24 of the best travel size toiletries to make summer packing a breeze

The hair texturizer:

Living Proof Full Texturising Foam Travel, £15 for 43ml

This dry foam will give you just the right amount of insouciant beachy texture without subjecting your hair to even more damaging salt, as in the case of traditional texturizing surf sprays. It works equally well on wet or dry hair and has lots of hydrating ingredients, as well as heat protection.

The skin reviver:

Wildsmith Active Repair Copper Peptide Cream Travel Size, £35 for 15ml

No matter how well you’ve protected your skin in the sun all day (and we trust that you have), it will need a lot of TLC at the end of yet another sweltering day. Copper peptides are among the most reliable skincare repair agents – and they won’t irritate even sensitive or sensitised skin. This delicious, botanicals-packed cream will be there for the evening reset for as long as your holiday lasts.

The cleanser:

Fresh Beauty Soy Face Cleanser, £15 for 50ml

A classic, delicate cleanser that still slays sweat and sunscreen (and even mascara), this is perfect for sun-drenched skin that needs purifying, but with kid gloves. Massage into skin, let the soy proteins and cucumber soothe and calm, and rinse.

The power serum:

Paula’s Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum, £13 for 5ml

Vitamin C and sunscreen go together like peanut butter and jelly, making an almost impenetrable protective team when the sun is out. A small dollop of this serum under your SPF will mop up any free radicals that get past the sun protection filters, thanks to guardian angels, vit C, glutathione and ergothioneine. Oh, and they will also minimise uneven pigmentation. It’s your essential summer serum.

The luxe fragrance set:

Jo Loves Amber, Lime & Bergamot Travel Collection, £90

Make like a billionaire and wrap yourself in this super-chic, fresh-and-hot scent by layering the shower gel, body lotion and fragrance minis (they vary from 50 to 75ml) before you venture out into the summer night. The bag doubles as a clutch that’ll grant you access to the casino in Monte Carlo. Probably.

The skin finisher:

Sweed Beauty Miracle Powder Mini, £22 for 2g

It’s a lovely thing to glow but you don’t want to shine like you’re still basted in sunscreen when you hit the bar. That’s where this cute mattifying travel companion comes in. Devoid of talc but with vitamin E and C and hydrolysed collagen (although it’s vegan – so that’s odd), it nourishes and hydrates, and dampens shine while leaving skin radiant.

The cult hair perfume

Gisou Mini Honey Infused Hair Perfume, £19 for 15ml

Swish your hair down the boulevard to bring all the boys/girls to the yard with Gisou’s sweet, honey-spiked perfumes disguised as hair mists. They glossify and nourish your locks as an added bonus. There are three scents to choose from.

The evening skincare kit:

Skin Rocks The Mini PM Routine Set, £60

If you can’t go on holiday without Caroline Hirons reading you the skincare riot act, then this curated kit that takes you step-by-step through your evening routine if for you. It has travel sizes of her gel cleanser, retinoid 1 (yes, you can use retinoids in the summer – even on holiday), support oil and moisturiser to supercharge your vacation glow.

The pocket-size blush:

Pixi On The Glow Blush Petites, £12 for 19g

Dinky as you like, these half-size On-The-Glow cream blushes will fit in any washbag or pocket for quick swipes of juicy, tan-flattering colour. They come in baby pink, coral and pH-adjusting ‘cheektone’, and are infused with skin-loving ingredients to boot.

The dry shampoo:

Batiste One-The-Go Dry Shampoo, £3.25 for 50ml

If you can’t make it through any holiday without your trusty oil-mopping fix, Batiste has made you a travel size so you can blast your way through – and it comes in various fragrances, too.

The body kit:

Sol de Janeiro Beija Flor Jet Set, £23.70

This body trio comes in a very handy transparent zip-up bag which could have a million other uses once you’re done with the products. Inside you’ll find one of the brand’s cult body butters, this one contains a natural retinol alternative to help bring plumpness back to the skin. There’s also a 90ml-sized shower gel and a handy 30ml-sized perfume mist all with a fresh and fruity scent.

The makeup setter:

Too Faced Hangover 3-in-1 Setting Spray, £16 for 30ml

Whether you’re jetting off to a warm climate and need your makeup to stay in the heat or packing for a weekend wedding, this little spray is a brilliant addition to your makeup bag. Not only can it be used to set everything in place, but it can also be misted over the skin pre-makeup as a primer or throughout the day for a general skin refresh.

