17 Cult-Fave Beauty Products That Come In Cute Travel Sizes

Use A Gentle Cleanser

Since your skin is more sensitive during your period, it’s important to use a face wash that will help to get rid of grime without stripping your skin of its natural oils. If you’re looking for a gentle and affordable cleanser that does the job, I've used CeraVe’s Foaming Facial Cleanser for years. Not only does it contain multiple ceramides that help to restore your skin barrier, it also contains niacinamide – an ingredient known to help reduce excess oil production in the skin.

Hydration Is Key

Have you ever noticed your skin looking more dull or lifeless whenever your period comes around? This is because low estrogen levels during the menstruation part of your cycle makes your skin more prone to water loss, which causes dehydration and dryness. During this time, you can counteract this effect by incorporating a hydrating serum or moisturizer into your skincare routine. I recommend The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Its titular ingredient, hyaluronic acid, acts like a sponge by attracting water on the skin and retaining it, which will keep your skin feeling plump, smooth, and hydrated. But what makes this serum really stand out is its other active ingredient – Matrixyl 3000 peptide – that, when combined with hyaluronic acid, can help build firmer, youthful-looking skin over time.

Niacinamide Is Your Best Friend

Earlier, I mentioned how niacinamide is primarily used as an ingredient in skincare products to help balance your skin’s oil production. However, if you look at the ingredient label on the packaging for most of these recommended products, niacinamide will probably be listed – and for a good reason. This power-packed ingredient is a form of vitamin B3 that can help boost skin hydration, reduce redness and uneven skin tone, and combat damage that can cause visible signs of aging. I would suggest using a serum with niacinamide as one of its main ingredients — like the Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum — because it is formulated with higher concentrations of this ingredient that can penetrate deep into the skin.

Use Spot Treatments Or Pimple Patches On Problem Areas

As tempting as it is to use your fingers or a comedone extractor to pop any zit that appears during your period, trust me when I tell you…don’t do it! Not only will picking further inflame your skin, you can also spread acne-causing bacteria across your skin that will make your breakouts even worse. If you’re an avid pimple-popper like myself, save yourself the trouble and cover your spots with hydrocolloid pimple patches to help them heal. My favorite patches are the Peace Out Acne Healing Dots; they're formulated with salicylic acid and aloe vera leaf extract, which help to reduce irritation and minimize breakouts.

If You Need To, Use An Exfoliating Peel Or Toner – But Don’t Overdo It

Even if you’re taking every step possible to take extra care of your skin during that time of the month, sometimes your skin can feel more gritty and grimy than usual. Exfoliating cleansers, scrubs and serums are often advertised for everyday use, but if you’re not careful, you can end up with angry and irritated skin.

If you absolutely have to exfoliate, play it safe by using a mask or a toner once or twice a week. For a mask, I recommend trying the Versed Doctor’s Visit Instant Resurfacing Mask, and for a toner, I suggest using the Peach Slices Acne Exfoliating Toner. Both products contain a combination of AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) that remove dead skin cells from the surface while also clearing and preventing breakouts.

Opt For A Lightweight Moisturizer

Hormone changes during your menstrual cycle can cause your skin to produce more oil than usual. While it's important to keep your skin hydrated and healthy by using a moisturizer, thick creams and facial oils can clog your pores and lead to an endless cycle of breakouts. Instead, try incorporating a light gel moisturizer without ingredients like silicones, which are known to congest your skin. My current favorite is the Selfless by Hyram Niacinamide and Maracujá Daily Barrier Support Moisturizer, which contains ingredients like maracujá seed oil and murumu seed butter that help to heal the skin barrier while leaving a silky smooth finish.

Don’t Forget Sunscreen

It doesn’t matter if it’s cloudy, cold, raining, or if the sky is falling — sunscreen is a non-negotiable in your skincare routine, especially during your period. Skin sensitivity is at an all-time high during that time of the month, meaning that you’re more likely to get burnt from UVA and UVB rays. Personally, I like to use lightweight sunscreens, like Krave Beauty’s Beet the Sun, that also contain ingredients to support your skin barrier. Beet the Sun not only has an SPF of 40, but it also has beetroot extract, an antioxidant known to have anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties.

