Best Of Travel Beauty

A Guide To The Best Foundation Makeup For Travel

Be camera ready wherever and whenever you're travelling with our ultimate foundation guide for travel

A Guide To The Best Foundation Makeup For Travel

Stick Travel Foundation

On the hunt for the ultimate foundation travel buddy for this year’s getaway and not sure which is the best one to take on your journeys?

Sure, you might have a favourite go-to foundation at home, but it just might not cut it if you’re after something that’s going to look after your skin the right way, on your next vacay.

When it comes to travelling, there’s a whole lot more to think about when choosing the best foundations for travel. Whether you’re jetting off to a remote paradise island or backpacking with your besties, your skin just got a whole lot more needy.

Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered in this guide. We go through the 5 main skin issues that occur when travelling and their respective holy grail products that will save you from them.

Whether it’s sun exposure, humidity, dryness, busy activities or time, we got you covered (literally) with the best foundations suited for travel. All contained in travel-friendly packaging, you needn’t worry about any messy carry-on disasters (giving us flashbacks of Friends’ Ross Geller’s ‘Shampoo-Related Emergency”).

Best Long Lasting Foundations For Travel

Travelling can be stressful enough without having to worry about topping up your make-up throughout the day. Do yourself a favour and dive into our special selection of sturdy foundations that just won’t budge! Don’t let humidity and heat get in your skin’s way of looking blemish-free, and opt for a foundation that’ll last you through the day’s busy activities. Here’s our favourite long lasting foundations for travel below:

Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick

Hourglass

Considered a ‘holy grail’ foundation, plenty of make up moguls have praised this little travel gem for its smooth application and holiday-friendly attributes. Cities and rural areas alike can be extremely humid in the heat but this foundation will keep your skins oils at bay with its 12 hour waterproof protection and instantaneous full coverage.

With the solid stick formula, you needn’t worry about the product separating or spilling – a must have if you’re an avid traveller.

$70

7g

All Hours Stick Foundation

Yves Saint Laurent

Priding itself on its 24-hour coverage, YSL’s luxurious matte foundation will serve all your holiday needs this season – not only is it in a handy little compact stick that won’t count towards your liquid limit, but it is lightweight both on your skin and in your bag!

Splash out (not literally as it’s waterproof!) on your make-up bags new BFF and treat yourself to flawless, oil-free coverage that will keep those suncream-induced oils at bay.

$79

9g

Infallible Matte Foundation

L’ORÉAL PARIS

This non-cakey longwear travel foundation is uncompromising in its efforts to keep your skin hydrated throughout your travels whilst still maintaining a flawless complexion.

Powered by perlite technology that works with your skin by absorbing excess moisture from humidity and sweat. Now you can say goodbye to that oily T-zone and hello to gorgeous camera ready skin.

The light & small packaging also means more souvenirs to take home!

$29.95

35ml

Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Full Coverate Foundation

Tarte

This heavy-duty foundation will be your best friend throughout your holiday, with its sturdy ingredients not only concealing your skin but soothing it too.

Being full of replenishing goodies like Vitamin E and soothing Amazonian clay, your skin will stay smudge-proof your whole holiday whilst being taken care of at the same time. Plus, with Tarte’s signature 12-hour power, topping up your foundation will be the last thing on your mind!

$60

50ml

Best Waterproof Foundations For Travel

Chasing waterfalls on your travels? You shouldn’t have to compromise on your beauty routine to suit your wet n’ wild activities. There are plenty of foundations built exactly for a fun-filled day out, whether you’re island-hopping or deepsea diving, you’ll be sorted with these next few waterproof foundations perfect for your travels.

Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation

MAC

Ensuring it will last you ‘through rain or tears’, this oil-free foundation promises to last for a whopping 24 hours, making it perfectly suited for travel. Whether you’re partying till the early morning or out on an all-day boat trip, this foundation will provide that well-needed hydration throughout your activities.

Great for those with oily skin, this foundation is transfer resistant and comes in a travel friendly, glass-free compact packaging.

$58

25ml

Waterproof Foundation / Concealer

Tom Ford

Feeling a lil boujee on your getaway? Tom Ford’s first waterproof travel foundation that doubles up as a concealer will protect you from any harsh humidity, heat or weather that comes your way, so let it pour!

