Spring break is the official start of the travel season and the unofficial start of glowy, fresh-faced makeup season (yes, we're making it a thing). Whether your vacation plans involve letting off some pre-finals steam at a Caribbean resort or spending your hard-earned PTO by hitting the top restaurants in a major city, you can't go wrong with a radiant, feature-enhancing beauty look. There's no need to overload your carry-on with products—this aesthetic is easy to achieve with just a few beauty essentials from CoverGirl.
We've rounded up our must-pack spring makeup picks for every type of traveler, including a tinted essence that hydrates and helps improve uneven tone with every wear, and a waterproof mascara that will last through every pool party and speed-boat jaunts. Oh, and every product listed is vegan, under $25, and free of ingredients like sulfates, phthalates, and parabens.
The Laid-Back Beach Lounger
When you're on vacation, you tend to go with the flow. Sure, you might be willing to join your friends for a guided tour of the city or a night out, but for the most part, you're there to kick back, relax, and let your stress melt away under the sun's rays. Your beauty aesthetic is equally chilled out—no intricate liner looks or statement lips here.
In addition to plenty of SPF, you're going to want to pack the Clean Fresh Skincare Priming Glow Mist, which hydrates and refreshes skin with a mix of rosewater and vitamin C. It's the perfect pre- and post-beach refresh. Keep the minimalist vibes going with the Clean Fresh Brow Enhancer Gel Wax, a clear formula that will hold your brows in place and make them look fuller. For a lifted, feathery look, brush your brow hairs forward, then slick them back the opposite way and press them into place using the tip of the wand. On days you want a little extra impact, fill in your brows first, using the Clean Fresh Brow Liner 1MM Nano Pencil. The ultra-fine tip is made to create natural, hair-like strokes, and the all-day formula will stay put through multiple dips in the ocean.
The City-Loving Tastemaker
In your friend group, you're known for the best recommendations, from the perfect place to take a first date to the ideal café for an afternoon of reading and people-watching. So your trips are always planned to a T—you've got that running list of hot spots to hit, and yes, you have checked the menu of every restaurant you have saved.
If this sounds like you, the Clean Color Eyeshadow belongs in your makeup bag. This quad takes up less space than a regular-size shadow palette and is stacked with a mix of mattes, shimmers, and metallics that keeps any eye look within reach. Save space by packing just two shadow brushes: a fluffy one for easy blending, and a small detailing option for adding color to your lash lines or inner corners. To keep your skin looking and feeling refreshed throughout your trip, opt for the Simply Ageless Skin Perfector Essence. This skincare-makeup hybrid hydrates for up to 24 hours, targets fine lines and wrinkles with plant-based retinol alternative bakuchiol, and distributes a sheer tint with pigmented capsules for a more even-looking complexion. Worried about excess shine peeking through during a day of walking the city streets? Set your base with the Clean Fresh Pressed Powder, a lightweight, talc-free option that absorbs oil and blurs the look of pores. An included foam puff makes touching up easy, wherever you happen to be.
The Active Adventurer
Early-morning hikes to the highest peak in town? Zip-lining across jungle terrain? Camping under the stars for a night? There aren't many activities your adventurous spirit will say no to, a quality your travel companions love about you. Even if you typically opt for a full-glam look in your day-to-day life, on this trip your main focus is to have fun—not worry about mascara getting in your eyes or your lipstick staying put.
For you, we recommend the Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascara Waterproof, which will give your lashes smudge-proof volume and separation. For extra staying power, allow the mascara to dry between each coat. Define your brows with a swipe of the Clean Fresh Brow Filler Pomade Pencil, a formula that lasts all day and withstands water, sweat, smudges, and transfer. Finish your look by stashing a tube of the Clean Fresh Yummy Gloss in your bag or backpack. The formula contains hyaluronic acid, acai, gogi, and black elderberries, which combine to give lips a hydrated, non-sticky shine. And each of the 12 shades is sheer enough to slick on when you're on the go, no mirror required.
Ariel Wodarcyk is a freelance beauty and wellness writer based in New York City. Her work has appeared in Cosmo, ELLE, Good Housekeeping, Popsugar, and Makeup.com. Outside of work, you can find her hunting down signature scents for loved ones and scouring PerfumeTok.