You Are What You Eat

Skincare isn't a “one size fits all” situation; what works for you and your skin may not be the right routine for others. However, the food we choose to consume has a direct correlation to our physical health. We all know the annoying and uncomfortable symptoms that come with periods, but fortunately there are certain foods that can help. Fiber-rich foods like broccoli, cauliflower and carrots can help reduce inflammation throughout the body, while berries like blueberries, blackberries and cherries are a great source of antioxidants that help protect your body – including your skin – from free radicals that cause premature aging and chronic disease.

Typology Fortifying Brow Gel Pea Peptides + Plant-Based Keratin

One of the best brow gels out there is Typology's. The minimalist tube houses a pea peptides and plant-based keratin that not only makes your brows look good, but they also promote growth! Between the 98% naturally-derived ingredients and their benefits, you'll look awake in no time!

P.S. It's made in France, so we have a feeling our fave girl from Emily in Paris has this stashed in her makeup bag.

Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow + Volumizing Eyebrow Gel Jumbo

It seems like all the best brow gels have amazing microfibers to make sure each strand of hair is coated with product. In Benefit Cosmetics' case, they're big on making sure your brows look as natural as possible.

The design of the brush makes sure things won't be super messy when you're swiping the waterproof eyebrow gel on, making it easy for you to look like you didn't cram for your exams overnight.

Gen See Arch Support Brow Powder Gel

Brow gels are meant to 'lock' your brows in place without leaving behind gunky residue — and that's exactly what Gen See's Arch Support formula does. It's a vegan product that helps give your face a little more definition with it's poignant hold. You'll receive a natural arch that doesn't make you look surprised all day which is our favorite part.

Kosas Air Brow Lifting Treatment Gel

We've mentioned Kosas' products before, so trust us when we say you need their Air Brow Lifting Treatment Gel. This is the clear version for anyone who cares more about adding volume to your brows more than you want to deepen the color of them. Here's what you can find in the formula:

• Biodegradable Plant-Based Microfibers — promotes fullness of brows
• Castor Oil — promotes natural growth of brows
• Panthenol Provitamin B5 — restores brows to their former glory
• Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1 — supports overall health of brows

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Gel

Anastasia Beverly Hills is known for having some of the best eyebrow products on the market, but this new Brow Freeze Gel may pay them dust. It's a wax-gel hybrid that features a state-of-the-art applicator that's meant to hug the shape of your brows. We all know that no two brows are alike so it's about time someone creates something with a little more intention!

Thrive Causemetics Instant Brow Fix Semi-Permanent Eyebrow Gel

We're used to seeing the typical shades of brow gels, but Thrive Causemetics kept people of all ages in mind when creating their Instant Brow Fix Semi-Permanent product. You'll find something that matches your eyebrow's color from brown to grey! Yes, we said grey. You also won't get that stiff look that some gels can give you and that's all because of the MicroPigment Technology.

MAC Cosmetics Eye Brows Big Boost Fibre Gel

Do you need an eyebrow gel that's going to give you over 20 hours of performance? Try MAC Cosmetics' Eye Brows Big Boost Fibre product! You'll get a tinted look that simultaneously offers fuller brows. Plus, it's waterproof and sweatproof which means you can take from a bar crawl to all night dancing.

NYX Cosmetics The Brow Glue

Seeing the name of this eyebrow gel may be confusing, but we promise you're not going to be putting actual glue on your brows. Unlike the white stuff we used to put on our hands to peel off, this goes on clear and is nowhere near sticky. You'll get 16 hours of fuller brows that you can furrow as much as you want.

L.A. Girl Set It Clear Brow Gel

Did someone say fragrance-free? L.A. Girl did with their eyebrow gel! We can't get over how well this drugstore product gives luxury brands a run for their money. The formula's lightweight and costs less than $10. You can't beat the price nor the fact it's going to deliver the cutest brows you'll ever have while on a budget.

e.l.f. Cosmetics Brow Lift

We were slightly confused when we realized this brow gel doesn't come in a tube, but the 4.5 rating suggests it doesn't matter to customers! It provides the kind of hold we wish we'd had on the unlucky umbrella that turned upside down during the worst rainstorms and helps shape brows too!

You will have to purchase e.l.f.'s Brow Lift Applicator, but you'll still be paying less than $20 for both products so it's a win-win!

