MAREN guide
Luggage with a makeup case
Makeup is the part of a suitcase most likely to crack, leak or go missing at the bottom of a bag. A dedicated makeup case fixes most of that. This guide covers how to pack one and what to look for in luggage that comes with it.
Pack the makeup case in layers
- Bottom: heavy, sturdy things: bottles with lids taped shut, a hairbrush, a straightener.
- Middle: palettes and compacts. A cotton pad pressed into each pan stops powder from shattering.
- Top: brushes in a roll or a small pouch, plus the things you use every morning.
Put anything that can leak in a zip bag, even inside a hard case. A leak in the makeup case is annoying; a leak in your clothes ruins the trip.
Keep it apart from your clothes
The main reason to buy luggage with a makeup case rather than tucking a pouch into the suitcase is separation. Liquids stay away from clothes, and you can open the case at a hotel sink or the airport gate without unpacking everything else.
Make sure it travels on the suitcase
The Weekender Set's makeup case (we call it the vanity case) has a strap on its back that slips over the carry-on's trolley handle, so it rides on top while you roll and leaves both hands free. It also has two top handles for carrying on its own.
It measures 30 × 30 × 16 cm (11.8 × 11.8 × 6.3 in), has a lined interior and the same wave-textured hard shell as the carry-on.
Security and flying
Liquids in a makeup case you carry through security follow the same TSA liquids rule as any other carry-on bag. Keep them in one place near the top so you can take them out quickly. If you bring the case on board as well as the carry-on, check that 11.8 × 11.8 × 6.3 in fits your airline's personal-item limit.
Two colors, one size
The set comes in Obsidian (black) and Lilac, with the makeup case matching the carry-on. It is $149 for both pieces, ships free from the US in 4–9 days, and can be returned within 30 days of delivery.