I’ve been writing about beauty and travel for a few years now, and one thing I know for sure is that matching your makeup to your destination is pivotal. You don’t want to arrive at your hotel with too many products (especially if you have a carry-on) and you also don’t want to bring the wrong stuff, like a heavy foundation to a tropical island or neon eyeshadow palette to forest exploration vacation.

For a recent trip to Mexico, I streamlined my beauty case to a few essentials I love. They bring out my tan, provide a pop of color and can easily be applied with your hands. Check out the video above to see why I love these travel beauty essentials.

* Aside from me, there’s also a special guest appearance by a few boats and parrots in the background*

Travel Beauty Essentials in the Video:

1. THE ORDINARY – Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
This product costs less than $6 ($5.80 to be exact) and has a hydrating formula filled with amino acids, dermal lipids, and hyaluronic acid. It’s perfect to put on before you apply makeup for a smooth base that’ll let the next product shine (not literally, it’s not greasy at all).

2. Touche Éclat All-In-One Glow Tinted Moisturizer
The greatness of the famous Touche Eclat concealer distilled into a gorgeous tinted moisturizer with medium coverage. As I mention in the video, it has a special, awesome scent and is perfect for a sunny vacation.

3. Guerlain Terracotta Bronzer
My go-to OG bronzer, this one never fails me and can withstand travel really well. I say this as someone who’s arrived with a broken bronzer at many destinations before I got this one.

4. NARS Highlighter
The blush has been beloved by the world for decades, so NARS extended the line to include a highlighter which is a nice pinky, dewy finish on top of your makeup.

5. NARS Blush in Dolce Vita
A liquid blush that can be applied with your fingers. Careful, a little goes a long way!

6. Glossier Boy Brow
Instant brows in a tiny, travel-friendly tube, when you need a little extra oomph.

7. COVER FX Custom Enhancer Drops
Bring this on vacation with you and use if for everything — as a highlighter, drop some into your foundation for extra glow, use it as a liquid eyeshadow, and even put some in your body lotion for some sexy shimmer.

8. L’Oréal Eyeliner
I got a lot of these as a gift when I worked at an agency years ago (yes so many I still have some today, okay?) and it never fails me. Works equally well in hot and cold climates.

9. Stila HUGE Extreme Mascara
I like a bold mascara look, and this one really delivers, giving me length and lift with just a few flicks.

10. NARS Orgasm Lip Gloss
It’s true, I love the whole Orgasm line by NARS. This gloss is light and shimmering, can be worn on its own or layered over a lipstick.

11. Fenty Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in Dragon Mami
This bold coral lipstick is the piece de resistance of this video and the perfect beauty item to bring on a tropical vacation with you.