What's in my travel makeup bag: Disney edition
A lil' moment for the skincare and beauty lovers
Happy Friday, readers! I’ve already talked about my packing must-haves and park bag essentials so in honor of the bi-annual Sephora sale that’s going on until Monday, May 14th, we’re pivoting a lil’ bit to chat about skincare and beauty items for those early resort mornings and late park nights.
Here’s the thing about Disney trips, especially those in Florida — it’s typically hot, humid, and sunny and you’re likely going to have your picture taken multiple times per day. While makeup is certainly not a necessity for the parks, many guests — including myself — do love to don a smidge of blush or a even full face of product.
For some, it can be a delicate balance of feeling comfortable and confident. Much like our conversation on what to include in your park bag, the makeup one chooses to wear in the parks really depends on their comfort level.
Since we’re digging into the contents of my makeup bag, I need to point out one thing: I’m a minimal wearer of makeup in general, but this is especially true during a Disney parks trip. You’ll see that reflected in this post. However, if you love wearing more makeup and are looking for occasional product recommendations that hold up well in the parks, check out Magic-Ally Main Treats (she’s on Substack too!).
Alright — let’s begin!
Face
Tower28 BeachPlease Dewy Cream Blush
This is, hands down, my favorite blush of all time. It’s easy to apply with a couple fingers, and the color lasts all day long. I have this blush in multiple shades, but “Magic Hour” is my go-to. It’s gorgeous.
Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm
With all that sunscreen being applied and reapplied, I always cleanse twice at night. The first one is done with this cleansing balm, which truly gets everything (and I mean everything) off of your face, eyelids, lips, and eyelashes. It’s gentle while also being an absolute powerhouse of a cleanser. Oh, and bonus: it’s a solid! Huzzah for my fellow carry-on-baggage-only travelers.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Wash
Once I’ve used the cleansing balm, I then follow up with my favorite cleanser. This one is also super effective, and it’s great for those with normal, combination, or oily skin. It foams up like no one’s business, which means that it’s hard at work breaking down all the residual facial oil, sweat, and dirt that was collected throughout the day.
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner
Without a doubt, my skin looks brighter and healthier when I’m exfoliating. I keep up with this almost-daily habit while I’m on vacation, and this one is my ride-or-die. It’s got a weird smell, but it works so I deal with it.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
A good moisturizer can truly make all the difference in a skincare routine, and this one is my favorite. It’s so hydrating, and I love that it just melts into my skin. La Roche-Posay also sells a version with SPF if you’d prefer a two-in-one situation instead.
Eyes
A waterproof mascara
Rain is inevitable in Florida. It’s likely going to happen at some point during your trip and if you, 1.) get caught in it and 2.) wear mascara, this can be risky! Even though it’s not my preferred mascara, I always wear this one from CoverGirl when I’m in the parks. It also prevents any flaking from happening, which I tend to experience more when it’s super hot and humid.
Lips
I have a tendency to go a bit overboard on lip products, but they’re just so fun and there’s so many to choose from. I can’t help it! So, here’s a smattering of my favorites for vacation. There’s a lil’ bit of everything on this list.
Something hydrating
LANEIGE Lip Glowy Lightweight Hydration Balm with Shea Butter
LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask Intense Hydration with Vitamin C (my go-to for nighttime)
Something protective
Something glossy
r.e.m. beauty Essential Drip Glossy Balm (this one is also very hydrating!)
Something long-lasting
Body
Sample or travel-sized perfume
Perfume is one of my favorite beauty items, so I simply couldn’t leave it off the list. I usually bring a few different options to rotate between during my vacation, but I wore this perfume almost everyday of my previous trip and now it reminds me of those all those special memories every time I use it.
I touched on this in a previous post, but I also bring a sample or travel-sized perfume along with me in my park bag. It’s perfect for when you need to feel a bit more refreshed after being in the parks all day.
Pacifica Deodorant Wipes
I’ve used these wipes for years and they’re fantastic for when I need a lil’ underarm TLC after a hot, sweaty day walking around the parks.
A quick word of warning: these wipes — without fail — leak while traveling. It doesn’t matter if it’s a one-hour roadtrip or a three-hour flight, they will leak. So, be sure to pack them in a Ziploc bag with a paper towel wrapped around them to soak up any liquid that might leak from the packaging.
And a tip: If you don’t want to carry the whole package with you into the parks, simply add some to a Ziploc bag, remove as much air as possible, and seal it up tightly.
So much (so, so much) sunscreen
Since I have fair skin and an allergy to the sun, sunscreen is a necessity for me. However, I’m very sensitive to the texture and scent of most American sunscreens, so I’m always on the lookout for ones that don’t make me want to…claw my skin off.
I mentioned a handful of tested and preferred sunscreens on this post, but to reiterate: I love anything by Supergoop! and La Roche-Posay. For this trip, I’m bringing this ultra-light, facial sunscreen and a small bottle of this melt-in sunblock in my park bag. Remember: be sure to reapply every couple of hours!
More posts about Disney travel
That’s all folks! I’ve always loved these types of posts, so I hope it was fun and, hopefully, a lil’ helpful. If you don’t mind me being nosey, what items are in your toiletry and/or makeup bag for a Disney vacation? Leave a comment and let us know.
Don’t forget — the sitewide Sephora sale ends on Monday! If you’re needing to pick up some products, now would be a great time to do so.
Oh, and if you enjoyed today’s post, be sure to smash that lil’ heart icon below! It helps increase this post’s visibility on Substack and brings more folks closer to the magic. As always, thank you so much for reading. I appreciate you being here.
See ya real soon,
👋🏻 Lookin’ for more magic? Come say “hi” on Instagram!
☕ Help fuel those early mornings and late nights by buying me a coffee
💬 Found something in this post that resonated with you? Highlight and share it as a note to your Substack feed!
💌 Spread the magic by sending this post to a fellow Disney nerd
🗣️ Got a Substack of your own? Recommend Magic, Noted to your readers!
PS. Affiliate links are used in this post. They’re at no cost to you but if you do choose to use them, thank you! They’re a great way to support the publication.