Request Makeup recommendation

maybe just pack 3 or 4 and buy more there? I've seen them in drugstores in Italy for sure, I'm sure other countries have them too. I saw Neutrogena brand among others

Make-up wipes do not need to go in the 3-1-1 ziplock.

Jean, I haven't used the facial wipes that you mentioned. My go to for face makeup and mascara removal is "Purity Made Simple" by Philosophy. I transfer it into a 3 oz. container. This lasts me at least 3 weeks. It works best on non waterproof mascara. I use Lancôme mascara. I buy the travel size at Sephora. Another excellent mascara remover is Neutrogena. Either the pads or liquid.

Are you supposed to pack makeup remover wipes in the 311? I never have. They aren’t liquid. I’ve never packed my disinfecting wet wipes in the 311 either...never been called on it, but I fly out of Canada. One time I had specific eye makeup remover wipes in a small plastic container (they came in travel size). The bag check lady took off the cover and poked them, asked what they were and no problem. And that only happened once in 6 flights.

I’ll offer a multi prong solution. You pick.

Wipes - Consider the Olay 4-in-1 water activated wipes. These are dry and you just add water. They come in dry, oily, or mixed. I found that they are too large for my needs so I cut them into quarters. Then I use as much as I want. They best part? They are dry so they are lightweight and can’t goo up other things. I found mine at Walgreens but most drug stores have them. I store mine in a small zip lock in my toiletry kit.

Substitute - believe it or not, olive oil is an outstanding eye makeup remover. You can soak cotton balls (but it’s not a liquid) or you can simply buy it on location. Soaked cotton balls do just fine in a zip lock. You could also put the olive oil in a 15 ml or 30 ml bottle.

Disclosure: I hate the moist wipes because they are bulky and heavy - the antithesis of packing light.

Wipes do not need to go in the 3-1-1 bag so if that’s your only concern no problem.

If you are trying to go lighter in general would a liquid makeup remover in a small bottle work?
Obviously it would need to go in the 3-1-1 bag, but I think it’s lighter than a pack of wipes. I use a basic drugstore one poured into a 2oz bottle.

Also Johnson baby wash (the common yellow tear-free stuff) is a good makeup remover and comes in small travel size.

I take one of those snack-size ziplocks and put the number of round remover pads I will need for my eye makeup inside and soak with remover solution and it takes very little space, goes in my checked bag or it could go in the 3-1-1. I use Estee Lauder waterproof mascara and it removes easily.

ETA--I had the same thought to also do this with nail polish remover as I knew I'd need to repaint mid-point through my 2 week trip--and the same thing does not work with polish remover. By the time I went to use the pre-soaked pads a week later they had dried up, necessitating a trip to the beauty mart.

Official wet wipes info:
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/wet-wipes
I have taken Neutrogena wipes on numerous trips, not in the 3-1-1, and never had a problem.

Cetaphil wet wipes come in a small pack of 10, they are thin, and I usually take 2 packs and put them in different places. ( they don't need to be in 3-1-1 bag). I used to take bulky and heavy 24 packs but no more. You can buy any cosmetic items at your destination too.

I did have my carry on bag nearly ripped apart one time because I had a package of wet wipes in there. (The person searching my bag told me as much. She sighed heavily when she found them. I apologized, saying I thought they were fine. Her response - they are just fine.)

My suggestion is to pack your wipes outside your 3-1-1 bag, but know that you may still be delayed going through the TSA security checkpoint.

I use non scented "baby wipes" with my watercolor crayons to do color fields and with my watercolor pencils to get ink pen effects.( I shop at Dakota Art. Dan Smith is a little more expensive. I think both places do online orders.) The wipes dry quickly...so no damp paper! Dual use!

Great thread! I like reading how others pack toiletries. My husband says I am obsessive with packing. (We go in Sept. for our
fifth 3-week trip) I say I can always learn how to improve my packing.

I use an oil-free remover. Since I wear waterproof mascara, water alone doesn't work. I put cotton balls in a snack size ziploc, then pour in enough make-up remover to soak them. I think 10 cotton balls will last me 3 weeks. Then I mash it down to get out the air. Usually I only wear other make-up when going out to dinner; although I usually wear mascara daily. I do not put the bag in my 3-1-1 because there is no extra liquid.

You've gotten some excellent advice, but here is one more suggestion: you might consider having your lashes (and maybe brows too) dyed at a salon just before your trip. I used to do that and it was great to have one less thing to worry about morning and evening.
Happy trails!

Thank you, everyone, for so many quick responses and a variety of ideas!

I’m taking Cindy H’s advice and purchased the dry Olay wipes. A bonus - no more worries of needing to keep the moist facial wipes in an extra Ziploc bag beyond normal packaging because they tend to get smashed during transportation and leak a little moisture.

Crwawro, I enjoy packing a little lighter each year, too. This year I’m being extra sensitive to packing light since my hubby won’t be on this trip to balance out the 3-1-1 ziplock bags. A few of my items on past vacation trips could initially begin in his ziploc bag!