Tally Youngblood has waited her whole life to become pretty, and experience the new life promised by a total body makeover. During her final summer as an Ugly, she befriends Shay and the two pull hilarious pranks, and go on daring adventures as they wait to turn 16. But in the few weeks leading up to their surgeries, Shay disappears and Tally decides she can’t turn Pretty without her. When it comes to loyalty, will Tally betray one of her only friends for her dream?

When Netflix announced this adaptation, I was met with excitement but I was also a wee bit nervous. I remember reading Uglies for the first time and being able to picture it perfectly in my head, especially how cool it would be to hoverboard. And in true Netflix fashion, almost everyone from the cast, including leads Joey King and Chase Stokes, have been in other Netflix shows (they really like to keep it in the family).

This adaptation is so far, so good. I reread the book before starting the movie recently and I will say, it holds up. The writing is definitely super YA, but it was fun to slip back into the story and experience it all over again.

Uglies is streaming on Netflix now and stars Joey King, Chase Stokes, Brianne Tju, Keith Powers, Laverne Cox, Charmin Lee, Jan Luis Castellanos.

I simply could not write a book to screen adaptation article WITHOUT mentioning Percy Jackson. This is one of my all time favorite books ever. I read The Lightning Thief every single summer and rock out to the musical by Joe Tracz from time to time.

The first two movies (starring Logan Lerman as Percy) were horrendous, so I about fell out of my chair when Uncle Rick announced Disney was adapting Percy, Annabeth, and Grover's story into a TV show. What if we got burned twice? Would we continue obsessing over the potential for a great Percy Jackson adaptation?

Disney said stop right there. The first season was truly incredible, and it captured so much of the wit and fun from the first book. Earlier this month, the show announced additional cast members for the upcoming season 2, which will bring The Sea of Monsters to life.

If you loved these books and are hesitant to start the show, don’t be scared to press play.

Percy Jackson And The Olympians season 1 is streaming on Disney+ now. The series stars Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Toby Stephens, Virginia Kull, Charlie Bushnell, and Dior Goodjohn.

Our dearest gentle readers, I simply cannot recommend the latest season of Bridgerton enough. I've read all of the Bridgerton books by Julia Quinn, and Romancing Mr. Bridgerton is in my top two (number one: When He Was Wicked, Franscesa’s Story. Grab tissues if you read this one!).

Anything that’s in Shondaland is really magical, and I give her and her team so much credit for bringing the Bridgertons to life. I will say, if you read the books, the show is really nothing like them. I know what you’re thinking, "But Emily, how can you say it’s a great book to screen adaptation if it’s not word-for-word what’s in the book?"

Easy! It brings the text to life in such a cohesive and immersive way that you can’t help but be giddy as you watch your favorites fall in love all over again.

Though the books are being adapted out of order, I have full faith that Netflix can bring these together well. Season 4 will follow Benedict and Sophie, and is almost guaranteed to be filled with plenty of dancing and steamy rendezvous.

Bridgerton seasons 1-3 are on Netflix now. The show stars Luke Thompson, Luke Newton, Nicola Coughlan, Jonathan Bailey, Simone Ashley, Claudia Jessie, Hannah Dodd, Will Tilston, Florence Hunt, Harriet Cains, Nicola Coughlan, Jessica Madsen, and Bessie Carter! Yerin Ha will join season 4.

'​Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott

Not to sound dramatic, but the 2019 Little Women movie was the first time I understood what people meant when they said, “Wow, that was a great movie.” The casting? Superb. The music? Revolutionary. How Greta Gerwig showed the passage of time with color filters? Genius.

I do think American and British classics are hard to adapt as movies or shows because so much of the plot relies on the reader understanding the historical context, and how people would interact with each other. I say that because it’s not like if you crack open Little Women you’ll immediately know Amy is terrible, you kind of have to pick up on it, especially when she talks about limes. That being said, Florence Pugh, you did that gal a favor because if Amy was my little sister, she probably would’ve stayed in the ice.

The fall is actually a perfect time to reread this book and enjoy the movie. Definitely worth making yourself a cup of tea, putting on fuzzy socks and a good cry.

Little Women is streaming on Hulu and stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, Louis Garrel, and Chris Cooper.

Liane Moriarty is no stranger to having her books turned into TV shows. Big Little Lies was a hit on HBO and had people on the edge of their seats.

