I'm a Beauty Editor and Aesthetician—14 Travel-Friendly Skincare Sets I Recommend for Summer and Beyond
If you're headed on a long trip or simply dread the prospect of packing (don't we all?), instead of throwing the contents of your skincare shelf into your suitcase or collating a hodgepodge of samples and decanted containers, consider a travel skincare set. There's nothing more seamless and (let's face it) travel friendly than a selection of curated skincare minis. Plus, if you're travelling hand luggage only, a set is a great way to keep within TSA limits and give yourself an in-flight skincare top-up. But with so many options to choose from, including your own skin type and goals to consider, it can be difficult to decide which skincare sets will best replace your daily skincare routine, last for the entirety of your trips, and really be worth the splurge.
As a beauty editor and aesthetician who frequently travels, I've learned what to look out for and what to avoid when it comes to travel skincare sets. Basically, look for something that like-for-like replaces as much of your home skincare routine as possible, stick with ingredients and (where possible) brands that your skin already knows and loves, and don't buy anything with products that you know you won't get any use out of.
If your summer travels are fast approaching, you're in the right place. Below, you'll find the best travel skincare sets for summer 2024.
The best travel skincare sets:
1. Best overall travel skincare set: Elemis x Shrimps Travel Icons 2. Best affordable travel skincare set: The Inkey List Travel Essentials Bundle 3. Best luxury travel skincare set: Augustinus Bader The Skin Renewal System 4. Best travel skincare set for hand luggage only: Emma Lewisham The Emma Lewisham Essentials 5. Best travel skincare set for face & body: NUXE Travel Essentials Kit 6. Best travel skincare set for dull skin: Ole Henriksen Glow Icons Set 7. Best travel skincare set for dry skin: Curél Enrich Kit 8. Best travel skincare set for breakout-prone skin: Sunday Riley Clear Skin Ahead 9. Best travel skincare set for combination skin: Dermalogica Discover Healthy Skin Kit 10. Best travel skincare set for oily skin: Tatcha Gift of Gratitude Clarifying Set 11. Best travel skincare set for normal skin: Fresh Cleanse & Deeply Hydrate Gift Set 12. Best travel skincare set for mature skin: Stella McCartney Travel Essentials Set 13. Best travel skincare set for teen skin: Fenty Skin Start'r Set Mineral 14. Best travel skincare set for men: Sephora Favourites Men's Essentials
Best overall travel skincare set : Elemis x Shrimps Travel Icons
Everything you need to double cleanse, exfoliate, and hydrate your skin (just add SPF). Bonus points because the bag is so cute—and roomy enough to pack your makeup in too.
Best affordable travel skincare set: The Inkey List Travel Essentials Bundle
No matter what your skin type or concerns, you can't go wrong with this simple, crowd-pleasing skincare set which covers the four essentials steps of a good skincare routine for just £21. Plus, all four products are focussed on hydration, which should be the number one thing on your agenda post-flight.
Best luxury travel skincare set: Augustinus Bader The Skin Renewal System
When you want to travel in style, you need a skincare routine to match. Plus, you can rest assured that Augustinus Bader's supercharged formulas will keep your skin healthy and glowing throughout your travels.
Best travel skincare set for hand luggage only: Emma Lewisham The Emma Lewisham Essentials
If you're heading on a long trip then a basic three-step skincare routine might not cut it. Including everything from day and night creams to a brightening serum and eye cream, this set will replace every step in your home skincare routine—and last several weeks.
Best travel skincare set for face & body: NUXE Travel Essentials Kit
Bodycare really is just as important as facial skincare, and nobody does body products quite so well (or luxuriously) as NUXE.
Best travel skincare set for dull skin: Ole Henriksen Glow Icons Set
Naturally everyone wants glowing skin on holiday, but if you really are concerned about dullness or uneven skin tone, opt for this set. It contains Ole Henriksen's iconic Dark Spot Toner along with a brightening serum and a moisturiser that will keep dry, dull skin at bay.
Best travel skincare set for dry skin: Curél Enrich Kit
No matter how well you look after it at home, dry skin can flare up when you travel. Fortunately, Curél's products are focussed entirely on dry and sensitive skin—thanks to ceramide-rich formulas that protect and strengthen the skin barrier.
Best travel skincare set for breakout-prone skin: Sunday Riley Clear Skin Ahead
Keep breakouts at bay throughout your trip with Sunday Riley's expertly-curated Clear Skin Ahead kit. The five products all incorporate key blemish-busting ingredients, such as glycolic acid, retinoids, salicylic acid, and sulphur.
Best travel skincare set for combination skin: Dermalogica Discover Healthy Skin Kit
The key to looking after combination skin is maintaining balance, and Dermalogica really are the experts when it comes to hardworking, effective skincare. This set features hero products like Precleanse, Special Cleansing Gel, and the brand's iconic Daily Microfoliant.
Best travel skincare set for oily skin: Tatcha Gift of Gratitude Clarifying Set
Oily skin needs moisture just as much as dry skin does, but if you're not a fan of rich face creams, you'll love the lightweight gel moisturiser in this kit. Apply it after cleansing and exfoliating to reduce shine, enlarged pores, and blackheads.
Best travel skincare set for normal skin: Fresh Cleanse & Deeply Hydrate Gift Set
Even normal, healthy skin can freak out when you travel—plane cabins are notoriously dehydrating and full of bacteria. This set will help you to replenish and maintain moisture levels with every step from cleansing to moisturising.
Best travel skincare set for mature skin: Stella McCartney Travel Essentials Set
If Stella McCartney's skincare already makes up a good portion of your skincare routine then you'll be pleased to know you can maintain your results thanks to this set of miniatures. And if you haven't tried the brand before? This is the perfect excuse to.
Best travel skincare set for teen skin: Fenty Skin Start'r Set Mineral
Teen skin certainly doesn't need a complex, overwhelming skincare routine, but a simple cleanse, hydrate, protect protocol like this one is a great way to start good habits and look after skin on the go.
Best travel skincare set for men: Sephora Favourites Men's Essentials
As well as essentials like cleanser and moisturiser, this handy set contains a miniature shaving gel and aftershave lotion.
Grace Day is a beauty editor and content creator. She has over 10 years of beauty-industry experience, spanning editorial, retail, and e-commerce, which gives her a unique understanding into how people shop for their beauty routines.While studying for a history degree (specialising in the history of beauty) and working as a beauty adviser in department stores, Grace started writing her own beauty blog in order to share the products she discovered while dealing with acne. After graduating, she moved to Beauty Bay as beauty editor and content manager. Grace is currently a beauty contributor to Who What Wear. She has also written for Hypebae and PopSugar and works as a brand consultant and copywriter.
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