The Car Beauty Essentials I Never Go Anywhere Without
Sadaf Razi is Adore Beauty's Senior Beauty Editor.
She's a former fashion editor (who worked at various glossy mags) and stylist-turned digital beauty and lifestyle writer. She has been in the lifestyle/media industry for over 10 years and her work has also been featured on international covers like Elle France and Vanity Fair Mexico.
Some of her fave Adore Beauty products include Cicaplast B5, CeraVe Cleansing Oil and Lancôme Renergie Triple Serum.
Before I worked in beauty, I can’t count how many times I suffered through unexpected beauty faux pas while driving between events or dates.
A rogue moustache hair, faded makeup crying out for a touch-up, or three-day hair begging for a hit of texturising spray or dry shampoo to bring my limp, dishevelled strands back to life. And almost always as an unexpected plan popped up.
Now, I’ve curated a lineup of reliable beauty car essentials that have a permanent home in my console, so I can touch up and top up on the go whenever I need and never risk a last-minute beauty emergency again.
Keep scrolling for my current car beauty toolkit.
Disclaimer: Please note, as a beauty editor, I am definitely not encouraging leaving your beauty products in the car on hot days (especially sunscreen). Products can risk being compromised, oxidising, etc. However, on hot days, I will either store them under my seat or chuck them in my handbag. Most other days, I take the risk, and they live in my car at all times.
Sunscreen or a Sunscreen Mist
As a non-negotiable, we should be reapplying SPF throughout the day. But let’s be honest, sometimes we forget (this naughty beauty editor included).
That’s why I keep Ultra Violette’s Preen Screen Reapplication Mist close at hand at all times.
While this sunscreen mist spray isn’t a replacement for a full sunscreen application, it’s a brilliant touch-up option that won’t disturb makeup.
I’ll either pop it into my handbag or give my face a quick spritz between locations. It also imparts a fresh glow to the skin that instantly refreshes tired or faded makeup.
This spray sunscreen for face offers both UVA and UVB protection and has a super lightweight formula that won’t leave your makeup or complexion looking patchy or splotchy either.
Beauty editor tip: I always add the mini, travel-sized versions to cart around Christmas, when Ultra Violette drops their festive packs. They’re even more compact, making them perfect for on-the-go and I usually work my way through them in the first half of the year.
A Mini Dry Shampoo or Texturising Spray
What: Oribe Dry Texturising Spray Travel Size, $40
I am a dry shampoo girl through and through. My oily roots will never be without one, especially on travel.
Speaking of travel, when it comes to the best beauty minis, I took the travel-sized version of the iconic Oribe dry shampoo with me to Japan. While it’s not my absolute favourite in terms of how it feels on my strands, it is excellent at adding that grit and pretty much restyling and reseting lifeless locks.
As they say, ‘glamour on the go’ is made easy with this instant hair lift in a bottle.
A Drugstore Lip Balm
What: Dermal Therapy Lip Balm Original, $6.49
My painstaking journey with chronically dry lips sometimes feels never-ending, which is why, like most people, I have roughly eight different lip products permanently living in my car and handbag to help with this.
A nourishing lip balm is how I fast-track my way to hydrated, supple lips on the go.
That said, one of the best budget-friendly lip balms I find myself constantly reapplying on long drives is my trusted Dermal Therapy Lip Balm.
Aside from its affordable price point, its other drawcard is being formulated with 2.5% urea (side note: a great ingredient to look for for dry, cracked heels too).
I also use the Dermal lip balm in tandem with my Laneige lip sleeping mask. Both stay firmly on high rotation, working together to keep my lips soft and hydrated on the road.
AB customer Alex says:
"I have one of these tubes everywhere for a quick touch-up. In my car. Handbag. Bedside table. Make up kit."
Speaking of the best lip products, watch the YouTube video below, where our AB staffers (aka: certified beauty aficionados) put some of the most popular tinted lip oils to the test:
Travel Size Perfume
A mini fragrance for the car? That’s just a no-brainer, right? And after my lip balm, probably one of the car beauty products that gets the most use.
I go through quite a lot of travel-sized fragrances, but at the moment if you're looking for one of the best summer fragrances that isn't too sickly sweet but still manages to smell like summer in a bottle, I highly recommend Goldfield & Banks’s Sunset Hour in the 10ml size (which doesn’t sound like a lot, but trust me, Goldfield & Banks fragrances need only one spritz for all-day staying power).
