travel face brush

How To Pick & Pack The Best Travel Friendly Makeup Brushes

08 dec how to pick & pack the best travel friendly makeup brushes.

So, you’ve got your travel size makeup and your skincare packed onboard for an in-flight pamper, but your makeup brushes are a mess. Well, here’s a solution.

The makeup you pack for your holiday will only get you so far if you don’t have the tools to apply it. Whether you want a sun kissed beachy glow on the Mykonos shores, or a brown smoky eye in the Ibiza clubs, knowing which makeup brushes to travel with can be a bit of a hassle. But we’ve got you covered.

From singular portable makeup brushes, to travel brush sets, we’ve found the best travel friendly makeup brushes. These tools will have your makeup looking effortless on the go, and your makeup bags looking orderly. Read on!

Learn How To Pick Travel Friendly Makeup Brushes:

• Find Retractable Travel Makeup Brushes
• Look out for Multi-Tasking Makeup Brushes
• Try Mini Makeup Travel Brush Sets
• Get A Travel Makeup Case To Protect Your Brushes
• Importance Of Packing Your Makeup Brushes Properly

1. Purchase Retractable Brushes

If you are not able to purchase a makeup case with pockets and separators, then opt for retractable brushes. These are great if you want to avoid your makeup brushes touching and spreading germs and bacteria.

Retractable Face Brush

Nude by nature.

The Nude By Nature Retractable Brush is a perfect face brush for travel . You can use this multi purpose brush for your bronzer, setting powder or blush, because its bristles are dense which to help apply as much product as you desire. Additionally, this brush comes with a cap, therefore limiting the chance of the brush grabbing onto dust or bacteria in your bag.

Retractable Lip Brush

Bobbi brown.

This Bobbi Brown retractable lip brush makes applying your favourite lipstick a piece of cake. Its fine, flat hairs gives you clean precision.

Its small enough to throw in your bag, so you can touch up on-the-go, and you have peace of mind knowing it won’t get dirty whilst you travel.

Portable & Concealer Brush 150

Fenty beauty.

This portable Fenty brush is every contour lovers dream. The bristles are soft synthetic, making it gentle on the skin, and are cut to ensure precision and even blending. It’s multi-purpose use as a concealer brush makes it perfect to touch up and hide any imperfections on the go. Moreover, its magnetic cap ensures that your makeup brush is protected and easy to travel with , ready to conceal away your jetlag and chisel out your cheekbones.

2. Look For Multi-Tasking Travel Brushes

Why have one brush when you can have two or three!

Double-Ended Complexion Brush

The Hourglass brush is a great 2 in 1. With its high-grade synthetic fibers, this dual ended brush gives you flawless application. It’s secured with brush caps, keeping it hygienic in your luggage. The smaller brush end is perfect to conceal under your eyes and the larger brush is perfect to buff in foundation and powder to achieve that perfect base wherever you are!

T-Kit 3-in-1 Brush Set

Trinny london.

A three in one stackable brush set for defining lips, brows and eyes. With cruelty-free synthetic, quick drying fibers, this portable brush kit needs to be in your travel makeup kit when you need to pack light. They also all stack together quickly with a magnet fit, making it quick to apply and go!

Retractable Dual-Ended Eyeshadow Brush

This eyeshadow brush the ultimate on-the-go tool. Featuring dual retractable ends with a cap so you know the powder wont litter all over your cosmetic bag. Apply both creams and powder eyeshadow and even use it for concealer if you wish.

The soft and silky bristles will last forever with proper care and washing, a worthy investment for the regular jetsetter.

3. Try A Mini Makeup Brush Set

Mini kits are usually smaller versions of their large sized counterparts but made from the same materials.

A hot tip: Store them in your carry on luggage so they’re a bit more protected & you can also freshen up on a long-haul flight if you need.

Voyager Travel Brush Set

This mini travel brush set is perfect for your travel bag. Whether you want to get glam’d before you hop off your flight, or have limited room in your luggage, you’ll be prepared for anything. It comes with four soft brushes; a concealer brush, two eye shadow brushes and a brow or liner brush.

