Packing Beauty for a Short Trip

I've gotten packing my makeup for a short trip down to a tee. I don't want to brag but I'm pretty damn awesome at it. I spend so much time going back and forth between my flat in London and my parents' house down south that I'm basically living out of a tiny little makeup makeup and beauty bag.

When I say a short trip, I'm talking no more than four days. I can't cope with this little makeup for any longer!

The way I pack makeup for short trips is by sitting and getting ready in the morning and packing products as I go along, that way I won't miss anything important. I adopted this approach after I arrived on holiday realising I forgot to pack mascara and blush. Nice one.

I basically just take one of every product, with an extra lip option. I usually go for the smallest packaged items I have so that they take up less room!

So for starters, primer. I always pack a primer, who wants to waste holiday time reapplying makeup! My favourite for travelling is the miniature size of the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer, which is so tiny you barely notice it in your makeup bag. Foundation-wise, I like to take something with buildable coverage, that I can sheer out and wear as a light base in the day, or build up for more coverage in the evening. I love the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum, especially for summer, it's got amazing lasting power and it covers a lot. For concealer, to save space I'll take a good multipurpose one that works for under eyes and blemishes. I love the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, but the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer works just as well and is a more budget friendly option. Add in a good setting powder, that can double as a compact mirror, like the Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot Powder.

For cheeks, I keep things simple and just take a blush with shimmer, so I can skip out on the highlight, something like the NARS Blush in Daydream, or the Sleek Blush in Rose Gold. If your short break is somewhere hot and sunny, I'd switch it for a cream blush, one that can double up as an extra lip colour! I particularly like the Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge, and the Jouer Lip and Cheek Tint in Peony.

Eye wise I don't take a primer, I just go for eyeshadows that I know are super long lasting. When it's only a couple of days I just take an eyeshadow duo, one with a pretty all over lid shade, and a darker shade that can go in the crease, or be used to really smoke up the look. I usually pack either the NARS Isolde Duo, or more recently the Bare Minerals Ready Eyeshadow Duo in The Epiphany. I usually always pack a black liner to smoke it up in the evening if I need to, and the Max Factor Kohl Liner is my favourite. I have a million mascara samples from hours scouring the beauty counters in Selfridges, so I'll usually just reach for one of those. Brows are handled by my favourite, slimline eyebrow pencil, the Soap and Glory Archery.

For lips I usually just take one super hydrating lip balm, and a sheer lipstick with buildable pigmentation. This time I picked out the Estee Lauder Pure Shine Lipstick in Plexi Pink, but also great are the Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Colours and the MAC Lustre Finish Lipsticks. If you went with a cream blush, that will work perfectly on the lips and save you taking an extra product!

Brush wise I just chuck in my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, a good multitasker which can handle foundation, concealer and cream blush, and then a fluffy eye brush. Job done.

As far as skincare goes, I tend to pack a travel size face wash and a moisturiser that can be used evening and morning. For only a few days you can get away with something to cleanse and something to hydrate.

For haircare I tend to just use the shampoo and conditioner supplied by a hotel if that's where I'm staying, or if it's only one night I'll take a mini dry shampoo!

Do you have any packing tips for a short trip?