"ETA--I had the same thought to also do this with nail polish remover as I knew I'd need to repaint mid-point through my 2 week trip--and the same thing does not work with polish remover. By the time I went to use the pre-soaked pads a week later they had dried up, necessitating a trip to the beauty mart."

You can buy nail polish remover pads that are individually packaged. They aren't any wetter than the premoistened facial wipes that don't need to go into the 3-1-1 bag.

I've never had a problem going through aiport security in the US or Europe with individually wrapped wipes or the packages of 15 I've had in my carry-on. None were in my 3-1-1 bag.

I have had disappointment with nail polish remover pads, though. The first ones I bought worked well, but the next three times I've tried them, they've been dried up, even when freshly purchased. Next time, I'll buy a small bottle where I'm going or pop into a local salon just for a polish removal. (Sometimes they'll let you do it yourself for no charge.)

Have fun with your new paint pens!

Blinc Mascara definitely fits the bill. It forms little tubes around your eyelashes and doesn't smudge or flake. To remove it, gently rub your lashes with warm water and your fingertips or a washcloth. Once I found it, I've not used any other mascara. You can get it at Sephora or Amazon. Enjoy!

Aqua marine Steph, I wonder if yr wet wipe had a foil lined package that showed up weird on the xray? I've carried a lot of individually wrapped towelettes out of my 311 with out problems

Thank you, Maria, for being the first person to mention a specific mascara that might help me avoid needing to pack any facial wipes!

Luckily, my shoes - Keen's Rose sandals, avoid the issue of needing to touch-up my toes while on vacation since my toes are covered in those sandals.

Pollyhrae, the painting hobby will be fun to try! They may end up very amateurish, but I will enjoy reliving that I painted a small drawing in Stresa while staying overnight on Isola Bella, in Pienza looking at the scenery, sitting at a bench on Lucca's wall, etc.

Again, thank you, everyone, for your replies! I really appreciate this Travel Forum!

Doric8 - I have no idea what set it off. It WAS a larger package of wipes? So maybe it presented oddly? I have no idea, but I now only travel with packages of ten or less.

Cindy H, the Olay dry facial cloths arrived today from Amazon. Wow, perfect! They don’t weigh anything, and the small space they take can be replaced with a souvenir scarf by the end of the trip!

Jean-Try those wipes before you go on your trip to make sure you don't have a reaction and they accomplish the effect you want. I never change up my products, especially for a trip. Same Face wash (Go-Tube), eye makeup remover (3 oz Neutrogena-The whole thing goes with me) and moisturizer (Go-Tube). Once you make a few trips you will find the perfect combo of toiletries you need to take to be comfortable and achieve the look you want.

An alternative to mascara is a Perm and lash tint. This will give you the look of mascara with curled lashes. My friends that do this usually do not even need mascara. I am getting it done before my Vegas trip next month.

My normal pre-trip self care is to get my brows dyed and Gel nails (2 days before), as these can last up to 3 weeks with no chipping. AND hair cut and colored, I actually time my previous coloring/cut to coordinate to be about three weeks before the trip to grow out any funkiness.

My husband has a shaved head and on our last trip he got his hair trimmed in Florence Italy, which was really cool and had some colorful characters come in. Fun experience.

I am limited to the type of makeup I can use, and I do my best to replace liquids with solids. Some like BB cream for multiple uses - replaces sunscreen, foundation and moisturizer. I still use a moisturizer, but take a pressed foundation with sunscreen.
Clinique mascara is usually not waterproof, but needs a little soap or cleanser to truly clean off. Clinique sells mini cleanser bars.
Remember that deodorant, lip balm or lipstick does not go into the 3-1-1. Multiple sites carry bar shampoos, and conditioners. I like Lush as it is in my local mall, and despite being mass market, I am not allergic to it. It lasts a long time and is my shampoo, body wash and laundry soap. Lush also carries tablet toothpaste and tablet mouthwashes.
I appreciate you want to lighten the load all around, but replacing liquids with some measured out solid options may help you fit more watercolour paint pens into that 3-1-1 bag.

I just started using a new mascara from Sephora that comes off with just water but does not run or smudge throughout the day. They even have a smaller size for travel.

I tried one of the Olay facial cloths last night with no negative skin reaction but will use them for at least a week to ensure those will work for me.

I just packed a trial run with my 3-1-1 ziplock bag, and I’m able to pack the entire 20-set of watercolor pens, along with my normal travel stuff - 2 travel toothpastes (I refill them fuller than original and 2 will last 3 weeks for me), Clinique foundation in their tiny sample jar the circumference of a quarter ( has sunscreen), a travel conditioner, a past hotel shampoo to wash initial sink clothes, mascara, eyebrow “mascara”, and lipstick. Deodorant is solid, so it’s packed with my toothbrush, etc.