It’s perfect for touch ups throughout the day and to blend your makeup seamlessly! The small brush handles gives you more control of your application and it even comes in a mini travel case.

Most-Wanted Brush Set

With a combination of face and eye brushes that were made to be easier to hold, these brushes can create that flawless foundation appearance and softened eye look for any occasion.

This set includes a blending brush, a pencil brush, a tapered blending brush, a tapered highlighter brush and flat kabuki foundation brush. A brush for every step of your makeup routine.

4. Buy a Separate Case to House Your Travel Makeup Brushes

Purchasing a good makeup case that has separate compartments will ensure your makeup brushes stay clean throughout your travels. Firstly, make sure they are cleaned prior, so that they start off fresh. Allow them to dry before packing (this could take a day) because water can cause damage to the end of the brush it it seeps through. It can loosen bristles and build bacteria, making you worse off than where you started.

4-Way Professional Travel Makeup Bag

If you’re a makeup lover, then this travel makeup case is large enough to store everything you own. This sturdy case has a handy brush holder compartment that is dirt-resistant and water-resistant, making it hygienic and easy to clean.

Your brushes will remain protected with a covering and the brush slots are made to withstand turbulence. If you’re headed for a 6 month holiday, you can store your whole life in this travel case!

Jet Set Vanity Bag

Mecca cosmetica.

This brush bag is the perfect size to store your brushes and other essential travel products. You can store your makeup brushes protectively on one side, and store skincare in the zipped pouch.

This is a jet setters dream, as the same suggests, as it keeps all your items separated and clean.

Why Is It Important To Store Makeup Brushes Properly When Travelling?

Protecting and properly storing your makeup brushes when travelling is important, as they can get dirty amongst the dust and junk at the bottom of your bag.

Dirty makeup brushes can lead to clogged pores, premature aging and can cause breakouts from different bacteria build up on your brushes.

Try not to throw your brushes in with your makeup, store them separately in a different bag, preferably one with slots so that you can separate your brushes individually so bacteria doesn’t transfer between brushes. Make sure to clean them often to improve its longevity!

Keeping your makeup brushes clean when travelling can be easy once you’ve picked the right products.

If you want to make sure your makeup brushes make it to the other side, it all comes down to maintaining and caring for them as you would your makeup products. Regularly cleaning your makeup brushes will improve their life, as it avoids a build up of bacteria, which can ultimately damage your brushes.

When travelling, store your brushes in a makeup case that has individual brush slots. This will stop the transmitting of bacteria to each brush.

Do you have any other tips for makeup brushes? Let us know!

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Packing for a trip always has the potential to create more anxiety than it should, especially if you’re a makeup fanatic. Besides making sure the size of each product doesn’t go above TSA guidelines, deciding what to bring in the first place can be daunting. Some things are non-negotiable and others need to be replaced with airplane-friendly versions of themselves. Makeup brushes certainly fit the bill. For one, they make all the difference when it comes to application because while using your fingers is time-efficient, it can get messy very quickly. Still, quality makeup brushes are major must-haves that you won’t want to leave behind in a hotel or airport bathroom. In this case, investing in a travel makeup brush set means you can keep your trusty everyday tools safe and sound at home.

They also make dependable companions for other places, like your work desk, backpack, or glove compartment. You never know when a last-minute occasion will pop up, and that’s just too much pressure for one brush set. There are no rigid rules for choosing a travel makeup brush set—simply find a combination that best suits your routine. A simple, no-makeup-makeup look only needs a few brushes, while an elaborate beat, with, say, a smoky eye, requires multiple eye tools.

We’ve found some of the best-rated sets out there, and they satisfy a spectrum of makeup needs. From space-conscious minis to boldly designed, Instagram-ready tools, these travel makeup brush sets are as fashionable as they are functional.

How We Found The Best Travel Makeup Brush Sets

As always, this roundup was created with the help of our proprietary algorithm, which identifies our top picks using data from word-of-mouth recommendations, expert reviews, best-seller lists, and more. Keep reading to discover each standout.

Next up, check out the 10 Best Makeup Brushes .  Opening image: sephora.com

January 26, 2022

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Sweep makeup onto your eyes and complexion with this travel friendly set. The synthetic brushes can be used dry or damp for a wide range of looks and finishes.

