How I Travelled the World for 4 Months with Just 7 Beauty Products—and the Game-Changing Secrets Behind My Minimalist Routine

Ever tried fitting your entire skincare and makeup arsenal into just a carry-on? Sounds like a game of beauty Tetris, right? Well, during my four-month adventure trekking across South America, that was exactly my challenge. As a beauty and health writer with a borderline obsession for high-performance products, I wasn’t about to let being a digital nomad cramp my skincare style. But packing light without sacrificing efficacy—now, that called for some serious product pickiness. After endless sifting through ingredient lists (because let’s be real, what’s the point if it doesn’t deliver?), I whittled it down to seven powerhouse multitaskers that stood the heat of Brazilian beaches, the vibe of Lollapalooza, and the dazzling lights of Michelin-starred dinners. Wondering how to ace your travel beauty game without lugging a suitcase full of products? Stick around—I’m spilling the secrets to my carry-on routine that keeps my skin glowing and look on point, no matter where in the world I am. LEARN MORE

8 min read

During my digital nomad days, I spent four months traveling across South America with just a carry-on bag. And as a beauty and health writer, I’m a sucker for high-performance skincare and makeup products—so I was not willing to let my travels interfere with my routine.

As such, I was faced with a challenge: To pack only the best-of-the-best multitasking beauty products that contain powerful ingredients actually proven to work. I had to be pretty discerning, to say the least. But after lots of time spent deliberating, researching, and inspecting ingredients labels, I ended up packing just seven mainstay items. These picks successfully protected me from the sun during pinch-me beach days in Rio de Janeiro and Florianópolis; kept my lips looking on point and feeling moisturized while I danced at Lollapalooza under the sweltering São Paulo sun; helped my complexion look refreshed during Michelin-starred dinners in Lima; and made my lashes pop during 30,000-step days through Buenos Aires landmarks.

Now that I’m back from my adventures, I can confidently say these products deserve a spot in every beauty enthusiast’s travel makeup bag. So here’s a detailed breakdown of everything I brought with me, and why each product made the cut. Believe me, beauty on-the-go has never been easier.

EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

Best Sunscreen

EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Sunscreen

Credit: EltaMD Skincare

There’s nothing worse than a sunscreen that feels greasy and causes breakouts. This one sidesteps those issues with a weightless formula that seamlessly melts into the skin all while providing adequate protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

Sunscreen is a non-negotiable for me all year round. But I knew it would be especially important while I escaped New York City winter for South American sun. After all, most of the sun damage that accumulates in our skin are caused by things like walking, driving, and outdoor dining, Women’s Health previously reported. And while I planned on spending lots of time enjoying those sorts of activities, I wasn’t willing to exchange priceless memories below the equator for a heightened risk of skin cancer and signs of aging.

Luckily, that tradeoff wasn’t something I had to worry about thanks to my holy grail sunscreen: the EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46. It’s constantly endorsed by dermatologists because the sun protection factor, or SPF, is broad-spectrum, which means the product can protect the skin against both the ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays emitted by the sun.

ICYDK, exposure to the sun’s UVA rays primarily causes signs of aging like hyperpigmentation, lines, and wrinkles. Exposure to UVB rays, on the other hand, can cause more serious damage like burns and skin cancer. So it’s important to use a daily sunscreen that protects the skin from both types of radiation. Plus, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends people use a daily sunscreen with an SPF or 30 or higher. EltaMD’s UV Clear sunscreen flaunts an sun protection factor of 46, which allowed me to explore South America worry-free knowing that I was more than adequately protected.

And as if that wasn’t enough, I also loved that the sunscreen’s formula goes on completely white-cast free and quickly melts into the skin without leaving behind a sticky residue. It also managed to avoid breaking out my acne-prone skin even as I spent hours in the muggy streets of Buenos Aires.

Shop The EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Multi-Function Moisturizer

Best Daily Moisturizer

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré, Multifunction Daily Moisturizer

Credit: Embryolisse

This moisturizer is infused with nourishing ingredients such as shea butter and aloe vera, which manage to hydrate the skin without making it feel greasy or clogged. Plus, it doubles as a primer that will make your skin (and your makeup) look all the more luminous.

The best makeup primers help create a more youthful and radiant complexion, while memorable moisturizers infuse the skin with lasting hydration without making it feel irritated or greasy. But the cream of the crop somehow manage to do both—and the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Multi-Function Moisturizer does exactly that.