What are the notes in Goldfield & Banks Sunset Hour?
- Head: Pear. Mandarin. Desert Peach.
- Heart: Jasmine. Green Mango. Ginger. Coconut Cream. Pink Pepper.
- Base: Sandalwood. Musk. Vanilla.
It not only makes my car smell amazing for ages, but the scent lingers for a long time too, so I don't actually need to reapply again.
A Neutral Lipstick or Lip Gloss
What:
I always like to keep a neutral(ish) lipstick or lip colour in the car. By “ish”, I mean a shade that leans a little brown or red but is still super wearable with everything in my wardrobe. That way, no matter what I’m wearing or where I’m headed, I can swipe it on and it just works and makes me look effortlessly put together.
At the moment, those two shades for me are 'Keep It Cozy' in the Maybelline Superstay Teddy Tint Lip Tint and 'Cocoa Creme' in the iconic Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment.
However, after seeing the below video on our Instagram, I have my eyes on this Maybelline Lifter Glaze Lip Balm in 'latte crush'.
A Fuss-Free Blush Stick
What: Nude By Nature Hydra Stick Lip & Cheek Colour 6g, $29.95
I credit my constantly “made-up” face to one thing and one thing only: blush. I’m sure most beauty lovers would agree - blush can singlehandedly anchor a makeup look or pull it back together if it starts fading by 3pm.
My favourite and faithful blush stick has recently been discontinued (devastating), but I’ve just added the Nude By Nature Hydra Stick Lip & Cheek Colour in shade ‘Berry’ to my next staff order to keep in my car beauty bag.
AB customer Kathryn says:
"I keep this at work in case I need a touch-up on my blush. It's a good medium pink and works well with most of my other blushes. Smooth, can be patted out with fingers."
Blotting Papers to Help Mattify Sweat and Shine, Fast
What: Skoop Skincare Babe Blotter Extra Drip, Blotting Paper, $16.95
When it comes to car beauty essentials, blotting papers are not to be overlooked.
A quiet beauty hero, especially for my oily T-zone that works overtime after about 2PM. Every time I clock the grease in my rearview mirror, I quickly reach for the mattifying Skoop blotting papers. These bad boys instantly absorb my forehead shine.
Extra-strength and made with charcoal, hemp pulp and wood pulp, they also help get rid of excess oil, sweat and shine on the go.
Turns out there are other beauty expert fans out there too:
*Please note this product was on sale at time of this YouBeauty podcast video however, they are full price.
@skoopskincare Screaming, leaping, crying—and even... high-fiving (the excitement is real)! Babe Blotter is featured on Australia’s favourite @You Beauty podcast ! 🎧✨ with @Leigh Campbell - Beauty Expert and @kelly_mccarren for @Mamamia! We’re bringing blotting paper back in a BIG way, and we can’t wait for you to try it. Available in our OG and Extra Drip (for extra sweaty hotties on the go), Babe Blotter keeps you sweat-free all day - and night - unclogs pores, and saves your makeup (hallelujah!). 🙌 Shop now or find us @Adore Beauty ♬ original sound - SkoopSkincare
The pocket-sized packaging is perfect for tossing into any bag, too.
Bonus points: Skoop is a female-founded and owned brand (slay), vegan, cruelty-free and designed right here in Australia.
A Nourishing Hand Cream
What: Jurlique Aloe Vera Hand Cream 40ml, $37
I have a hand cream in every nook and cranny I can think of - work desk, handbag, even the kitchen.
That’s because, after my crusty lips, my hands are next in line when it comes to dryness and looking ashy, so a hand cream in the car is just as essential as hand sanitiser.
I go through so many hand creams that promise hydration but fall flat. They leave my hands nourished for a couple of hours, then crusty and dry again.
My dad recently bought me the Jurlique Aloe Vera Hand Cream in the smaller 40ml version, and I absolutely love it.
Its elegant formula has been a godsend for my perpetually dry hands. It’s enriched with aloe vera, honey, vitamin E, safflower seed oil and sweet almond oil, it’s a luxe little hand saviour that fits perfectly in my car beauty bag.
It's silky not tacky so I can apply it right before driving without it feeling slippery.
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