The BEat by Kara Alloway
Travel Light.Pray Heavy. The Summer Edit.
Because if your lipstick, shampoo, and prayer life aren’t efficient, what are we even doing?
Let’s talk about the unsung heroes of summer travel—no, not the guy who hoists your bag into the overhead bin like it’s his life’s mission (though God bless him too). I’m talking beauty multitaskers. The ones that don’t just sit there looking pretty—they do things. They save space. They earn their spot in the Ziplock bag.
I recently packed for a two-week spring/summer sprint and here’s what kept me from spiraling into a full-blown TSA-triggered identity crisis.
The Alleyoop Pen Pal: 4-in-1
This little number is your high school clicky pen’s cool older sister. Four essential makeup tools in one—liner, brow pencil, highlighter, and lip. Pen Pal laughs in the face of chaos. It’s compact, cute, and smart—the Reese Witherspoon of your travel makeup bag.
Find it here. Available on Alleyoop ($20 usd).
The Alleyoop Multitasker Brush: The Swiss Army Knife of Tools
This brush is like the friend who can DJ the party, fix your Wi-Fi, and fold a fitted sheet without being asked. One end handles foundation and blush, the other tackles eyeshadow and concealer. It’s a clean, all-in-one tool that saves space without sacrificing quality.
Find it here Availabe on Amazon ($42,99 - 5% coupon!)
Baby Nalgenes: Industrial Chic Meets TSA-Compliant
Do I need shampoo, conditioner, heat protectant, and curl cream while on vacation? Emotionally, yes. Enter the mini Nalgene bottles I snagged off Amazon. They’re leak-proof, sturdy, and won’t leave me empty mid-trip like the sad travel bottles I used to cling to. These guys can ferry your serums, creams, or even that weird hair mask you swear by, wherever they need to go—with no suitcase casualties.
Find it here. Available on Amazon ($16.22)
Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tints: The Minions of Makeup
These are the most joyful little jelly sticks I’ve met. Swipe on your cheeks and lips for a natural, dewy flush that says “I just got back from a hike,” even if the only thing you climbed was the Spanish Steps. They’re compact, effortless, and forgiving enough to use in a moving vehicle. Ask me how I know.
Find it here. Available at Sephora ($33.)
Now for a Little Life Multitasking: Beauty Meets Bible
If there’s a spiritual lesson in all this—and there always is—it’s this: great things happen when you pack and pray with thought. Prayer can be worship, petition, gratitude, and intercession—all in one go. But here’s the key: it ought to be efficient.
Let me give you the 3 P’s of Prayer that have stuck with me:
Purpose – What do you actually need? Say it. Ask it. Don’t ramble like a distracted airport announcement.youre speaking with the creator of the universe. He loves to show up in a way that has people saying “only God could have done this!”. GK Chesterton said: the most miraculous thing about miracles is that they happen!
Presence – Be there. Mentally, emotionally. Don’t just tick a box. I like to close a door, go for a prayer walk, be alone with God and get away from distractions of family and phones.
Persuasion – Not begging, but a keen awareness of who you’re praying to. He’s generous. He’s good. He’s capable. So ask like you believe it. I have a list of the characteristics of God and all His names Jehovah Jirah, Jehovah Nissi - it helps me remember who He is.
As James 1:5 puts it: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Ask clearly. Ask confidently. Ask like someone who knows their dad is the King.
This summer, may your packing be light, your makeup be multi-use, and your prayers be direct, trusting, and filled with purpose. Because when it comes to beauty or belief—efficiency can be a spiritual gift.