By functioning as both a light moisturizer and a primer, this product is worthy of a spot in both your morning and nighttime beauty routines. In the a.m., I leveraged the product’s skin-priming benefits by using it under my tinted moisturizer. Come bedtime, I used it as a soothing and replenishing night cream that I applied after my daily retinol serum.

When you hear the term “night cream,” you might think of a moisturizer that’s heavy and thick. This one is anything but, and honestly functions as the ideal summer moisturizer: Lightweight, soothing, and most importantly, effective. The formula is also fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, so it doesn’t irritate my reactive, sensitive skin. Plus, it absorbs quickly and never leaves my complexion feeling oily or sticky—a huge win when dealing with hot, humid temperatures while traveling.

Shop The Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Multi-Function Moisturizer

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner

Best Lip Liner

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner Pencil

Credit: Charlotte Tilbury

It’s pretty much a kill-joy when you put time and effort into creating the perfectly pouty lip, and then all your hard work is erased once you sip on a drink. This flattering liner has impressive staying power that’ll allow you to enjoy every sip of your travel beverages.

I’ve tried maaany lip liners over the years. So you can trust me when I say Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Cheat Lip Liner is the perfect your-lips-but-better product. The liner comes in 20 flattering shades, but throughout my travels abroad, I rocked Pillow Talk Medium—a warm berry pink. I used the pencil to slightly over-line the top of my upper lip and the center of my lower lip to enhance my natural pout.

And let me clue you in on a little secret: I got compliments on my lips every single time I swiped this liner on. So I can promise you that this pencil is a surefire, low-effort way to totally level up an otherwise simple makeup look.

There’s nothing more frustrating than a lip liner that drags and pulls at the skin or leaves behind flakes. It’s also a real bummer when lip liners crumble and break easily. I can assure you that this liner sidesteps all of those issues and flaunts a velvety and waterproof formula. Plus, it’s made to last for up to six hours without smudging—and its staying power managed to withstand ceviche dinners in Lima while I sipped on fresh coconuts and Caipirinhas. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Shop The Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner

IT Cosmetics CC Nude Glow

Best Travel CC Cream

IT Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow

Credit: IT Cosmetics

Exploring the world doesn’t have to mean sacrificing beautiful skin. This CC cream effortlessly covers up imperfections like redness and dark spots, all while offering a sun protection factor of 40.

For the uninitiated, CC creams, also known as color correctors, are pigmented products that offer medium coverage and can help cover imperfections in the skin. They can be used to address discoloration due to rosacea, pimples, and acne scars, as well as uneven skin texture, hyperpigmentation, and melasma.

I’ll admit, CC creams have been my go-to in recent years, and I haven’t used foundation since my mid-twenties. But with a product like the IT Cosmetics CC Nude Glow, there’s no need to turn back. This CC cream flaunts great coverage, a sun protection factor of 40, and manages to last hours on end without looking cakey or feeling heavy. Plus, it evens out my skin tone, masks my redness, and creates a dewy finish, which is a tall order in the humid weather of South America.

When I’m constantly on the go, I’m drawn to complexion products that are lightweight enough to feel like I’m not wearing anything at all. That’s another major reason why this CC cream boasts a spot in my carry-on bag. And when you’re traveling light, it’s crucial to prioritize products that play nice in the sandbox with your other go-tos. So I’m happy to report that this CC cream is a true team player: It layers well over the Embryolisse moisturizer, and it didn’t create any pilling or excess slipperiness once I applied my Charlotte Tilbury lip liner.

As an added bonus: The built-in SPF 40 in this product meant I could set aside a few extra pumps of my EltaMD sunscreen for no-makeup days. Score!

Shop The IT Cosmetics CC Nude Glow

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara

Best Travel Mascara

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Tubing Mascara

Credit: Thrive Causemetics

No one wants to spend their time traveling constantly checking their undereyes for mascara fallout. You don’t have to worry about that with this one. The tubing formula makes it easy to apply the product and even easier to remove. Your best lashes yet are here.

On a day-to-day basis, swiping on some mascara can be a quick and easy way to flaunt long, thick-looking eyelashes. But if you’re stuck using one with a bad formula, you might struggle with smudging, flaking and panda eyes. Yikes. Tubing mascaras can help you sidestep those issues since they use polymers instead of waxes to coat each individual lash with a little tube. This results in lash separation and length that you can’t always achieve with traditional mascaras.

