12 truly useful travel beauty sets to keep you glowing, glam and frizz-free

Our beauty team's pick of mini-but-mighty beauty travel sets that'll make your holiday routine even better than home

Collage of travel beauty sets from Charlotte Tilbury, Maison Margiela and Color WOW, on a pink watercolour background
(Image credit: Future / Brand (L-R) Charlotte Tilbury, Maison Margiela and Color WOW)

Heading off for some Autumn sun and looking to nail your holiday packing? We're here to share the secrets to travel beauty success, without losing too much of your precious suitcase space. It takes the form of travel beauty sets...

Many of us know the struggle of trying to fit our full beauty routines into just one makeup bag to take on holiday, from the best foundation with SPF (along with a lot of separate sunscreen, naturally) to the best makeup setting sprays to keep your look locked in place all day long. Whether you're struggling to zip your suitcase shut or aiming to avoid exceeding your weight limit, packing often means compromising your skin, hair and makeup routine when you need it most. But what if you could eliminate that stress and still fit in all of your beauty essentials?

With this guide, you can! From hydrating SPF skincare saviours and must-have anti-humidity haircare to full glam makeup kits, we've picked out the most useful problem-solving travel beauty sets of the season.

The handy beauty travel sets we're packing in our suitcase

Granted, travel sets are nothing new, but in recent years, they've become more widely available with brands launching sets designed specifically to target your holiday skincare, makeup and haircare routines.

These handy buys offer everything you need, meaning you can cut down on individual travel makeup minis and avoid trying to pack full-size items in your suitcase. You can opt for a kit filled with your go-to staples or take it as an opportunity to trial a range of new products, to see whether they're worth investing in the full-size version once home.

So, whether you're looking to boost glow on sun-parched skin, mitigate the unwanted effects of humidity or look glam without sweating over a hotel mirror for 45 minutes, we've got you. These are the genuinely useful, effective and time-saving travel beauty sets that should be in your luggage.

Protective SPF skincare sets

Have you got a beach week or sightseeing city break booked in the diary? The single most important thing is to keep yourself protected from the sun. Opt for a travel set that includes a miniature sunscreen, which makes it easy to reapply your SPF whilst you're on-the-go. If you're also planning on wearing makeup, it's also wise to invest in a kit that boasts a quality setting spray to ensure your look doesn't budge all day long in the heat.

Glow-boosters for parched skin

Who doesn't like a hydrated, glowy complexion? If you're someone who actively seeks a healthy holiday glow, whether that be through a shimmery highlighter or the hyaluronic acid stacking trick, we've found some of the best kits to pack in your suitcase. Begin the luminous journey with a stellar skincare lineup from Fresh, that boasts a hydrating moisturiser and brightening serum, or treat yourself to Dr Barbara Sturm's ultra-luxurious skincare set before adding an instant glow with Vieve's liquid highlighter.

Anti-Humidity hair heroes

Many of us know the struggle of dealing with humidity. From unwanted frizzy hair to styles that drop in seconds, that hot and bothered feeling can put a dampener on your holiday. So, why not opt for an all-in-one travel set that fights all the unwanted effects of humidity, including some of the best hair products for humidity? We've done the scrolling for you and found the best travel sets to holiday-proof your hair.

Fast glam for easy evenings

Despite the heat, a holiday is the perfect time to get glam and dressed up - whether you're away to celebrate a special occasion or simply heading out for dinner. But the last thing anyone wants to do on hot evenings is sweat over a mirror for hours. Thus, we've selected the easiest glam kits going. Whether you're completing a photo-ready makeup look in minutes or spritzing a sexy scent, treat yourself to a glamorous experience with these handy travel sets...

Sennen Prickett
Digital Beauty Writer

Sennen is Digital Beauty Writer at woman&home, where she shares the latest beauty launches, trending buys and personal product recommendations, from makeup and hair to skincare and nails. She is also a judge for the annual woman&home Haircare, Skincare and Beauty Awards.

Previously, Sennen achieved a First Class Fashion and Beauty Journalism degree at Birmingham City University, before undertaking her role as Junior Digital Fashion and Beauty Editor at FROW Magazine. During this position, she wrote about the latest industry news, new product launches, viral trends and thoroughly reviewed a lineup of beauty products. Since leaving FROW, Sennen has gone on to create fashion, beauty and lifestyle content with numerous brands, including Who What Wear UK, HuffPost UK and Harvey Nichols.

When she’s not writing about all things beauty, Sennen spends her spare time outside of work watching the latest Netflix series, doing lots of online shopping and going on countryside walks with her dog.