Travel Smarter, Pack Lighter: My No-Nonsense Over-40 Eye Makeup Tips

Ciao, Beautiful! 

Let’s be honest — when we were younger, traveling meant stuffing an entire arsenal of makeup into our bags. Extra palettes, three mascaras, multiple concealers… just in case. But once you hit 40, your travel priorities change. You want to feel confident, polished, and fresh, without hauling a heavy makeup bag that takes up half your suitcase.

On my recent trip to The Frenchie Boutique (one of my favorite little places to relax and unwind), I took a close look at how I travel with beauty products — especially eye makeup — and realized I’ve learned a lot about what really matters. Here’s how you can simplify your eye makeup routine when traveling and which products I swear by to keep things light, practical, and effective.

Why Traveling After 40 Is Different

Let’s face it: comfort matters more now. We want products that work hard for us without weighing us down. We care less about over-the-top looks and more about enhancing what we have, looking awake and fresh, and still feeling like ourselves after a long flight or road trip.

That’s why the eye makeup products I bring are carefully chosen — they’re multitaskers, space-savers, and absolutely essential to making me feel pulled together with minimal effort.

My Go-To Travel Eye Products 

Here’s what made the cut on my trip — and why I recommend these for anyone over 40 looking to streamline their beauty bag:

1.  Eye Dream of Coffee Eye Cream
This caffeinated eye cream is a total game-changer. It helps reduce puffiness, smooth fine lines, and brighten the under-eye area, making you look more awake even after a sleepless travel night. I apply this first thing in the morning to prep my skin before any makeup.

2. Priming Duo 
Instead of packing heavy foundation, I bring this tinted primer. It evens out skin tone, smooths texture, and gives a soft, natural finish that works beautifully under eye makeup. Plus, it saves space by combining skincare and makeup in one step.

3. Matte Beige Brow Highlighter
This little stick is magic. I use it to highlight under the brow, brighten the inner corners of my eyes, and even as a subtle liner along the lower lash line for a wide-awake effect. It’s small, easy to pack, and ultra-versatile.

A Few Bonus Travel Eye Makeup Tips

• Stick to neutrals: A small eyeshadow quad with neutral tones will take you from day to night without the need for extra palettes. I personally prefer creams so I use 3 eye shadow sticks with primer (see my video below).

• Multipurpose products are key: Bring a brow highlighter that lifts brows and doubles as an eye shadow primer and over all eye brightener! 

• Don’t overpack brushes: I usually pack one small shadow brush or blending brush, (depending on what makeup products I take) and my fingers — yes, clean fingers! — for cream products.

• Waterproof mascara: Travel can be unpredictable (hello, humidity and long days), so a good waterproof or tubular mascara is always in my bag to top off my regular mascara with.

• Pack minis or travel sizes: Wherever possible, downsize. Travel minis or decanting products into smaller containers will free up space (5 or 10 ml jars from Amazon work well & you can't go wrong with bringing your products already in small tubes). 

Why This Matters

At this stage in life, less really is more. By simplifying your routine, you make space for the things that truly make travel enjoyable — more room in your bag, less stress getting ready, and more confidence knowing you’ve packed smart.

I’ve also linked a few of my other favorite travel-friendly beauty products below so you can build your own perfectly packed beauty kit.

Remember, the goal isn’t to do more — it’s to do what works best for you. Traveling after 40 should feel freeing, not frustrating, and a simple, effective eye makeup routine is one of the easiest ways to get there.

Because truly, the more you know, the more you glow.

xoxo

Jentri 

ps. check out my Youtube video at The Frenchie for a live (and easy!) eye makeup demo! 

pps. our NEW Glow On The Go Trio is your perfect travel companion this summer!