The dinky deodorant:

Megababe The Smoothie Deo, £8 for 28g

Not only does this natural deodorant come in a great diddy size – perfect for travel, gym bags or handbags – but it contains fruit enzymes to combat body odour (many natural deodorants don’t contain anything to prevent smell). There are also probiotics and pH-balancing ingredients in the formula, so with continued use your underarm skin will become smoother and softer too.

The neck smoother:

Trinny London The Elevator, £28 for 14.5ml

The key to success and visible results with neck and décolleté products is using them consistently. However, when you’re travelling and potentially restricted on size and weight it’s probably the first product you forfeit. Trinny has tackled this dilemma by offering a mini size of her brand new, peptide-packed neck and décolleté cream so keeping up your regular routine is a cinch.

The skincare kit:

Dr David Jack Daily Skin Trio Discovery Set, £95

Yes, this well-curated skincare trio is ideal for travel, but it’s also a great option if you’re feeling slightly bamboozled by skincare and want to invest in a routine that has been put together for you. Containing a 15ml morning serum, daily moisturiser and a night cream, all containing all the ingredients your skin needs, you just need to add your favourite cleanser for a comprehensive, effective daily ritual that’s suitable for all skin types.

The handbag-friendly fragrance:

Phlur Tangerine Boy EDP, £32 for 9.5ml

Full-sized perfume bottles are probably the heaviest item in your toiletry bag, which is where this substantial-sized mini comes in. Big enough to last a handful of holidays or for keeping in your handbag, all of Phlur’s best-selling perfumes are available in this 9.5ml spray. If you’re looking for a zesty, summery scent, this is the one – tangerine mingled with the brand’s signature musky skin notes.

The gradual tan:

Gatineau Golden Glow Gradual Tan, £22 for 75ml

Love looking tanned but don’t want to sunbathe? Gatineau has you covered with the brand new travel-sized version of their best-selling gradual tan. Take it away on holiday to fake a golden glow or to top up the colour you’ve already built up at home. It smells delicious and fades away without leaving you with obvious patches.

Holiday-proof shampoo and conditioner:

Charles Worthington Take Aways Sunshine Protect Shampoo and Conditioner, £3.49 each for 75ml

Coming in convenient 75ml pouches, there’s enough product in here for one person washing their hair every night on a week-long holiday (unless you have very long hair and then we’d recommend taking two shampoos and one conditioner). There are a few different formulations to choose from but this one contains UV protection and ingredients to keep colour in place.

Smart SPF:

Murad Environmental Shield SPF45 PA ++++, £55.20 for 30ml

Of course you’re not going to go away without packing one of the best face SPFs and this certainly fits the bill. Great for city breaks and beach holidays alike, it glides onto the skin easily, leaves a very subtle glow and contains a mineral sunscreen of the highest protection level.

Mini mascara:

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! Mascara in Super Black, £16 for 4ml

We’ve seen far too many great mascaras getting thrown away in airport security bins because travellers didn’t realise they counted as a liquid. Thankfully, you can get this brilliant one that lifts and volumizes lashes in the perfect travel size.

Hairspray hero:

Tresemmé Hairspray Extra Hold, £2.86 for 100ml

If your hair frizzes up at the mere hint of humidity, this is for you. It has 24-hour frizz control, doesn’t feel crispy on the hair, smells lovely and is a bargain price. .

Compact concealer:

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, £15 for 1ml

Buy this a few shades darker than you would normally wear it as a concealer – the formula is so creamy and blendable you can then use it on your whole face. As with the full-sized version, it comes in 30 shades.

Shampoo sachet:

Rehab Shampoo Sheets, £24 for 25 sheets

If you’re really tight on space then these genius shampoo sheets forgo the need for bulky bottles and don’t have to take up prime space in the clear plastic bag as they are waterless. They also are completely dissolvable. You simply open the sachet and drop the outer packaging onto the shower floor, where it dissolves down the plug. Then add water to the shampoo sheet and it will completely disintegrate and create a lathery foam to wash your hair with. How clever.

Perfume pods:

Marc Jacobs Daisy Love Drops, £22.40 for 30 capsules

These are a no-brainer for travel. No more lugging around a heavy perfume bottle, instead just pack as many pods as you need for your trip – each one is a good dose of Marc Jacobs’ much-loved fragrance – and pop them in recycling afterwards as they are biodegradable.