Claiming to conceal anything from minor blemishes to tattoos, this foundation is great for travel and will leave your skin looking radiant with a signature Tom Ford flawless, yet natural sheen.

$122

30ml

Terracotta Skin Foundation Stick

Guerlain

This mini foundation stick by Guerlain is the perfect travel solution for your bugger-I’m-late-better-do-my-make-up-in-the-taxi needs. As it’s a solid formula, you needn’t worry about adding to your liquid limit on the plane – more room for other make-up, yes please!

The waterproof formula will last you up to 12 hours, so enjoy those foam parties with confidence and a glowy, sun-kissed complexion.

$69

11g

Fluidity Full Coverage Foundation

Morpe

By far the cheapest on our water lovin’ list so far is Morphe’s full coverage, longwear liquid foundation. For anyone suffering from complexion issues such as redness from sunburn or even naturally occurring rosecea, this is your key to happy holiday skin, making it a great waterproof foundation for travel.

Due to it being a perfect match for oily faces, this will sit great on top of your sunscreen without having to worry about looking as melted as your ice cream in the heat.

$27

30ml

Best SPF Foundations For Travel

For all our beach babes out there, the sun is going to be your best friend and worst enemy. We all know that holiday mode often means getting some sun and colour into your skin but we also need to protect ourselves from incredibly harmful UV rays at the same time.

UVB rays play a major role in burning your skin and causing cancers, while UVA rays causes premature ageing and wrinkles – both of which are holiday no-no’s. SPF foundations are great for adding that little extra layer of protection on top of your usual sunscreen or opt to use a travel foundation with high SPF to combine two products into one.

Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream SPF 50

IT Cosmetics

This pocket-sized colour correcting cream is any travellers dream. Being our highest SPF foundation, this doubles (and triples, and quadruples) up as a hydrating serum, foundation, concealer, moisturizer and primer, all in one.

With skin-friendly ingredients such as niacin which promotes skin elasticity and peptides that help reduce wrinkles, this foundation is a no brainer for your travels! 

$22

12ml

Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation Stick

Lancome

Say hello to your travel bag’s new best friend. Lancome’s pocket rocket lightweight cream stick is a crowd favourite and here’s why:

1. Long wearing for up to 24 hours
2. sun smart with SPF 21
3. Full coverage for gorgeous travel snap selfies &
4. comes in a travel friendly packaging which is easy to apply with.

Just twist & go.

$56

8.7g

Sun Protection Stick Foundation

Shiseido

A surfer’s favourite due to it’s high SPF and waterproof qualities, this medium-coverage travel friendly stick foundation by Shiseido is perfect for sun lovers who are searching for an anti-ageing concoction in their foundation. Containing SuperVeil UV360 ™ technology, it aids cell and DNA damage reduction brought on by over-exposure from the sun.

Best for those with oily or combination skin as it has a matte finish. The creamy formula glides on effortlessly & lasts all day, making it a perfect foundation for travel.

$44.5

9g

Sunshine Skin Tint SPF 30

Milk Makeup

A foundation that prides itself on its high SPF is perfect for travelling if you’re after more dewy, radiant skin with tons of delicious (but not edible, unfortunately) and nourishing ingredients.

It even has a self-applicating roller, which not only allows for on-the-go application, but also reduces your need for a blending product such as a brush or sponge – more room in your carry-on, yay! This avocado, manadrin and grape seed-infused vegan foundation is perfect for you active travellers out there who often find themselves in a rush.

$42 USD

20ml

Best Hydrating Foundations For Travel

It goes without saying that your skin is gonna need a lil’ extra TLC on your travels. This is especially the case way back to the beginning of your journey when you first get on your plane.

Other than the obvious dry and arid climates of your destination, your skin really does suffer before you even land due to the air conditioning in your cabin.

To retain that moisture and give your skin back its lustre while keeping it looking blemish free, check out our top hydrating foundations perfect for travelling this season.

Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation

Fenty

So, you thought full coverage foundation had to be matte and heavy on your skin? Well forget what you heard! Riri really did come through with this grape seed oil and sodium hyaluronate-infused formula, which will sufficiently quench your skin’s thirst while giving you a gorgeous natural complexion.