Former tennis players-turned-coaches, Joy and Stan Delaney have a perfect life and marriage to folks looking in from the outside. They run a thriving tennis camp and have incredibly successful kids who are each following their own path in life. But when Joy goes missing, every ugly truth bubbles to the surface and shatters what everyone thought about the Delaneys.

While Apples Never Fall isn't a super intense book in my opinion, it still has the same whodunit and leaves you guessing like all our favorite thrillers. There’s been a few mixed reviews about the show, but I do recommend it if you’re looking for a little mystery that’s not going to make you question your own reality.

Apples Never Fall is streaming on Peacock and stars Annette Bening, Alison Brie, Jake Lacy, Conor Merrigan-Turner, Sam Neill, Essie Randles, and Georgia Flood.

Charmaine Wilkerson's debut novel is an in-depth story about a family’s secrets, betrayals, memories, and so much more.

Byron and Benny Bennett lost their mother Eleanor, who left behind a black cake from a family recipe and a voice recording. In the voice recording, Byron and Benny learn things about their mother they never knew — and her true history.

When books with alternate timelines get turned to TV or movies, I’m immediately skeptical. It can be difficult to show the difference between the past and present, and to keep up with it as a viewer. But this show is unreal. We don’t lose the intricate dynamics of the characters, and the actors bring the concept of family secrets to life. Watch Black Cake on Hulu and see Eleanor’s secrets for yourself.

Black Cake is streaming on Hulu and stars Mia Isaac, Chipo Chung, and Faith & Glynn Turman.

Let me start by saying I think Holly Jackson is truly incredible. The first book I read by her was Five Survive and she's a mastermind at creating suspense and taking the story in a completely different direction than you thought WHILE making it make sense.

Years ago in a small town, Andrea “Andie” Bell and Salil “Sal” Singh were killed in a murder-suicide. Pippa “Pip” Fitz-Amobi has a mission to find out what truly happened to Andie and Sal. As she does research for a “school project,” she quickly learns that a killer might still be out there, but who?

I describe this book as a modern day Pretty Little Liars but better. There’s a lot of pressure on actors to deliver when it comes to characters that are as well-rounded as Holly Jackson’s, but the crew pulls it off. I recommend this book and show if you’re looking for something with serial vibes and high stakes drama.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is on Netflix and stars Emma Myers, Zain Iqbal, Anna Maxwell Martin, Gary Beadle, Mathew Baynton, India Lillie Davies, Rahul Pattni, Henry Ashton, and Mitu Panicucci.

I would like to take a moment to show my appreciation for Casey McQuinston. They are incredible and have given us amazing reads like One Last Stop, I Kissed Shara Wheeler, The Pairing, and most importantly, the love story between First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry (too many last names).

When the First Son makes a fool of himself at a party by confronting his longtime nemesis the Prince, their publicists scramble to create a stunt friendship. But are friends supposed to feel butterflies in their stomachs when they catch them getting dressed? Should friends want to kiss each other at any given moment? These two definitely do.

This book was adapted by Amazon Prime and the casting department knocked it out of the freaking park. Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex was the gift we needed and Nicholas Galitzine was born to play Prince Henry. It was brought to the screen in an inclusive way without one-dimensional stereotypes, and a lot of that is credited to Casey’s amazing writing.

If anyone would like to have a watch party for this, please, please let me know. I will happily giggle and kick my feet while eating snacks and watching these two glorious men fall in love.

Red, White and Royal Blue season 1 is on Prime Video and stars Nicholas Galitzine, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Uma Thurman, and Clifton Collins, Jr.

We need more spy books turned into movies. There’s something so bad—ss about the leather outfits, being strapped with weapons, and hiding in close quarters with someone that just gets me going.

This book and movie differ greatly. The book is a pretty straightforward novel: a CIA agent is the only one who can stop the world from entering chaos, but she needs a partner to help. Whereas the movie takes place to serve as the writer’s adventure — like she’s enters a movie herself and then goes to write about it.

While I wouldn’t say these are necessarily the best adaptations when it come to recreating every detail, I will say they're two pieces of art that live somewhat together, and that you can appreciate separately. Don’t read the book and expect everything in the movie to be the same, but read the book and watch the movie for some fun and entertainment!

