These Affordable Skincare Minis Are Not Just For Travelers Only

Travel-size skincare products have more benefits than just being travel-friendly! Travel-size skincare is cheaper and more often than not, way more convenient.

If travel is no excuse for skipping your skincare routine, then you’ve probably already mastered the art of packing. After all, who wants to pack their favorite full-size skin care products only to leave them at the checkpoint?

And travel-size skincare products are great for that. But there’s more. Hello? Price? Mini-size skincare is more affordable. So even if you’re not able to afford the full size of those fancy skincare products you have your eyes on, you can try them out with minis.

Personally, the first travel-size skincare product I ever bought had nothing to do with me traveling. I was young and I couldn’t simply afford the full thing.

Over the years, as I indulged in more full-size or jumbo-size skincare, I realized something about mini-sized skincare that nobody seems to acknowledge.

Mini-size skin care saves you waste! Because you tend to use them up before they expire, which is not always the case with full-size products, especially with treatments.

This is important if you like to be on top of trends and want to test out multiple products at the same time. So let’s just stop pretending that mini-size is for travelers only.

Now, whether you travel or not, travel-size skincare products deserve your attention. And I’ve rounded up the best! From creams to serums, check out the best travel-friendly and budget-friendly mini-size skincare products.

The Best Travel-Size Skincare Products

Best Travel-Size Cleanser: Youth To The People Mini Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser

Though loved by anyone who is selective about skincare, this California-based clean skincare brand is not cheap. They’re about to be acquired by L’Oreal, which probably won’t affect the price. But still, I swear by every single product they have even though I pay double price for them in my country because of customs. And they offer a variety of mini-size products like eye cream, toner, and face oil.

But this cleanser right here is going to get you hooked. Even if it doesn’t, it’s still a cost-effective purchase. It’s an antioxidant-rich mini-size gel cleanser. And because it foams up, it lasts long. It’s vegan, it’s cruelty-free and the glass bottle makes it even fancier. And it’s going to resist that weather change. Because it doesn’t dry your skin.

Best Travel-Size Oil Cleanser: DHC Travel Size Deep Cleansing Oil

We all love to glam up on vacation. Sometimes, we get too experimental with foundation, eyeliner, and eyeshadow. And because we’re on the go, we usually prefer water-proof or at least water-resistant makeup. And that type of makeup requires double cleansing with a good oil cleanser to make sure you maintain healthy, clear skin on vacation too.

This cult-favorite Japanese oil cleanser comes in travel-size to ensure there’s no makeup left on your skin that could potentially clog pores. It’s incredibly gentle on the skin. It’s formulated with olive oil and without fragrance. While it dissolves your makeup, it simply nourishes it to minimize irritation from your second cleanser.

Best Travel-Size Moisturizer: Glow Recipe Mini Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer

No skincare is complete without a good moisturizer. And most mini-size moisturizers are about 15ml. This is a 25ml mini-size moisturizer perfect for sampling and/or traveling. It’s oil-free so it’s suitable for acne-prone skin too.

It has a gel texture that goes on easily and feels weightless. Plus, it hydrates with hyaluronic acid and nourishes with antioxidants too. It’s especially amazing for summer.

Best Travel-Size Face Mask: Fresh Mini Rose Face Mask

Travel-size or regular-size, face masks make skincare so much fun. And in my opinion, Fresh makes some of the best face masks out there. And there’s no arguing that they’re quite expensive. But if you can afford to splurge a little bit into a mini-size face mask, make it this one because you’re not going to regret it.

It hydrates, brightens, soothes, and nourishes, which is helpful if your skin needs a refresher -travel or not. The famous rose face mask is in gel form. And it contains rose petals and smells like roses. It takes 10 minutes for the mask to revive tired, dull skin.

Best Travel-Size Toner: Paula’s Choice Mini Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Exfoliants like glycolic acid and salicylic acid are a group of active ingredients that require caution. If you’ve never used them before or if you have sensitive skin, it barely gets to a point where you exfoliate twice a day. So while it’s all fun and fancy to get a full-size toner to exfoliate, it’s cost-effective to start with the minis.