Perfect for those guys and gals with normal to dry skin, you can even wear this foundation round the pool or in the middle of the rainforest and still look flawless.

$52

32ml

Skin Love Weightless Blur Foundation

Becca

Becca’s medium coverage, build-able hydrating travel foundation will be your go-to this holiday if you’re after a quick fix in the dry heat. This is essentially a hydrating smoothie for your skin.  Packed with yummy avocados, ginger and melon blend – which cleverly improves your moisture levels over time.

Your T-zone can often over-compensate with oil production when it’s dehydrated so with the replenishing ingredients and special blurring pigments, you can kiss those pesky pores goodbye ?.

$66

35ml

Dew You Foundation

Too Faced

The name says it all – fresh, dewy, hydrating and full coverage, what more could you want in a hydrating travel foundation? Jam packed with all the good stuff, from cucumber extract – a superfood for your skin – to watermelon, which encourages collagen growth.

Whether you’re replenishing skin that’s been a little too exposed in the sun or maybe have a long coach journey ahead (they have drying air con too!) you gotta pack this in your bum bag.

$55

40ml

Skin One and Done Hybrid Foundation

Naked

Urban Decay’s top priority in this sheer foundation is protection and nourishment, so it’s safe to say this was a foundation made for travelling. With a hydrating cocktail of peptides, vitamins and other juicy ingredients such as evodia rutaecarpa fruit extract (which soothes your skin), you can be sure to retain your skin’s moisture and even increase its plumpness throughout your journey.

Pop on before or during your flight to protect your face from your destination’s sunny weather with the foundation’s high SPF 20!

$55.6

40ml

Tinted Moisturisers For Travel

Often your skin can feel incredibly heavy and clogged up with the build up of products and oils, and sometimes foundation just doesn’t feel like the right fit.

If you’re after a sun-kissed complexion without the the heaviness of make up, and want to keep your skin hydrated at the same time, a tinted moisturiser could be the perfect fit for you.

Combining nourishment and lightweight coverage that won’t feel cakey on your skin they are a great travel alternative to foundation and still keep you looking gorgeous! Acting as two products in one, if you’re saving on space, they are a great option for travelling with.

Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector

Laura Mercier

This tinted moisturiser is going to be a life-saver if you suffer from dry skin on your holiday. With the added effects of salt water and sand, hydration is key to getting your skin glowing again.

The macadamia and Kukui oils work together to replenish your skin’s lost moisture and locks it in for up to 24 hours, depleting the look of dry skin and while still working hard to give you an even complexion.

$72

50ml

Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream

Bare Minerals

This paraben-free Bare Minerals gel cream will give your skin a sheer and airbrushed cover of colour while keeping your face moisturised all day long.

Arid climates won’t tire your skin out as the cream’s hydrating marine botanicals & titanium dioxide will quench your complexion’s thirst and keep it naturally radiant. With it’s high SPF 30, your skin will not only be effortlessly blemish-free, but also fully protected from the sun!

$49

33ml

Ginzing Energy-Boosting Tinted Moisturizer

Origins

A tinted moisturiser for all skin types, energising and rejuvenating cream is full of antioxidants that will keep any unwanted impurities from crowded cities at bay.

To resurface and renew your skin, chestnut seed extract works hard to refresh your skin’s surface and prevent build up of environmental dirt, all while covering any blemishes and protecting you from the sun with a high SPF.

$40

50ml

Unisex Healthy Glow

Charlotte Tilbury

This luxurious moisturiser will give your skin back its lustre with that much-needed hydration lost during the heat of the sun. It will also get it back on track with a fabulous sunny faux-tan with warm-toned tanning pigments, without the worry of getting it from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Treat yourself to this magical cream that Charlotte herself promises will give your skin a new-found brightness.

$50

40ml

Whether you’re cruising the coast or hostel hopping, there’s a lot to consider make-up wise when you’re travelling. We hope our guide has helped you navigate which foundation you’ll be partnering up with on your travels

Have you tried any of these foundations whilst travelling?

Let us know if have or if you know of an amazing travel foundation you’ve been using! We’d love to hear your suggestions.

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Best Foundations For Travel