Y101 Buffer Foundation Brush - press and buff powder or liquid foundation into your complexion for a flawless finish.

Y102 Fluffy Powder Brush - Sweep setting powder, bronzer, or blush onto your complexion for an airbrushed finish.

Y201 Blender Crease Eyeshadow Brush - Sweep your chosen shade into your crease using a rainbow motion for a diffused application.

Y103 Blender Brush - Use this fluffy brush for all over lid application or to blend shades to complete your look.

Y301 Crease Detail Brush - use this dense brush to pack on shimmer and metallic shades or give a detailed application.

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Packing for your next trip is a formidable challenge in and of itself. You don't need the added worry of stressing out over which makeup brushes should or shouldn't make the trip with you. That's why investing in the best travel makeup brushes can make packing your bags for your next getaway that much easier.

Travel-friendly makeup brushes need to be convenient, should come in easy-to-pack pouches and kits, and be durable enough that they won't get damaged en route. The key to picking the right travel makeup brushes for you is to find ones that will work with your specific needs. Do you need eye-makeup brushes for an ambitious night-out look you plan to try on your trip? Are you looking for a set that has the most brush options for professional-quality makeup application? Or, are you looking for something low-key that will fit in your already over-stuffed carry-on?

To help make your beauty packing process as streamlined as possible, you'll find the five best sets of travel makeup brushes on this list — ranging from five-piece starter sets for statement eyes to 18-piece hauls made to address every single spot you want it to. Regardless of which pieces you need to bring your vacay selfie to life, the best travel makeup brush sets are here to help make it happen.

Superior quality paired with a stylish design, these bestselling, professional-quality makeup brushes are perfect for travel. With 12-brushes all wrapped into one easy-to-pack rolling case, you'll be able to perfect your foundation, contour your cheekbones, accentuate your eyes, dust on finishing powder, and bring life to your lips without having to sacrifice tons of room in your carry-on. As if the travel-friendly design wasn't enough, these brushes are also friendly to animals, using cruelty-free bristles for a hygienic, gentle take on makeup application.

If you're looking for the most compact option on this list, look no further than this four-in-one makeup brush that gives you access to four brushes in one simple design. The metal brush handle houses two reversible brush heads on either end, including a lip, eyeshadow, eyebrow, and smokey-eye brush. With a sleek design that can be easily stored in even the smallest travel bags, you'll be able to take this brush with you anywhere. One reviewer praises the brush set, saying, "the brush quality is great and I love that the heads of it are reversible making it like I have four different brushes with me." And you won't have to worry about shedding with this brush: the synthetic fibers are soft to the touch and designed to mimic your fingertips for a simple application.

Designed for anyone who's serious about their eye makeup, this travel-friendly makeup brush set includes five brushes to create your eyeshadow base, define your crease, highlight your brow bone, trace killer cat eyes, and sculpt snap-worthy arches. Every brush is patented for its ultra-plush synthetic bristles, streak-free application, and flawless results. Sold in a panoramic carrier, you can lay all of your brushes out flat so that you know what you're working with wherever you travel and can easily fold them up when it's time to go.

Another five-piece travel makeup brush set , only this time it addresses your entire face. All the brushes in this set are 100 percent cruelty-free and feature the highest quality synthetic bristles. Equipped with a foundation brush, powder/blush brush, angled liner brush, eyeshadow brush, and lip brush, all tucked nicely inside of a sealed canister, this set will ensure that your makeup (and your brushes) are on point wherever you go, regardless of how tightly they're stuffed into your carry-on.

Who said you should have to scale back when going on vacation? If rocking your most done-up face is a top priority while out of town, be sure to add this 18-piece makeup brush set to your carry-on. Designed by makeup artists, these PETA-approved brushes feature synthetic and natural hair bristles that are curved for extra-soft color payoff and will ensure you can apply foundation, sculpt, highlight, and accent your cheeks, define your eyes, and so much more. While this brush set is the largest of any on this list, it packs easily with its bristle-protecting easel and pouch.

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