Beauty tips: Keep your skin looking good while you're on the road

By Alene Dawson

April 28, 2016 6 AM PT

Whether you’re flying across the globe or road tripping on the Pacific Coast Highway, there are ways to keep yourself free of droopy eyes and sunburns while keeping your hair perfectly coifed and your face glowing on the go.

Staying gorgeous on the road comes down to making smart choices before your trip while you’re grabbing supplies at the drugstore or your favorite beauty counter.

If you’re flying, your beauty options don’t have to be diminished because of Transportation Security Administration rules. (Your creams, potions and lotions just have to be 3.4 ounces or less.) After all, you’re allowed to bring a quart-sized bag containing liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in your carry-on bag in travel-size containers.

And if you’re in a hot car for hours, remember to leave the easy-to-melt beauty items at home and look for creams and oils that are more durable in the season’s hot weather.

Sephora, Target, Ulta and individual brands offer unique, TSA-friendly mini products ranging from basic brands to luxury finds. No matter where you’re headed this spring and summer, there are good workarounds for being on the road, such as solid perfumes and haircare products available at Lush; specialty beauty wipes such as Savvy Travelers face cleaner/moisturizer; and multi-use makeup products including Nudestix sculpting and lip/cheek pencils, Tarte Cosmetics’ Double Duty Beauty collection and Nars Cosmetics’ Multiple makeup sticks.

“I love traveling with kits and palettes,” says Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist Jenn Streicher. “They can come premade, but I love making my own. I most recently made a beautiful palette with several of the new Laura Mercier lipsticks. It’s nice to have a lot of variety in one package. MAC offers good magnetic customizable palettes.”

For skincare do-it-yourself kits, the Container Store has a good range of chemical bisphenol A-free Nalgene leak-proof bottles and jars as well as other TSA-friendly containers. Here are other product worth packing for your getaway.

Get glammed up on the fly

Bobbi’s Cult Classics by Bobbi Brown ($39, bobbibrowncosmetics.com) includes a Mini Pot Rouge for lips and cheeks, Mini Crystal Lip Gloss, Mini Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick, Mini Smokey Eye Mascara and Mini Soothing Cleansing Oil.

Give your locks some love

Amika Bombshell Babe: Blowout Travel Kit ($62, birchbox.com) includes a Mighty Mini Ionic Dryer, Un.Done Texture Spray, Bombshell Blowout Spray, Oil Treatment. Or try showing off a sleeker look via the Amika Hair on Fleek: Straightening Travel Set ($62, birchbox.com), which includes the Mighty Mini Ceramic Styler, Straight Up Smoothing Balm, Oil Treatment and Perk Up Dry Shampoo.

Freshen up after a red-eye

Violet Grey Beauty Emergency Set ($145, violetgrey.com) includes RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek, Tatcha Original Aburatorigami Blotting Sheets, Caudalie Organic Grape Water, Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water Cloths, René Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo, Blax Blax Hair Elastics and Olas Marine Bio-Active Mouthrinse.

Guys grooming on the road

Jack Black Power Trip Travel Set ($52, getjackblack.com) includes Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser, Beard Lube Conditioning Shave, Double Duty Face Moisturizer SPF 20,Turbo Wash Energizing Hair & Body Cleanser and Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25. Leather lover? The Brickell Essential Travel Dopp Kit is a luxe option ($70, brickellmensproducts.com).

Weekend getaway essentials

Malin + Goetz 1-ounce essential kit ($30, malinandgoetz.com) includes Grapefruit Face Cleanser, Vitamin E Face Moisturizer, Bergamot Body Cleanser, Vitamin B5 Body Moisturizer, Peppermint Shampoo and Cilantro Conditioner.

Take care of your nails on the go

Deborah Lippmann The Stripper To Go Lavender Lacquer Remover Mitts ($12, sephora.com).

Protect your skin from sun damage

La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Daily Tone Correcting Primer ($39.99, laroche-posay.us) or try Neutrogena CoolDry Sport Sunscreen Stick Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ ($9.99, target.com) for throw-it-in-your-bag convenience.