And this cult-favorite, salicylic acid exfoliator by Paula’s Choice does come in travel size. The mini toner is great for treating acne all thanks to salicylic acid. But it’s also great if your skin tends to break out during your travels from weather changes. Take it with you to reduce inflamed acne overnight.

Best Travel-Size Serum: Sunday Riley Multivitamins 15% Vitamin C + Retinol Mini Set

You probably already know this, but I’m going to go over it again to prove a point. Retinol is an anti-aging skincare staple. But it’s notorious for being irritating and drying for the skin. And because of that, you’re supposed to start using it once a week at first for several weeks. And sometimes, the road can even be bumpier than that. It can take months before your skin gets used to it.

On the flip side, active ingredients like retinol go bad easily. For example, The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane is supposed to be used up within 3 months after opening. That means your retinol serum expires right about when your skin gets a handle on the situation. That’s what I mean when I say that skincare minis are more convenient. Now, back to the product. Sunday Riley serums are among my favorites. And compared to full-size products, this is a bargain.

Both retinol and vitamin C are gentle enough for sensitive skin. Because of the oil formula, retinol absorbs slower. And because it’s made with a derivative, the vitamin C serum is super gentle too. Nothing goes to waste with this kit. And it’s like your affordable road map to incorporating two of the most effective skincare ingredients into your routine. Not to mention, it’s your travel-friendly anti-wrinkle set!

Best Travel-Size Skincare Set: Fenty Skin Travel Size Start’r Set

Sets are convenient and budget-friendly. So if you’re looking for something inclusive, travel-friendly, and covers all the bases, this is it. Also, if you’re new to skincare, you can create a fancy skincare routine in the most affordable way possible with this 3-piece set. It has Fenty’s SPF moisturizer, cream cleanser, and niacinamide toner that doubles as a serum.

So you have everything ready to get to work. The cream cleanser lightly foams up to remove makeup and dirt. The toner/serum plumps the skin and helps brighten it too. And lastly, you moisturize and protect your skin with chemical SPF 30. It’s oil-free and gentle enough for sensitive skin. And the whole set leaves the skin looking healthy and radiant.

Best Travel-Size Sunscreen: Supergoop! Mini Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 PA+++

Though sunscreen is the best skincare investment you can ever make, you don’t have to commit to full size. If you want to test out one of the most raved-about sunscreens out there, you can start with this mini. The reason why people love it so much is because it’s makeup-friendly. It doesn’t mess up your foundation or pill under it.

And it doesn’t feel uncomfortable on the skin either. So if you’re packing for a vacation for somewhere sunny, this essential is going to make your time there easier. The sunscreen is chemical. That’s why it’s invisible. But it’s also oil-free. So you don’t need to worry about clogged pores after a sweaty day by the beach.

Best Travel-Size Multi-Tasker: Dr. Jart+ Mini Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30

This is such a multi-tasking skin care product that it’s going to replace a lot of your products whether you travel or not. It’s your sunscreen, your primer, foundation, and redness-reducing treatment. Even though it is a mini size, a little goes a long way with this one. The green-tinted formula contains mineral sunscreen, which is great for people with sensitive skin.

The green cancels out redness on the skin and gives you an even base. Plus, it’s made with Centella Asiatica, which is great for reactive, redness-prone skin. You can apply it under your foundation. Or you can just go with it for a no-makeup makeup look.

Best Travel-Size Face Mist: Mario Badescu Mini Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber, and Green Tea

Discovering new places can be exhausting for your skin too. New weather, new places, different levels of pollution, and the change in the water you wash your face with can take a toll on your skin. And if you’ve ever used a face mist before, then you know how refreshing they feel on the skin.

And this mini face mist might be a good one to have in your bag whenever your skin needs a pick-me-up. It’s made with all that is hydrating and soothing -just what you need when you’re out and about. The hydrating blend of aloe, cucumber, and green tea revives dehydrated skin. The mist can be used over makeup too!

So these are some of the best travel-size skincare products. I wanted to bring this up because skincare is one of the few things that can help you feel better instantly, especially during difficult times. And with difficult times, you may not be able to afford to splurge on skincare as much as you’d like to. And thanks to these, you don’t have to.

Read Next: The Best Anti-Aging Skincare Sets