Kate Demolder: The best travel-friendly beauty products to bring in your carry-on

The bin at security filled with near-full pots of moisturiser, shampoo and brand-new sun creams is enough to strike fear into the heart of any beauty-loving traveller, but this can be entirely mitigated with some prudent planning

Kate Demolder recommends some travel-friendly beauty products, 100ml or less

Whisking yourself away on holiday is nothing short of self-care. That is, aside from the inherent trials and tribulations that are par for the course with travel, like flight delays and losing luggage. There are some travel mishaps, however, that can be entirely mitigated with prudent planning — the bin at security filled with near-full pots of moisturiser, shampoo and brand-new sun creams is enough to strike fear into the heart of any beauty-loving traveller.

For those of you headed on a carry-on only holiday, fear not, as there are dozens of brilliant products under 100ml that will get you through a week away without fully paring back your routine. From 2-in-1s to petite perfumes, here are the best travel-size beauty products that will see you through any trip.

1. Bondi Sands, SPF 50+ Face Sunscreen Lotion

1. Bondi Sands, SPF 50+ Face Sunscreen Lotion 75ml, Beauty Bay, €8

Infused with aloe vera and vitamin E to provide exposed skin, while also shielding the skin with broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection, this water-resistant product is a non-greasy formula that can be worn alone or as a makeup base due to its sheer invisibility.

2. Nursem Body Care Minis Set

2. Nursem Body Care Minis Set (Space NK, €19)

Formulated with a blend of essential oils, including ginger, lemongrass, cedarwood and litsea, this body wash and cream helps to calm the skin while leaving it delicately fragranced. And for every Nursem product bought, the brand gives a month’s worth of free products to a nurse or midwife.

3. Megababe Thigh Rescue Anti-Friction Stick

3. Megababe Thigh Rescue Anti-Friction Stick 23g (Beauty Bay, €9.25)

This stick creates a barrier that sits on top of the skin, allowing thighs that rub to glide smoothly against each other. Enriched with aloe, grapeseed oil and vitamin E, this product provides extra hydration for happy, healthy skin, meaning no chapped inner thighs while walking to dinner.

4. Laneige Lip Glowy Balm

4. Laneige Lip Glowy Balm in Peach 10g (Beauty Bay, €18.50)

Love their viral sleeping mask? Then you’ll love this 2-in-1 balm and gloss enriched with shea and murumuru butter to nourish the lips and coat them with a light, glossy and slightly tinted finish. Available in berry, grapefruit and peach.

5. Tan-Luxe The Body Illuminating Self-Tan Drops

5. Tan-Luxe The Body Illuminating Self-Tan Drops Travel Size 15ml (Space NK, €23)

One of the best tanning products on the market right now. Keep your face out of the sun and, instead, squeeze a few droplets of this into your moisturiser. You’ll thank us later.

6. Olaplex Travel Shampoo & Bond Duo

6. Olaplex Travel Shampoo & Bond Duo 2 X 100ML (Beauty Bay, €43.75)

The struggle of trying to maintain hair care while abroad is a real one. However, just because you’re enjoying yourself doesn’t mean your hair should suffer. The rule of thumb when treating hair abroad is to try and keep it out of the sun as much as possible. That isn’t always a viable option, which is where Olaplex steps in.

For the highlighted girls, a stylist once told me that to keep your colour free from green-tinted chlorine hues, one should treat their hair like a sponge. Wet it in the shower first (or any non-chlorinated water source) before diving into the pool, that way, only a certain amount of chlorine will hit it. Wash immediately after and you’ve done all the hard work.

7. Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Dipbrow Gel

7. Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Dipbrow Gel 2.2g (Boots, €8.80)

Doing makeup on holiday can feel like a faff. One slick of this and you’ll look a bit more put together. The packaging is also so dinky you can squeeze it into any carry-on. Available in 10 different shades.

8. Solid Perfume Co. Rocco - Black Truffle, Vanilla & Patchouli

Solid Perfume Co. Rocco - Black Truffle, Vanilla & Patchouli (Meagher's Pharmacy, €23.80)

This has gone on every single holiday I’ve been on since I got it a few years ago. A brilliant piece of kit that allows you to smell great, without having to hoard around full-size bottles. Other scents are available, but the Black Truffle is sexy, sensual and spicy — perfect for a night away.