Argylle is streaming on Apple TV+ and stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Henry Cavill, Ariana DeBose, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, John Cena, Dua Lipa, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Hot take: I'm not the biggest Sally Rooney fan. I think she's brilliantly talented, but her works are really just not my cup of tea. However, I, like many people, fell in love with Marianne and Connell from Normal People. How can you not? They are characters written so much like real people, it’s like you can see their lives as clearly as your own.

Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal are the best people that could have been cast as the leads, and they just do it so well. The whole production is vulnerable and intimate, but also doesn’t lose the nuances of Sally’s work by bringing it to life.

The book and show can be heavy, absolutely, but it shows the reality of life and what could have been if we made different decisions in our younger years. If you read or watch, you want to cheer on the characters and feel every up and down alongside them.

Normal People is streaming on Hulu and stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal.

'​Heartstopper' by Alice Oseman

Did you know Heartstopper was originally published as a webcomic on Tumblr and Tapas back in 2016? It got such a following that Alice started a campaign to help fund the publication of a graphic novel — and here we are today!

Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson go to the Truham Grammar School and they couldn’t have more different lives. Nick is a popular boy at school and a star of the rugby team. Charlie is quiet, suffering from multiple mental health problems and crushing on Nick from afar. The novel follows their story and everything that comes along with being a teenage couple in love.

Netflix has released two series so far with a third to release later this fall in October. The series has been praised for bringing the characters of Truham Grammar School to life while showing the everyday battles teenagers face about sexuality, fitting in, and honestly just existing.

Alice Oseman stayed close with production and writing to bring her novels to life. It’s also proof that bringing in authors during the creative process for TV is worth every bit of it!!

Heartstoppers seasons 1 and 2 are streaming on Netflix. The show stars Kit Connor, Joe Locke, William Gao, Yasmin Finney, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, Tobie Donovan, Jenny Walser, Rhea Norwood, and Leila Khan.

'​Turtles All the Way Down' by John Green

John Green should have a line in his bio about how he likes to create YA novels that will personally hit you in the heart. John, if you’re reading this, hit me up and I’d be happy to work that line in for you.

Turtles All the Way Down was published in 2017, and if you haven’t had the chance to read it yet, what are you doing? The major plot point of this book is that Aza and her best friend Daisy are supposed to be investigating the mystery of billionaire Russell Pickett, but that isn’t what really held my attention.

Aza Holmes has nearly crippling anxiety and OCD while also grieving the loss of her father. As someone who has been diagnosed with OCD for over a decade, it was a sort of an aha moment seeing myself represented on the pages. You don’t need to be diagnosed with any mental illnesses to understand what Aza is going through, you just need to be human.

Director Hannah Marks brought Aza, Daisy, and Davis to the screen in a way that balances teenage angst and emotions that seem larger than life. Because let’s face it, at 16, everything seems bigger than it is. Isabela Merced, who plays Aza, was praised for her accurate portrayal of OCD thought spirals. It can seem somewhat impossible to nail the big feels that John Green puts in his novels, but this might be one of the best depictions of one of his works ever.

If you’ve ever heard me say “it’s turtles all the way down,” in response to a sh—ty day, you can thank this book right here for that.

Turtles All The Way Down is streaming on Max and stars Isabela Merced, Felix Mallard, Cree Cicchino, Judy Reyes, J. Smith-Cameron, Poorna Jagannathan, and Maliq Johnson.

'​The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store' by James McBride

Okay this is a bit of a cheat since this movie isn’t out yet, but this is one I am readyyy for. Barack Obama shared that this was one of his favorite books for 2023, and there's a reason for that. This story is hauntingly beautiful and will show you a part of American history that has been erased and almost forgotten. But we have to tell these stories and educate everyone in America about the ugly, but also hopeful, parts of our nation.

In a Pennsylvania small town, new developments are going up everywhere, but the digging crew didn't expect to find a skeleton at the bottom of a well. The town starts looking for answers, and quickly finds out that the residents of Chicken Hill, a dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans live, may have the answers.

Moshe and Chona Ludlow lived in Chicken Hill, where Moshe integrated his theater and where Chona ran the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. When the state comes looking for a deaf boy to institutionalize him, Chona and Nate Timblin, the Black janitor at Moshe’s theater and unofficial Black leader, work together to keep him safe.

The book weaves a tale of all the characters and as they deepen, shows how people on the margins of white, Christian America struggle to survive.

This movie adaptation is in the early stages of development but A24 and Steven Spielberg are working on the film!