Our Trybe By Zafigo community gathered at lyf Chinatown Kuala Lumpur for a morning dedicated to travel skincare, make-up techniques, and confidence on the road.
Travelling often means making decisions about what stays and what gets left behind. How many pairs of shoes do you really need? Which skincare products are essential? And can you somehow fit your entire makeup bag into one carry-on without exceeding the weight limit?
For our latest Trybe By Zafigo event, Glow Wherever You Go, we turned those questions into a practical morning of beauty, self-care, and confidence-building. Held at lyf Chinatown Kuala Lumpur, the masterclass brought together professional makeup artist and educator Ummi Nasir and our Trybe community for an intimate session on skincare and makeup routines that work both at home and on the go.
With Embryolisse and Wardah as our beauty partners, the session combined a live demonstration, hands-on learning, product discovery, and plenty of practical advice. More than a beauty lesson, it was a reminder that looking after ourselves can be part of the journey, too.
Beauty, confidence, and finding what works for you
The day began with Marina Mahathir joining Ummi for a conversation about beauty, confidence, and the role makeup can play in women’s lives.
Makeup, of course, is hardly a modern invention. Marina pointed to Cleopatra and the elaborate cosmetics used in ancient Egypt as an example of how beauty has long been connected to identity, status, and power. Today, our products may be considerably more sophisticated, but Ummi believes the reason many women reach for makeup remains surprisingly familiar: confidence.
Whether it’s for a presentation, an interview, a workout, or a trip to the grocery store, putting on makeup can be a way of feeling more prepared to face the world.
That idea also sits comfortably alongside what Zafigo has always believed about travel: that the things we do and the places we go can help us become more confident versions of ourselves.
For Ummi, that connection extends into her work as an educator. After years as a professional makeup artist, she expanded into teaching because she enjoys sharing what she knows. Her workshops and classes go beyond beauty techniques, incorporating image consulting and other elements with the broader aim of building self-assurance.
When I teach, I teach beyond just beauty tips, with an end goal to build confidence through makeup and image consulting.
Ummi Nasir
And that’s the meaning behind Glow Wherever You Go: knowing what works for you at whatever point you are in your life, your travels, or your own personal journey.
8 travel makeup and skincare tips we learned
So, what should actually make it into your luggage? Here are some of the practical lessons from Ummi’s masterclass.
1. Pack for your actual plans, not every possible occasion
The first rule of a travel makeup kit is deceptively simple: think about your lifestyle and the occasions you’ll actually encounter on the trip. Instead of packing your entire collection “just in case”, consider what you’ll realistically be doing. A beach holiday, work trip, city break, and wedding destination will all call for different products.
A pared-back kit can still cover plenty of situations. A cushion foundation, for example, can be easier to travel with than a bottle of liquid foundation, while a waterproof mascara can take you from humid sightseeing days to evening plans.
2. Look for products that can do more than one job
When luggage space is limited, multi-use products are your friend. A blush or lipstick that can work for both lips and cheeks immediately cuts down the number of products you need to carry. Similarly, dual-ended brushes can replace several individual tools: one end can apply product while the other helps blend it out.
It’s a small change, but when you’re trying to fit your beauty kit into a carry-on, those little savings add up.
3. Prep your skin before you reach for foundation
Good makeup starts before the makeup itself. If your skin is dry, Ummi recommends making sure it’s properly hydrated before applying your base. During the masterclass, guests were introduced to Embryolisse products including Lait-Crème Sensitive, Lait-Crème Concentré, and Eau de Beauté Rosamélis, which were also among the products included in attendees’ goodie bags.
The approach here isn’t necessarily to pile on more products, but to understand what your skin actually needs before applying makeup.
This is also why Ummi cautions against automatically buying a separate primer just because it’s labelled “primer”. If the product’s main function is simply hydration, you may already be able to achieve that through appropriate skincare preparation.
4. Don’t apply skincare or makeup on the plane
This may be the least glamorous travel beauty tip, but it is one worth remembering. The plane is not the ideal place to apply your skincare or makeup, despite what the influencers suggest. With so many people sharing a confined environment, maintaining good hygiene around your hands, products, and tools can be difficult. Instead of attempting a full beauty routine in your seat, do your skincare and makeup before boarding or once you reach your destination.
If your skin feels dry during the flight, a facial mist can provide some welcome hydration without requiring you to unpack your entire beauty bag. A hypochlorous acid spray can also be a handy addition to your travel kit. Ummi suggested using it when moving through confined spaces such as planes and buses, as well as during hot, humid activities when sweat can leave your skin feeling less than fresh.
5. Your hand can be your best beauty tool
Sometimes, you don’t need another gadget. Ummi shared a simple but useful reminder that the back of your hand can act as a palette.
Whether you’re working with liquid or powder products, using the back of your hand can help you control how much product you’re applying, blend before it reaches your face, and dust off excess product from your brush.
6. Expect a little post-flight puffiness
Ever arrived after a long-haul flight only to feel like your face looks completely different? That familiar “flight face” or “plane face” can happen because of factors including the low humidity of aircraft cabins and reduced movement during long periods of travel. Puffiness can linger after you land, so don’t panic if your face doesn’t immediately look or feel like itself.
One option discussed at the masterclass was using a gua sha with a simple massage routine to help relieve the feeling of puffiness and congestion. Important: keep the technique gentle rather than treating it as an aggressive facial workout.
And, as always, hydration and getting back into your normal routine once you arrive can help, too.
7. Know your undertone before buying your base
Travel can also mean encountering different lighting, climates, and even different beauty counters, but one thing that shouldn’t change is knowing what works with your skin. When choosing foundation or concealer, familiarise yourself with your undertone. Many brands now use labels such as N, C, and W, referring broadly to neutral, cool, and warm undertones.
If you’re unsure, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Beauty retailers often have testers or samples available, and staff can help you compare shades rather than relying on a guess from the packaging. And don’t forget your neck when matching your foundation.
For hijab wearers, Ummi also pointed out that the colour of your headscarf can affect how your overall complexion appears, so your usual shade may need to be considered alongside the colours you wear around your face.
8. Keep your routine personal
The biggest takeaway from Glow Wherever You Go was that there isn’t one universal beauty routine. What works for one woman may not work for another, and what you need at 25 may not be what you need at 40. Your routine can also change depending on where you’re travelling, what you’re doing, and how much time you actually have.
That’s why Ummi encouraged participants to think about their own lifestyle rather than simply following trends. Even better, participants were invited to bring along products from their own makeup bags if they wanted advice on how to use them, or guidance on shades and techniques that might suit them better.
The travel beauty lessons continued beyond the masterclass
The practical lessons continued after the masterclass, with every attendee receiving a curated goodie bag featuring products from our partner brands. Embryolisse contributed skincare and makeup preparation favourites (as mentioned above), while Wardah’s offerings included an Exclusive Eyeshadow Palette and Colorfit HD Blurify Loose Powder.
For Ummi, makeup is one of many tools that can help women build confidence. For Zafigo, travel can do something similar: take us out of our familiar routines, introduce us to new experiences, and often ask us to become a little more comfortable with ourselves along the way.
The two ideas came together naturally at Trybe.
“Glowing” isn’t necessarily about looking perfect at every destination. It’s about knowing what makes you feel good and carrying what works for you.
Want to relive the afternoon or spot yourself in the crowd? Pictures from the event are now ready for your viewing (and saving) on our Facebook page.
If you missed this edition, there’s more to come. Follow Zafigo and keep an eye on our Trybe By Zafigo events for the next opportunity to learn, connect, and try something new together.