My eyelashes are black and curly already, but I like the thicker look of mascara. And, I agree that the hair color appt is very important the Saturday before we leave each year! ; )

Thanks again for all of the helpful posts! I feel like we should meet for coffee in Italy and share our adventures! : )

If you want to go dry on the clothes wash then you might want to consider some Forever New dry packets.

If you want solid conditioner I can recommend Lush Jungle. It has a bit of a strong smell though. I cut it in half to save weight and put it in a snack baggie.

For those who enjoy these discussions (and I will admit to being one, although I have nothing helpful to add!), Ladylight Travel has tons of traveling/makeup-related posts on her blog. Here's the category:

https://ladylighttravel.com/category/makeup/

You can get lost down the rabbit hole!!!!

If I remember correctly, in some of her posts she also refers to other bloggers with makeup packing ideas, so you can follow those trails too!

And I'm pretty sure Sarah Murdoch has posted on this as well.

http://adventureswithsarah.net/

Hey, Lady Light Travel is me! Thanks for the recommendation.

Sarah has some great tips. I started using the lip stain she recommended and have been very happy.

Everything gets refined a little more as we learn more.

Lani Teshima has an archived blog for women but she has some great recommendations.
The Travelite FAQ

Cool!! Love your blog - so chock-full of good information, and fun to read.

How about trying false lashes or magnetic lashes then you don't need the makeup remover for lashes.

This isn't about makeup, but re: your post about taking liquid to wash clothes, I used dissolving laundry sheets on my last trip and they worked great! I cut them in strips for sink laundry. They had no scent and cleaned pretty well. The brand I used is called LIFE (https://smile.amazon.com/LIFE-Laundry-Detergent-Sheets-Fragrance/dp/B06X19KJSY) and they come in a sealed pouch for easy packing.

Look for a "tubing" mascara! It uses different fibers than traditional mascara and comes off with warm water - I love the boots no7 "Stay Perfect" mascara in the gold tube - available at Target. I get insane volume and good length, and removing really is easy.

I've never packed make-up remover wipes in my 3-1-1 bag (LOL), never had any issues either - if I did, I'd cram them in I guess, or toss them and buy again when I get where I'm going.

How long will you be gone? One option might be to have eyelash extensions done, then you need no mascara or remover your whole trip! I had them done last year when I was in Florida for our vacation - loved them! - but they only last a couple of weeks before you need a fill in done, or need to start using some mascara to fill in!

Hi Rose & Regina, thank you for your recent ideas!

I will be in Italy for three weeks and leave very shortly after I return to head to Cambodia to volunteer two weeks at a school that’s building additional classrooms.

I’m taking the dry Olay make-up facial wipes for Italy and my normal Simple brand wet facial wipes for Cambodia since we need to be more careful with water there. My mascara brand doesn’t irritate my eyes and works well, so I’ll just continue to use it.

Thanks everyone for your replies to this topic!

Have you tried using the brand Albolene as an eye make up remover? I have been using the product for about 6 months and I can say that it takes the makeup off like a charm and it leaves my skin feeling really smooth afterward. I have very sensitive skin but I found that this was the best thing outside of going 100% natural and using coconut oil. https://www.albolene.com/eye-makeup-remover/

I use L’Oreal waterbase mascara. My eyes like it better than waterproof. L’Oreal doesn’t seem to irritate my eyes as much as other brands and I’ve tried many of the so-called hypo-allergenic.
It washes off with whatever soap you want to use.

Since your lashes are dark and curly, clear mascara may be an option for you. I have used it for years. Cover Girl and Maybeliene both make clear mascara. I also use it for brow gel. Travel makeup and skin care are smaller versions of what I use at home. No unpleasant reactions!

I take a pack of wipes for sensitive skin, usually outside of 3-1-1 bag. By the end of my trip the package is almost empty, so space for a new scarf as mentioned above. Happy travels!

I always put makeup wipes in my suitcase. Have you tried the Trader Joe’s brand? They’re one of my favorites and they come in a smaller sized pack—not as bulky as some other brands.

Sephora sells wonderful travel-size facial wipes in a really small package. I usually bring two packs of them and never put them in my 3-1-1 bag. I wouldn't use a mascara that came off easily with just water - every time my eyes watered, I'd look like Alice Cooper.

Thank you for sharing so many ideas!

For my Italy trip, I ended up using the dry Oil of Olay wipe cloths that Cindy recommended, and cutting them in half still gave me plenty of cleansing. I didn’t need to pack them in a ziplock- just loaded them into a pouch in my LLBean toiletries hanging bag. I’ve used L’Oreal’s Voluminous mascara and Maybelline’s Brow Drama for several years, so with these cleansing cloths, I didn’t need to switch makeup.

For the Cambodia volunteer trip, I packed the Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes in a small ziploc bag since we needed to be careful with contaminated water.

Jean, when can we get a trip report?

Diveloonie, it’s been posted at this location:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/solo-trip-to-italy-2018

I’m already thinking another solo trip to Italy next September would be fantastic! My husband & I have a couple of States trips planned.

Making up? this usually works for me: Sincerely apologize and get a sweet kiss.