Permanently Beautiful

Heidi Klum

Summer travel means makeup needs to be fast, easy and portable. You want to look great when you travel during the summer, but who wants to spend their vacation in front of a makeup mirror when you could be splashing in the sun and surf? Hot, humid summer days invite a minimalist approach to makeup. Less makeup means fewer touch ups to control sweat and shine. Then there’s the whole space issue. When you’re trying to avoid those hefty baggage check-in fees, packing light becomes an art form. Every inch of space in your carry-on becomes precious. Who wants to choose between a bulging makeup bag and those to-die-for sandals? Pare down your makeup bag and pack both!

So what’s the absolute minimum amount of makeup you can comfortably get away with? Women who have artistically-applied permanent makeup need only pack a moisturizer with sunscreen and some lip gloss. When you wear permanent cosmetics, life is just that simple. The ultimate minimalist makeup, permanent makeup ensures that you look utterly fabulous whether you’re tanning on the beach, going for a dip in the ocean, sweating during spinning class or sipping margaritas by the pool.

Without permanent makeup, you’ll need to add a few items to your makeup kit. When model Heidi Klum travels, she packs only the bare necessities: sunscreen, concealer, gloss, lipstick and mascara. The rest of us would probably add foundation, powder, eyeliner and blush. Without permanent makeup, it’s hard to keep your makeup bag from bulging.

When you’re traveling, it doesn’t make sense to pack your whole makeup bag. Here’s how the experts travel light.

When it comes to packing up a beauty bag for a few days or a week away, no one does it better than a makeup artist. These experts are always on the go and can be found on desert islands with just a tube of gloss and still manage to make someone look gorgeous. How do they do it?  Basics, say the experts at MAC. You’ll need a few basics such as mascara, lip gloss and a base for the skin, then everything else should be dual-purpose.

A good moisturizer is essential, so choose one that you can wear a little or a lot of depending on what your skin needs at any given time. You can also mix moisturizer with your usual foundation or concealer to create a lightweight base that’s more comfortable and beats the parched, dry air of an airplane. For lips, mix lip balm with lip color to create a variety of textures from ultra sheer for day to more intense for the evening.

Waterproof mascara is another favorite. It’s perfect in all climates. Also creamy blushers to give skin a beautiful radiance.

Also make sure to schedule an appointment with an experienced permanent makeup professional several weeks before your departure date.  That’s the best way to lighten your travel makeup bag and still look fabulous 24/7 on your vacation getaway.