Spring and summer are huge times to travel. The weather is the most opportune to visit tropical destinations and such. I enjoy traveling as you may already know from my very first blog post. The thing that used to bug me the most was packing for my trips. I would waste so much time trying to figure out what I would pack and how I could fit everything in my bag, especially when it came to my makeup!
I’m definitely a pro now lol! Let me share with you some of my tips for packing your carry-on luggage and personal item.
Packing makeup and toiletries
When it comes to packing makeup…that’s the most important thing to me lol! I’m joking but I do love makeup so naturally I want to bring it with me. The great thing is that you can fly with makeup both in your carry-on and in checked luggage. The carry-on requirements are not as lenient when it comes to your liquid products. For carry-on luggage all liquids have to comply with TSA’s 3-3-1 rule. The rule is that all liquids need to be in a 3.4 oz bottle or less. They must fit in a clear, plastic, 1 quart-sized zip-lock bag. Lastly only 1 bag per passenger.
Tip#1
Make sure you check the required dimensions and weight for your carry on bag! If you don’t want to check any bags make sure your bag dimensions are exactly right. (I’ve been there) You can find this information from your airline.
Tip#2
Sample or mini size items help tremendously with this rule. Sephora offers reward points to get mini size items and there are also subscription services that provide monthly sample size items as well. They are so great for travel. You can get most of your favorite makeup and toiletries in a mini version that are far under the 3.4oz requirement. This leaves more space in your quart-size bag.
*Save all those samples you get that are on those makeup cards, they come in handy as well.
Tip#3
Bring palettes and pack them in your personal item. Having a palette saves so much space. Instead of bringing tons of individual makeup items opt for an overall palette that has items like blush, bronzer, contour, or highlighter. When choosing an eyeshadow palette look for one that has an array of options that you can create several looks and not have to pull from another palette.
*Note: You can use eyeshadow as blush, contour and highlight but as always make sure you check the ingredients for any product you put on your skin if you have sensitivity.
Tip#4
Replace your liquid makeup products with non-liquid products. Now this might seem like an obvious one but it is often overlooked. There are many versions of your makeup products in solid form.
For example: Instead of using a liquid foundation opt for a powder or stick. Or shower gel, opt for a mini size moisturizing bar soap.
These are not liquids so you don’t have to worry about trying to make them fit in a 1 quart-size bag.
Packing clothes and shoes
For clothes and shoes I try to think about where I’m going and what I actually will need. If the place I’m going has a laundry facility or service thats a plus because you can pack less of a staple item and be able to wash it. Staple basics are great because you can get a lot of use out of a few items on a trip. When traveling for tropical destinations I opt for light-weight pieces that don’t take up much space. For destinations that are cold I do the same so that I can layer items for warmth but I also carry a weather appropriate jacket that I bring on the plane with me. After I plan my outfits for the trip it’s time to pack them in my suitcase.
Tip#1
Roll your clothes. The number 1 way to save space and have less wrinkled clothes is to roll them instead of folding them. If you have accessories such as floppy beach hats you can lay those right on top after all your clothes are rolled in your suitcase.
Tip#2
When packing your clothes try to pack pieces that have a similar color scheme that way you don’t have to pack a lot of different shoes to go with each outfit. The shoes I pack typically match every outfit in my suitcase. It lets me be more flexible with fashionable looks without having to pack extra items.
Tip#3
Pack your shoes in a shoe bag or reusable bag. It helps keep your clothes clean and you have an extra bag in case you need it later.
TSA
Going through TSA can be very nerve racking if you are unsure your carry-on luggage is packed correctly. When in-doubt check with TSA directly. I’ve listed below a link that takes you to the official TSA website. There you will find a search section that you can type in the item to see if you are able to pack it in your carry-on bag, if you would need to check it, or for liquids what amount of ounces is acceptable. There are lots of other help resources there as well.
TSA official website
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all
Did you know TSA is on social media?! Mmmmhmm! Girl yes! It’s pretty neat! If you have a question you can literally just ask 😉 TSA has made packing a bit easier. To find out what you can and can’t pack in your carry-on they have several resources you can take advantage of. Here are a few:
Facbook
https://www.facebook.com/AskTSA/
https://www.instagram.com/tsa/
Personal item
My preferred personal item hands down…. is a backpack. They are easy to carry and hold a lot of stuff. Plus you can just throw a backpack on allowing you extra hands to pull that carry-on bag. You can easily pack your purse in a backpack or lay it flat on top of the other items in your luggage.
It is important to keep your electronics and liquids easily accessible. Leave your quart size bag out of your carry-on. Once you have your favorite items inside your bag place it in your personal item. After you go through security then put your clear bag inside your luggage if you wish. Doing this makes going through security much easier. You won’t be in line rummaging through your luggage if you prepare your liquids for screening ahead of time.
If your goal is to only take a carry-on and one personal item then you should be well on your way with the tips above. Try out my tips and let me know how they work for you. Have a fun safe trip!
Thanks for hanging out today!
XO Terreana