bag and hit the road. It’s still a trip after all, so compact and travel-sized goodies are the way to go. Below, we’ve rounded up essential road trip beauty products (some are even multi-functional!) you need to pack ahead of your escape.

DRY SHAMPOO 

One of the best parts of a road trip is driving down the road with the top down, hands in the air, singing classic throwback tunes from yesteryear. It’s carefree, it’s fun, and—depending on your location—it’s incredibly scenic. But you’ll have to be prepared for the moment those windows roll up. Hair blowing in the wind may look picture-perfect in movies, but let’s just say the outcome you’re left with is more often than not a little bit messier. Pack a brush to help tame your mane and get rid of any knots. If your strands are looking a little flat, give them life again with a quick spritz of dry shampoo—like L’Oréal Professionnel Fresh Dust—at the roots.  

FACE MIST

If it’s hot outside, chances are it’ll be hot and stuffy in the car too, especially if it’s packed with people. (Ugh, body heat.) For a refreshing pick-me-up, reach for Vichy Thermal Spa Water 50g, a facial mist boasting 15 minerals and antioxidants. Your tired skin will immediately feel awakened, soothed, and comfortable with just a few sprays. We never travel without it!

MAKEUP REMOVER WIPES 

If your road trip turns into an overnight excursion, your makeup will need to come off before you shut your eyes. Wipe down the surface of your skin and say goodbye to stubborn makeup with NYX Professional Makeup Be Gone! Makeup Remover Wipes. They’re easy to transport and leave your skin feeling squeaky clean.

MICELLER WATER

If makeup remover wipes aren’t your thing, ditch them in favor of micellar water. La Roche-Posay Micellar Water 100ml is the ultimate multi-tasker as it gently cleanses, tones, and removes makeup in a few quick and easy sweeps of a cotton pad. Aside from wipes, micellar water is the most practical choice for cleansing skin while on a road trip, since it doesn’t require you to be near a sink for rinsing. 

SUNSCREEN 

Remember our picture of a road trip with the windows rolled down and the music blasting? None of that should happen without a heaping dose of sunscreen applied to your skin first. Damaging UV rays can penetrate skin through windows too, so you’ll need an SPF of 15 or higher handy even if you’re not riding in a convertible. La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Tinted Ultra-Light Sunscreen Fluid offers slight coverage, broad-spectrum protection, and a matte finish. 

LIPSTICK

You don’t want to bring along every last piece of makeup you own but if there’s one item you have to make certain to bring, it’s matte lipstick. Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lip Color will stay on all day, even through all the snacks you’ll inevitably consume during the ride. 

Traveling by air? Check out our must-haves for staying radiant at 30,000 feet!