There’s a special kind of heartbreak that strikes at the airport security line.
You've made it through check-in with moments to spare, only to watch a gleaming bottle of your favourite cleanser get binned for being 14ml over the limit.
Despite the UK scrapping its 100ml liquid rule at selected airports, the same can’t be said for much of the rest of the world. So, unless you fancy coming home to a half-used toiletry bag or playing liquid roulette at customs, it pays to pack clever.
Waterless beauty is no new feat, but rather a quietly revolutionary corner of the beauty industry that’s been gaining ground in bathroom cabinets and carry-ons alike. From solid shampoo bars and powdered face masks to balm cleansers and serum sticks, these products ditch water (which often makes up 70–90 per cent of your average lotion) in favour of concentrated formulas that are lighter to pack, longer-lasting and often better for your skin.
They also tend to come with less packaging — or at least, more planet-friendly packaging. Think cardboard tubes, reusable tins, and less plastic waste clogging up your suitcase and the environment. For the eco-conscious traveller, it's a neat way to keep your routine clean in more ways than one.
Sensitive skin types will be pleased with waterless beauty alternatives, too. With fewer preservatives and fillers needed in waterless formulations, many of these products are naturally gentler, which is ideal if your skin gets fussy on flights or you're navigating an extreme change in climate (I once went from -27 degrees in Montreal to 32 degrees in Cuba, and my skin felt like it was screaming).
Whether you’re hopping across the Channel or heading further afield, the high-and-dry approach makes practical and environmental sense. No spills, no waste, no airport meltdowns.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best waterless beauty products to pack for your next trip — smart, sustainable, and guaranteed to help you sail through security.
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Face
This Works In Transit No Traces
These 100 per cent biodegradable makeup remover pads come drenched in rosewater and calming echium oil to cleanse your face quickly, easily and gently when you're on the go. Each pot contains 80 pads, enough to see you through long-haul trips and short breaks alike.
Use one pad for each side of the face, lightly pressing it down over the eyes to remove locked-on makeup.
Buy now £18.00, Amazon
Jones Road The Cleansing Stick
Bobbi Brown’s Jones Road is rewriting the cleansing rulebook with this balm-to-oil stick that melts off makeup and grime without the mess. Swipe, massage, rinse, and you’re done.
It leaves skin looking refreshed and plump, is great for acne-prone and dry skin, and is ideal for travel and gym bags alike. Just be sure to wipe the surface of the stick to clean as needed.
Buy now £36.00, Liberty
Patchology On The Fly Kit
The air inside a cabin is notoriously dry. Make like the A-listers and stick a mask on once you're at 35,000 feet. Patchology has put together this bundle to answer any airborne beauty woes, from undereye masks to lip patches.
Buy now £20.00, Space NK
Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore-Minimising & Polishing Powder
This clever little powder turns into a creamy exfoliant with just a few drops of water. I call on it during bad skin spells when my face needs a deeper cleanse.
Powered by Amazonian white clay, it deep-cleans pores while gently polishing your skin — think reset button in a bottle. Work a dime-sized amount into wet hands and scrub away one or twice a week.
Buy now £34.00, Kiehl’s
Ethique Discovery Pack Face Cleansers
Solid skincare, literally. These mini bars are compostable, zero-waste, and last far longer than you'd expect. Each one targets different concerns (hello, breakouts), so you can mix and match - and still pack light. This discovery pack includes two gentle face cleansers and an exfoliating scrub – all of which are pH-balanced and soap-free.
Buy now £8.50, Sephora
Tatcha The Serum Stick
Think of this beauty editor-favourite product as offering a dewy glow in crayon form. Packed with squalane and Japanese lemon balm, it hydrates, smooths, and adds a soft-focus finish on the go. Though pricey for an 8g serum stick, Tatcha’s formula is immediately soothing and ideal for dry patches and under-eyes – wherever you roam.
Buy now £49.00, Tatcha
Aztec Secret - Indian Clay
One of the most cult-favourite clay masks on the market, this 100 per cent calcium bentonite powder needs only water or ACV to whip into a detoxifying paste. It tightens, tingles, and pulls impurities like a magnet - old-school, but effective.
Buy now £14.95, Amazon
111SKIN Cryo De-Puffing Facial Mask
Sometimes (usually when we’re not in the mood for it), we can wake up with a puffy, dull complexion. If that is ever the case, simply whip on one of 111SKIN’s Cryo De-Puffing Facial Masks which, inspired by the science behind cryotherapy, increases blood circulation to the face instantly depuffing your skin.
Price for five masks.
Buy now £95.00, Lookfantastic
Hair
Oribe Serene Scalp Oil Control Dry Shampoo Powder
Formulated with a blend of rice, corn, tapioca starches and kaolin clay to absorb dirt and oil, think of Oribe’s Serene Scalp Oil Control as dry shampoo, but elevated.
This talc-free powder absorbs oil and soothes the scalp (thank you, willow bark extract), leaving hair fresh, matte, and volumised.
Luxe, yes, but a little goes a long way.
Buy now £45.00, Space NK
Kitsch Rice Water Shampoo & Conditioner Set
Inspired by traditional Asian hair rituals, these solid bars use rice water proteins to strengthen strands and boost shine. No bottles, no leaks, just salon-worthy results in bar form.
It’s been designed with dry and damaged hair in mind and has the customer reviews to prove its worth. 100 per cent compostable, zero-waste, plastic-free, sulfate-free and effective with a generous lather? You can’t ask for more.
Buy now £17.59, Amazon
Briogeo Style + Treat
Leave-in styling cream meets treatment in this creamy multitasker from Briogeo. It’s non-greasy, weightless, and perfect for defining waves, controlling frizz, or just giving your hair a bit of bounce and gloss. If you’re the type to exclusively wear slick-backs on holiday, this utilitarian piece of kit will help tame flyaways whether your hair is freshly washed or full of salt water from the beach.
Buy now £20.00, Amazon
Bumble and Bumble Prêt-à-Powder
A little of this stuff goes a long way to keeping greasy roots at bay. A shampoo and conditioner in one, Bumble and bumble's formula volumises, blocks UV rays and keeps your pre-holiday blow dry looking as it should for longer.
Buy now £26.00, Space NK
Rahua Smoothing Hair Balm
Frizz who? This pocket-sized balm is made with Amazonian oils and works like a dream to tame flyaways and moisturise dry ends — all without water or silicones. Plus, it carries a delectable scent of gardenias that’ll work to replace the need for a 100ml luxury fragrance. You can also use it as a multi-purpose balm on your lips, under eyes and even eyebrows for a sleek and dewy look.
Buy now £36.00, Rahua
Body
L'Occitane Shea Milk Sensitive Skin Extra Rich Soap
Made without palm oil and full of skin-nourishing shea butter, this little bar of soap is perfect for all skin types. It offers a rich lather and won't strip your skin of its natural oils. It also fits perfectly inside L'Occitane's soap tin, making it ideal for travel.
Buy now £8.00, L'Occitane
Kitsch Shaving Soap for Women
Kitsch’s creamy, solid shave soap that lathers up beautifully and helps your razor glide with zero irritation. No canisters, no foam, just smooth skin and softer stubble regrowth.
Buy now £6.75, Amazon
LUSH I Am Full Of Joy Product Holder
Cute name, clever design. This aluminium tin is the perfect fit for your massage bars, soaps, or shampoo bars — and means no mess in your washbag. Bonus: it's endlessly reusable.
Buy now £10.00, LUSH
