Living

Packing the ultimate weekender: Our favorite products for your carry-on or beach bag

Is it possible to pack the perfect weekend bag?

Every summer, when Saturdays at the shore and mountain getaways call, the question of what to pack arises — typically at the last possible minute.

But this year we're putting some planning into our carry-ons and beach bags, wasting no space on last-second add-ons or 25 different half-used hotel shower gels. Instead, we'll throw in an extra bikini (see some of our top picks).

Here are a few of our favorite travel-ready products.

All-in-ones

When trying to prevent over-packing, multi-tasking products are a must.

The Travel 8-Step Regime from Oh K! is super convenient for overnighters, with one dose of body wash, shampoo, cleansing oil, facial foam, toning serum, lotion, moisturizer and a gold jelly mask in a slim set of detachable packets. Available for $24 at asos.com.

For a longer stay, try Lancôme's Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Ultra moisturizer. The oil-free broad spectrum SPF 30 and translucent, thin texture make it ideal for daytime and for layering under makeup. It also corrects dark spots, and works to brighten and tighten skin, so when traveling light, can also be used in place of overnight serums. Available for $99 (1.7 fl oz) at lancome-usa.com.

Portable sunscreen

Few things can ruin a summer weekend like a horrible sunburn, so we're always on the lookout for effortless options.

Supergoop has become the sunscreen obsession of 2018. And for good reason — they're powerful, beautifully packaged and oxybenzone, paraben and cruelty-free. Their mini kit has everything a weekend traveler needs: Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40, Defense Refresh Setting Mist SPF 50 and Super Power Sunscreen Mousse SPF 50. Plus, it boasts a cute metallic pouch and no sticky residue left by many competitors. Available for $25 at supergoop.com.

Instant refreshers

Do crowded airports and gritty rest areas make you long for a shower?

Glossier's delightful Soothing Face Mist is always in our travel bag. The rose water and aloe is a heavenly reset after a day of schlepping luggage.

The beloved product line from blogger-turned-beauty mogul Emily Weiss just launched a TSA-approved mini version of the Milky Jelly Cleanser: a gentle, all-purpose cleanser that leaves skin soft and hydrated after a long day on the road. The Soothing Face Mist runs $18 (4 fl oz), while Glossier's mini cleanser is $9 (2 fl oz) at glossier.com.

Another favorite: Dolce & Gabbana's Light Blue Italian Zest, which smells like fresh-squeezed lemons without the sticky mess. The limited edition scent is perfectly light, ideal for freshening up before an evening at a beach bar or for spritzing on clothes that come out of your luggage smelling less than grand. Available for $78 (1.6 fl oz) at sephora.com.

Bottle-less beauties

Toiletry bottles can add up quickly – which is why we're fans of one-time use options while traveling.

Triad's Pads 2 Go are individually packaged and tailor-made for summer sojourns or everyday gym bags. The pre-soaked cotton lifts grime and sweat from skin and leaves a light cranberry scent. They can also pull double-duty as makeup removers. Available for $10 at arcona.com.

Spongellé's Papaya Yuzu Spongetté is a disposable scrubber infused with body wash and extracts. The mini versions, or spongettes , can be used up to five times and are vegan friendly and cruelty-free. Available for $9.00 on spongelle.com (and in FabFitFun's summer box).

Dose of color

Summer travel is a bright spot of the year, so we prefer to do it in color, starting with our nails. Essie's gel couture avant-garde collection in Avant-Garment is a hot hue and worthy of the makeup bag space. Available for $11.50 at drug stores and essie.com.

And for a little color-correcting and bronzing on our skin, we turn to the Queen (because if it's good enough for Beyoncé to use at Coachella, it's good enough for us). Alleven London's Colour Shield is the product that made Bey's skin look FaceTuned during her whole set, without streaking or smudging. The quick dry formula adapts to your skin tone, which we were skeptical about at first, as it only comes in three shades: ivory, sand and amber. But the colors look remarkably natural and the aerosol spray is surprisingly easy to use, even after a sangria or two. Available for $48 (3.4 fl oz) at alleven.com.

We'll also let Rihanna be our summer color guide. Her new Fenty Beauty Moroccan Spice Eyeshadow Palette has 16 shades in mattes, pearls and metallics that are ideal for warm summer nights. It's enough to give you some "Wild Thoughts." Available for $59 at Sephora.