That’s why ever since I discovered the Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions tubing mascara, it has been a mainstay in my makeup bag. The results were unmatched throughout my travels: It never smudged after I got sweaty from long walks exploring cities in 90-degree heat, or even after I got completely drenched from dips in the ocean.

Plus, it also comes off very easily: All I have to do is rinse my eyelids with plain warm water and wipe my lashes gently with my hands—no eye makeup remover required. Do you know what that means? One less item I needed to pack in my carry-on! So it’s safe to say, this mascara is a beauty lifesaver for travelers.

Shop The Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions mascara

SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.5

Best Travel Retinol Serum

SkinMedica® Retinol Complex 0.5

Credit: SkinMedica

Being on the move doesn’t have to mean putting a pause to your skincare regimen. This gentle yet effective TSA-friendly retinol serum can help renew skin and improve the appearance of fine lines no matter where you are.

Whether or not you’re a skincare newbie, you’ve likely heard of tretinoin and its skin-transforming benefits. It’s one of the best ingredients science has to offer when it comes to reversing signs of skin aging. But it can also make the skin thinner and more prone to damage from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Knowing that I’d be outside a lot during my travels, I decided that bringing my tried-and-true tretinoin cream wasn’t the wisest idea.

So instead, I brought the SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.5. ICYDK, both tretinoin and retinol are considered retinoids, or skincare ingredients derived from vitamin A. Tretinoin is prescription-strength, while retinol is a gentler, over-the-counter derivative that provides similar skin benefits, albeit over a longer period of time. But because it’s gentler, retinol tends to cause less photo-sensitivity. So I knew a high-performing retinol serum was exactly what I needed for my digital nomad era.

I used this retinol serum only twice a week throughout my travels so that I could maintain my skincare routine while still avoiding increasing my skin’s sensitivity to the sun. I also made sure to apply sunscreen throughout the day to give my complexion a much-needed extra layer of protection. Plus, the experience of applying the serum was lovely: I appreciated that it didn’t dry out my skin and that it actually managed to feel quite hydrating thanks to the niacinamide, squalane, and soybean oil the formula contains.

Shop The SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.5

Supergoop! PLAY Lip Balm SPF 30

Best Travel Lip Balm

Supergoop! PLAY Mint Lip Balm SPF 30 Sunscreen

Credit: Supergoop!

You’ll never have to worry about neglecting your lips with this power-packed SPF lip balm. It boasts a sun protection factor of 30, all while offering intense hydration and a flattering shine that will earn you compliment after compliment.

When it comes to protecting your skin from the sun, your lips deserve as much tender, loving care as the rest of your complexion. After all, the skin on the lips is thinner than elsewhere on the face, so the sun can do some real damage if your lips aren’t adequately protected. That’s why I was sure to pack the Supergoop! SPF 30 lip balm for my travels: It doubles as a moisturizing lip treatment and sunscreen for your pout.

Like many of my travel beauty essentials, this lip balm is a multitasking powerhouse: It does the job of both a lip gloss and a chapstick, allowing me to save considerable space in my makeup bag. Plus, it has the consistency of Aquaphor, so it’s super hydrating and leaves a flattering shine on the lips that pairs perfectly with the Charlotte Tilbury lip liner. And as if that wasn’t enough, the experience of applying this balm is enjoyable, too. It flaunts a refreshing mint flavor and manages to feel lightweight despite all the protection it provides.

Shop The Supergoop! PLAY Lip Balm SPF 30

If my carry-on beauty routine proved anything, it’s that you don’t need a suitcase full of products to look and feel your best. With these hardworking multitaskers, staying polished while on the go has never been simpler.

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April Benshosan is a New York City-based writer and editor. She graduated with a Master’s degree in Publishing from Pace University, and her byline appears on LIVESTRONG.com, Eat This, Not That!, Business Insider, MSN, Yahoo!, OK! Magazine, and Travel Squire. In her free time, you can catch April lifting weights, spending time with her pup, or planning her next vacation.

Katie Mogg is the beauty editorial assistant at Women’s Health. Since starting college at Northeastern University in 2020, her bylines have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NBC News and The Boston Globe. She strives to help readers lead happier and healthier lives through science-backed stories that explain how to care for hair, skin and nails. When she’s not working, Katie enjoys live music, strolling through Central Park, planning her next beach getaway, and sharing hotpot with friends.